Nissan’s Oliver Rowland was on a roll of podiums when Formula E visited Misano last time out. The boy from Barnsley achieved four pieces of silverware back-to-back when he finished in the top three in Diriyah, São Paulo, Tokyo and the achieving the win during the first of two races in Italy However, a technology blip saw him run out of energy in the final lap of the race for Round 7, and brought an abrupt end to his points-scoring streak.
Determined to bounce back, Rowland is remaining positive ahead of the Monaco E-Prix this weekend.
FEATURE: Five things to look forward to in Monaco
"We were delighted with the speed we showed in Misano, in qualifying there are definitely improvements to make but we need to keep on the same path and progress in each session,” the Nissan driver said about the Misano double-header.
“Monaco is one of my favourite places to compete, I've had success there throughout my career and it's a special track to drive on. The race will be tricky in terms of energy management, Formula E has proven that overtaking is possible around Monaco, so we'll have to position ourselves well ahead of the final laps to get the best result possible."
EXPLAINER: Here's what happened to Rowland in the Misano last lap
Nissan powertrains locked out the top three slots in qualifying here last year, with Rowland himself looking set for the Julius Baer Pole Position in 2019 but was forced to serve a three-place grid drop penalty from the race before.
For Rowland’s teammate, Sacha Fenestraz, the French-Argentine has been rapid around this street circuit. On his Formula E debut in Monaco, the now-24-year-old managed to get pole position but was forced to settle for second after his lap time was deleted.
“I've learned a lot this season, Oli has helped with his experience in terms of how to manage the race, which has been great for me. Monaco last year was one of the highlights of my career, we performed really well and I'm hoping for more of the same this weekend, with a strong qualifying and battling in the lead pack."
ROWLAND: "I'm still wondering when I am going to wake up"
Fenestraz also managed his season-best result in Misano last time out, finishing Round 7 with a fifth place.
"Monaco is a track all teams are familiar with,” Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal of the Nissan Formula E Team said. “From our side, we have good references from last year as this was one of the best races of the season for us, and we're confident in our two drivers - Oli has been in incredible form recently and Sacha had a boost following his performance in Misano.
“Formula E is ever evolving, so our preparation for the event has not changed. We're working hard to stay on top of everything, manage the race strategy and do our best to secure plenty of points. We are motivated to prove once again what we're capable of and to keep fighting, race after race, to secure the position the team deserves."
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 Monaco E-Prix Round 8
Free Practice 1 is go on Saturday from 07:25 local time, with Free Practice 2 from 09:05. Qualifying follows at 10:40 and Round 8 itself starts at 15:00 local.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Monaco E-Prix weekend where you are
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.
Follow the race LIVE and listen to full race commentary on web and in the Formula E app!
Follow all the action on-track as it happens in the Race Centre.
Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.
There's full race commentary of Round 8 too, with build up and the E-Prix LIVE from Monaco via the Formula E website and app as well as on TalkSPORT 2 in the UK.