The seventh round of the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy was one to forget for the talented Katherine Legge, culminated in a lap 1 retirement.
The new support series to ABB Formula E made its first appearance this weekend on the legendary Monaco circuit, as it approaches the final stages of its inaugural season.
Katherine Legge, after winning the Mexican round in dominant fashion and always being in the mix for the points lead, was coming to the iconic racetrack for the first time and with many expectations: “I have never been to Monaco so I’m super excited for this one,” said Legge before the race. “Winning at Monaco has been a dream of mine since I was 9 years old! It looks like another tricky, unique Formula E course that I’m looking forward to driving.”
Unfortunately, the race weekend didn't start off as expected for the 38 year-old Brit.
A double puncture and a brush to the wall in qualifying relegated her to the 6th place on the starting grid.
The particularly harsh tyre regulations in the one-make Jaguar series meant that Legge had to start on a used set of tyres from a previous race weekend. The Rahal Letterman driver had encountered similar issues in Paris before.
Nevertheless, Legge made a great start and immediately gained the fifth place. At St. Devote, Canadian Rzadzinski overdefended the inside and hit Sellers, before aggressively rejoining the track and crashing into the back of an innocent Legge, who went hard into the barriers down the hill on Boulevard JFK.
The race went on for a couple of races behind the Safety Car, before the field was forced into the pitlane by a red flag, which allowed the marshals to move the damaged #3 Jaguar.
The race resumed relatively uneventful and was dominated by Team Jaguar Brazil, with a one-two by Bueno and Jimenez. Sellers completed the podium positions.
Certainly worth reporting another good performance for the young French lady Celia Martin, who took the checkered flag in 8th and thus finishing for the third consecutive time on the Pro-AM class podium.
“I just got hit by Rzadzinski. There are no words really when you’re racing and trying to race clean and just get hit from behind and spun around. To me it’s unacceptable.” - commented a visibly (and understandably) annoyed Legge.
Katherine Legge drops from 4th in the standings to 5th after the disappointing round in the Principality, possibly damaging her title chase with 3 races to go.
Celia Martin sits 4th in the Pro-AM class, after a more and more convincing debut season.
In Katherine's words:
“I just got hit by Rzadzinski. There are no words really when you’re racing and trying to race clean and just get hit from behind and spun around. To me it’s unacceptable.”
Ph credits: Jaguar Racing