The Punta del Este ePrix in Uruguay hosted its second-ever Formula E race at the weekend.
The Punta del Este ePrix in Uruguay hosted its second-ever Formula E race at the weekend.
Mark Thompson/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
The street circuit is one of the most picturesque motorsport venues in the world, located next the beautiful beaches of Punta del Este on the Atlantic coast.
The street circuit is one of the most picturesque motorsport venues in the world, located next the beautiful beaches of Punta del Este on the Atlantic coast.
Formula E
Sebastian Buemi took the checkered flag in the race for all-electric vehicles. A former Formula One driver, the Swiss is now leading the Drivers' Championship.
Sebastian Buemi took the checkered flag in the race for all-electric vehicles. A former Formula One driver, the Swiss is now leading the Drivers' Championship.
Formula E
The 11-race series travels all over the globe including stop offs in China, Russia, the U.S. and Germany.
The 11-race series travels all over the globe including stop offs in China, Russia, the U.S. and Germany.
Formula E
The street circuit on the Uruguayan coast is 2.80 km long (1.75 m). The race is contested over 33 laps.
The street circuit on the Uruguayan coast is 2.80 km long (1.75 m). The race is contested over 33 laps.
Formula E
Formula E cars are single-seaters powered by 200 kilowatt batteries.
Formula E cars are single-seaters powered by 200 kilowatt batteries.
Formula E
Unlike other motorsport series, like F1, practice, qualifying and the ePrix all take place on the same day.
Unlike other motorsport series, like F1, practice, qualifying and the ePrix all take place on the same day.
Formula E
The electric cars have a limited amount of energy but can reach speeds of up to 140 mph.
The electric cars have a limited amount of energy but can reach speeds of up to 140 mph.
Formula E
This season the sport welcomed a Formula One legend. The 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve will be racing for the Venturi team throughout the series.
This season the sport welcomed a Formula One legend. The 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve will be racing for the Venturi team throughout the series.
Formula E
Formula E: Renualt leads the charge in Uruguayan ePrix

Story highlights

Former F1 driver seals second win of Formula E season

Swiss wins third race of season for cars powered by batteries

Lucas di Grassi finishes second

CNN  — 

Sebastien Buemi sealed his second victory of the 2015-16 Formula E season taking the checkered flag at the Punta del Este ePrix in Uruguay on Saturday.

Thousands of motorsport fans flocked to the picturesque beach-side street circuit to watch practice, qualifying, and the race contested by nine teams each with two drivers piloting electric-powered cars.

Saturday’s ePrix was the third of 11 scheduled to take place this season, with the teams battling it out in countries all over the world including China, the United States, Germany, Mexico and Russia.

In his Renault e.dams car, Buemi quickly moved to the front of the field after qualifying in fifth place for the 33-lap race around the 2.80 km (1.75 m) circuit.

The Swiss, who spent three seasons in Formula One with Toro Rosso, was chased all the way by Brazil’s Lucas di Grassi who drove his ABT Schaeffler car to victory in the previous round in Malaysia.

“The start was really important for the outcome of the race,” Buemi said afterwards.

Pulling away from the clean side of the grid meant I could jump di Grassi and then close in and pass (Jerome) D’Ambrosio and (Sam) Bird in the opening laps,” he added.

“It’s good to bounce back from Putrajaya but Lucas is really close and consistent so we have to remain focused.”

Di Grassi hasn’t finished lower than second this season and currently trails Buemi in the Drivers’ Championship by a single point after the Swiss’ fine drive.

America’s Dragon Racing team also had a satisfying afternoon. Jerome D’Ambrosio took his first-ever Formula E pole, converting it to third place in the race while his teammate Loic Duval was fourth.

Buemi’s teammate, Nicolas Prost — son of team boss and four-time Formula One world champion, Alain — took fifth place, meaning the French team move ahead of Germany’s ABT Schaeffler in the Constructors’ Championship.

READ: Jaguar return to motorsport

Another Formula One world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, who is driving for the Venturi team this season, had to pull out of Saturday’s race after crashing in qualifying.

The Canadian who won motorsport’s most prestigious title in 1997, was unhurt in the crash, but his mechanics were unable to repair the chassis in time for the race.

Former F1 racer and last year’s inaugural Formula E champion, Nelson Piquet Jr dramatically crashed at turn 15 on the penultimate lap of the race as he battled to hold off DS Virgin Racing’s Jean-Eric Vergne.

The Frenchman finished eighth while the Brazilian driver who races for China’s NEXTEV team was unable to continue.

Simona de Silvestro – the only female driver in the series – registered her best result of the season to date, finishing 11th for the Andretti team from the U.S.

Round four of the 2015-16 Formula E season will take place in Buenos Aires next February.

FORMULA E FAST FACTS

Formula E uses single-seater cars powered by 200 kilowatt batteries.

Practice, qualifying and the ePrix all take place on Saturday. The race, which lasts approximately 50 minutes, always starts at 4 p.m. local time.

There are no tire changes in Formula E, but drivers have to pit to swap for a second car. Teams are not allowed to charge their electric cars during the race.

There are nine teams and 18 drivers in the 2015-2016 championship, following the withdrawal of the Trulli team, and 10 city-center races.

READ: Meet the teams and drivers