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Long Beach is a track steeped in tradition and is renowned as one of the most famous and challenging street circuits in America. Last year’s winner and reigning Formula E champion Nelson Piquet Jr. provides his thoughts on a circuit that put him on course to becoming the inaugural Formula E champion…
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Number of turns - 7
Track length - 2.1km
Past winners - Nelson Piquet Jr. (China Racing)
Qualifying record - 56.937s (Daniel Abt, Audi Sport ABT)
Lap record - 58.973s, Nico Prost (e.dams-Renault)
Suited to Shoreline
The track has a slightly different feeling to other circuits we race on in Formula E. It feels bigger and wider, and it’s not as bumpy or as technical as some other places we visit. The shortened Grand Prix circuit we use is still a quick track with some long straights and fast chicanes. I think it should suit our car much better and hopefully we won’t suffer as much in Long Beach.
Bringing back memories
It was a very emotional race for me in Long Beach last year. We were already very strong coming off the back of the race in Miami, and for some reason both myself and the team were super confident heading to Long Beach. It was one of those that I had the feeling I was going to win. It was a good weekend and it kick-started my challenge for the championship.
Putting on a show
Everyone in America has a lot of opportunities to follow sports and motorsport has a tradition of street racing in Long Beach. I expect to see a lot of fans cheering us on in the California sunshine. We hope to put on a good show - there are plenty of overtaking opportunities not only into the first corner but into Turn 5 and the tight hairpin at Turn 7. That’s a tricky section to get right as you’re turning and braking at the same time. If you don’t get the line right you open yourself up for an overtaking opportunity.