Lotterer: “Bird’s penalty doesn’t change the race for me”

Andre Lotterer thought he would climb to the top of the podium in Hong Kong this Sunday. The resident of DS Techeetah had dominated his subject by taking the lead of the race against Stoffel Vandoorne (HWA), Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams) and Sam Bird (Virgin Racing).

It is against the latter that the fight will intensify throughout the race, Bird being very close to regaining the advantage 20′ from the end of the event. But the Briton seemed unable to find the opening despite the various neutralizations.

In the final moments of the race, the driver Ferrari en WEC will however ruin Lotterer's race, in the form of contact with the rear of the car DS Techeetah. Although on the surface the maneuver seems harmless, the suspension will give way on André Lotterer's car, before the German suffers a puncture.

And it’s not the 5″ penalty inflicted on Bird that seems to lessen the disappointment in the DS Techeetah clan. “It wasn’t really fair and we went home empty-handed, says Lotterer.

It's quite sad because even if Sam has a 5 second penalty, it doesn't change the race for me, I can't get these points back. The good thing is that I did the fastest lap and we have a good car, so now we turn to Sanya and continue moving forward. »

Discover the full report of the Hong Kong ePrix, in issue 2207 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.