After a challenging opening round for the team in Hong Kong, the FIA Formula E Championship and Renault e.dams return to action this weekend in the Marrakesh ePrix.

Sébastien Buemi won the race last year on the International Moulay El Hassan Circuit after an impressive climb through the field from seventh on the grid while Nicolas Prost finished fourth.

The second edition of the Marrakesh ePrix will be contested on the same track as last year. The 2.971km counter-clock-wise circuit runs through the modern and tourist districts of the city, while skirting the ramparts surrounding the medina.

The layout is the same used by the FIA World Touring Car Championship. It begins with a flowing section heading towards the medina before a series of tight corners and chicanes leading back to the start/finish straight.

Groupe Renault is the leader in the Moroccan market with seven vehicles in the top ten sales. As the leading Moroccan car-maker, it has two factories: SOMACA and Renault-Nissan Tangier. In 2016, Renault signed the Convention for the creation of the Renault Ecosystem boosting the kingdom’s automobile industry.

The drivers

Sébastien Buemi

“I can’t wait to go to Marrakesh after a slightly difficult start in Hong Kong. We have sought to improve every detail. We have worked a lot to return to where we should be. We won on this circuit last year, so I hope to be able to do it again. I will give it everything I’ve got.”

Nicolas Prost

“The season started with two very hectic races in Hong Kong. We have been able to analyse the results of these two rounds in order to be better in Marrakesh. I am going to concentrate on qualifying and do my best to put in a solid race. I am looking forward to getting back in the car!”

Stats

2.971km circuit length

12 Number of corners

33 Number of laps

8 Renault e.dams comes to Marrakesh with 8 points in the Teams’ Championship.

Do you remember Season 3?

8 With the win in Marrakesh, Sébastien Buemi scored his eighth career victory in FE.

4 Nicolas Prost finished fourth, one spot off the podium.

33 Number of laps in the first Marrakesh ePrix.

Formula E Rookie tests

Renault e.dams will participate in the FIA Formula E Championship rookie test in Marrakesh, Morocco, on January 14 with Mitsunori Takaboshi, NISMO driver and winner of the Japan F3 championship 2017, and Formula 2 driver Alexander Albon, who claimed third in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2014 and second in GP3 in 2016.

Takaboshi had a stunning season in Formula 3 last year, winning seven races and taking 11 fastest laps in the 20 races. His 2017 program also included a full season in the GT300 class in Super GT aboard the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3. Renault e.dams offered Nissan / NISMO one rookie test seat as it prepares to become the first Japanese automotive manufacturer to compete in FIA Formula E in 2018, taking the baton from Alliance partner Renault.

Albon finished second in the prestigious CIK-FIA World Karting Finals in 2011 before starting his single seater career in Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and Alps in 2012. In 2014 the Thai-British driver finished in third with one pole and three podiums before making a switch to European Formula 3. In 2016 Albon claimed four wins and finished as runner-up in GP3. Last season he competed in F2, finishing in tenth overall.