Oliver Rowland ready to defend his title “in For...

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Oliver Rowland loved a dominant run via Season 11 of the totally electrical single-seater collection, stringing collectively 4 wins and 7 podiums within the first 9 races.

That early momentum allowed him to construct a powerful lead within the standings which, regardless of failing to return to the rostrum over the next seven rounds, was sufficient to clinch the drivers’ championship throughout the Berlin double-header in July, forward of the season finale in London.

As Formulation E will get set to launch Season 12 this Saturday in São Paulo, Rowland faces arguably his greatest problem but: defending his crown, one thing solely Jean-Eric Vergne has managed within the collection by securing back-to-back titles in Seasons 4 and 5.

“It’s going to be a problem. After all, it’s going to be troublesome,” Rowland advised Motorsport.com forward of the occasion in Brazil.

Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formulation E Group, Norman Nato, Nissan Formulation E Group

Picture by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Formulation E is coming into its fourth season with the Gen3 automotive earlier than the Gen4 arrives subsequent 12 months. With groups and drivers now holding deep data of the present package deal, Rowland expects the fiercest competitors the collection has seen.

“I feel we’re in all probability coming into probably the most aggressive period of Formulation E when it comes to depth and power throughout all of the drivers. So it’s going to be a problem, however I’m prepared for it.”

Rowland confronted a stark distinction in outcomes throughout the second half of the season, however the Briton insists issues weren’t as dangerous as they might have appeared.

“I feel it was a little bit of each,” he mentioned when requested whether or not his late-season dip got here from a drop in efficiency or the stress of main the championship with such an enormous margin.

“Clearly, I used to be coping with having an enormous lead and making an attempt to carry on to it. For positive, I wasn’t at 100% and generally I used to be making an attempt to consolidate.”

“I feel lots of people say we didn’t have an ideal finish to the 12 months, however in Jakarta I completed fifth or sixth. In Shanghai I used to be preventing for the win within the dry race. In Berlin I certified third and fifth and gained the championship there.”

“Solely London, I feel, was disappointing for us. We simply weren’t quick sufficient in London. However yeah, it was additionally a wierd emotion – successful the championship after which going again for the ultimate race. However I feel we must be OK. I’m fairly assured.”

Managing the warmth in São Paulo

Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formulation E Group

Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Waiting for this weekend, Rowland highlighted key elements for the São Paulo E-Prix, particularly battery administration amid the anticipated excessive temperatures on the Anhembi Sambadrome road circuit.

“There are all the time belongings you need to enhance, however I feel we’ve made step since final 12 months. I feel preseason testing in Valencia was actually optimistic for us – there have been a variety of good issues. However yeah, I feel we’re prepared, though it may all the time be tough right here.”

“I’m making an attempt to maintain my toes on the bottom and simply do every little thing at stage as a result of right here now we have a variety of temperature points with the tyres and the battery. In order a driver you need to be very properly ready. We had 5 months off, so we’re going to be a bit rusty,” he concluded.

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