Vergne confident DS TECHEETAH 'will be the force to beat' in Rome

After claiming victory in the second race of the Rome doubleheader last year, DS TECHEETAH's Jean-Eric Vergne is confident his team will be the ones to beat here in the Eternal City when the racing commences on April 9 and 10. 

Kicking off his championship challenge in Mexico City with a third place finish, the Frenchman and two-time Formula E Champion currently sits sixth in the Driver's table with 27 points (16 points behind leader Edoardo Mortara, ROKiT Venturi Racing). As for his team, former championship winners DS TECHEETAH place fourth in the Teams' standings with 39 points (29 points off leaders ROKiT Venturi Racing).  

"I think we're looking pretty good as a team. I don't think we have the fastest car but I think we've been working very well as a team to maximise what we could get from this package," admits Vergne. 

Before Mexico City, the team collected 12 points in the opening races in Diriyah, all thanks to Vergne, who placed inside the points on both occasions. From there, DS' performance picked up considerably with Vergne and his teammate Antonio Felix da Costa bringing home an additional 27 points after the Frenchman placed on the podium and da Costa followed in fourth.  

"In Mexico we were clearly the second-fastest - clearly, Porsche was ahead of us - and to be able to finish just behind them was the best we could have done," says Vergne. 

"I'm very happy and if we can maximise the opportunity that our car gives us on every weekend, then we should be in a very strong position in the championship. 

"Some day we will be the force to beat - either it's going to come this weekend or the next in Monaco. I don't know but we're going to have our time." 

Now on the verge of taking on the notorious 19-turn 3.385km Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR for the fifth time in his career, the Frenchman is feeling confident ahead of the race this weekend. "Generally, it's a track that I've done quite well at and hopefully, I can do well again this season. 

"I think it's a very nice Formula E track - it has everything we love about Formula E. It's a long track, it's narrow, bumpy and fast. 

"There's some room for overtaking, which is very exciting. You just need to really be on it to be fast in Rome."

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