Sébastien Buemi: "An incredible feeling".
FIRST FORMULA E DRIVE IN ZURICH During the official media conference of the organizers of the ePrix Zurich and the FIA Formula E Championship, Sébastien Buemi drove his Renault through the streets of Zurich for the first time. There are days that are special, even for a busy racing professional like Sébastien Buemi. Friday, April 20, was one such day. Escorted by two [...]
There are days that are special, even for a busy racing professional like Sébastien Buemi. Friday, April 20, was one such day.
Escorted by two police cars, the man from Vaud drove his Renault Z.E. 17 at a moderate pace from the parking lot at the SBB train station towards ETH Zurich. He was then surrounded by a crowd of media representatives, some of whom had never seen a racing car before, let alone a Formula E car up close.
"It makes me proud to have made this journey as a Swiss citizen"
This drive was just as special for the Formula E champion of the 2015/16 season.
Sébastien Buemi: "That was cool. It was an incredible feeling to drive through Zurich, even if it wasn't fast. Yes, it makes me proud that I was able to do this as a Swiss and that I can start here in my home country on June 10. After all, more than 60 years have passed since there will be a circuit race in Switzerland again."
Swiss circuit races continued after the political ban
Not quite true, because after the opening of the Centre de Pilotage in Lignières, there were small circuit races in Switzerland from the early 1960s until the 1990s.
The last ones were even part of the Swiss Formula Ford Trophy. But of course they were never events like the upcoming mega-event on June 10.
For Sébastien Buemi, this will (not) be a Formula E race like any other.
Sébastien Buemi: "All races are important to win. But Zurich will be even more important. A home race is something special for every driver. And in a country where circuit racing has been banned for more than 60 years, it's even more special. At the moment I'm only in fourth place in the championship, but I hope to be better placed by then and to win the first race of the season there at the latest."
