ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport’s Lucas di Grassi set the pace in the opening practice session for the Marrakesh ePrix.
A late push from the Brazilian saw him take spot after using 200kW. It was not all plain sailing for di Grassi, who had been forced to take to the escape road at Turn 7.
He ended the session under two-tenths clear of Renault e.Dams’ Nico Prost. The true potential of the Renault car is still unknown after the Frenchman hit some traffic on his fastest lap.
Reigning Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi was fourth fastest ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne. Antonio Felix da Costa and Dragon Racing’s Jerome D’Ambrosio completed the top six.
A second off the pace was Felix Rosenqvist in seventh. He was ahead of Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, who did have a spin at Turn 1. Nelson Piquet Jr. and Stephane Sarrazin rounded out the top 10 spots with the former stopping on track at Turn 4 when completing his qualifying simulation.
Both DS Virgin’s struggled for pace in FP1 with Sam Bird only 11th fastest and Jose Maria Lopez in 14th. The Argentinian damaged his front suspension heavily but would be fine to go out again in FP2.
