Hyderabad E-Prix: Formule E heads to India for first time as Pascal Wehrlein looks for a hat-trick of wins

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads to India for the first time ever this weekend as the all-electric racing series continues with Round 4 at the inaugural Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix.

Pascal Wehrlein (Tag Heuer Porsche) leads the championship from Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) by six points as the pair finished first and second in the opening three races.

Ahead of Round 4 of the Net Zero Carbon Championship, here are the key championship talking points.

Brits make fast start

It’s been an impressive start to Season 9 for Formula E’s British contingent, with Dennis, Sam Bird (Jaguar TCS Racing) and Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren) all placed in the top five of the driver standings following the first three rounds.

After winning the curtain-raiser in Mexico City, Dennis went on to claim two second-place finishes in Diriyah second in the standings. Meanwhile, veteran Bird, also impressed in Saudi Arabia – taking third place in Round 2 and fourth the following day.

Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in the top five is rookie driver Hughes who is making his Formula E debut. The 28-year-old has immediately repaid McLaren’s faith in him by adjusting to life in the all-electric series quickly – claiming pole position in Round 3 and securing points in all three races so far.

There has yet to be a British champion in Formula E, but the early form suggests that we’re likely to see more than one in the hunt during Season 9.

Can Werhlein make it three from three?

After winning both races of the Diriyah double-header, Wehrlein has taken an early lead in the drivers’ standings.

Wehrlein has the chance to make Formula E history if he can make it three from three this weekend. Should the German reign victorious at the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix, he will match the record for most consecutive victories in the series’ history.

The 28-year-old will be confident of his chances, given the Porsche powertrain has proved dominant so far. Two Porsche powertrains sit top of the teams’ championship via Tag Heuer Porsche and Avalanche Andretti, and Wehrlein will be looking to continue that trend this weekend.

Racing in India for first time

History will be made this weekend as the net zero carbon championship heads to the world’s second most populous country, India, for the very first time. The country’s fourth largest city, Hyderabad, becomes the series’ 30th race location as it welcomes all-electric motorsport on Saturday.

Indian-based manufacturer, Mahindra Racing, will be buoyed by a passionate home crowd and the team’s drivers – 2016/17 Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Rowland – will be looking to utilise home advantage as they take to the Indian streets on Saturday.

Di Grassi will be even more confident heading into this weekend, having already been on the podium in Asia nine times – more than any other driver in Formula E history. The Brazilian has also had a successful start to the season, having secured a third-place finish in Round 1. He’ll be looking to add further points on his team’s home turf this weekend.

Formula E’s broadcast innovation

Ahead of this weekend’s inaugural Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix, Formula E announced an innovation to its broadcast practises by establishing a new broadcast production facility in London which will send the live race feed to 40 broadcasters in more than 150 countries.

This revolutionary technological advancement will have major environmental benefits as fewer people will be required on the ground at races.

Always a pioneer in sustainability, Formula E’s latest development could revolutionise how live sport is broadcast and could see other major sports change their practices going forward to reduce flights and other environmental harm driven by broadcast media.

Gen3 providing Formula E’s new sonic identity

This week Formula E also announced a complete update to its entire music and sound suite used across broadcast and digital channels.

The new sonic identity incorporates the sound of the world’s most sustainable racing car – the Gen3.

The change forms part of an overall brand refresh for Formula E, which was first unveiled ahead of the season curtain-raiser in Mexico City as the Gen3 era began.

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