Stefan Rzadzinski takes third in China I-PACE eTROPHY race
TOPPED THE TIME SHEET IN PRACTICE. QUALIFIED FOURTH.
The TWR TECHEETAH team has claimed its first podium finish in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Championship, with Canadian driver Stefan Rzadzinski taking third place in the fourth round of the series on the streets of Sanya, China.
Rzadzinski started the weekend brightly by topping the timesheets in Friday’s Free Practice session, setting a time that put him 0.216 seconds clear of the pack. Amidst close competition, the 26-year-old Canadian converted his early pace to qualify in P4 for the race.
Keeping a cool head in the 36°C heat and a red flag period that paused the racing action while a competitor’s car was recovered from the track, Rzadzinski looked good for a podium finish from the off. A heavy shunt, where the Canadian was hit by a competitor who tried a late dive down the inside at the hairpin, saw him drop to P5 as the chequered flag fell.
But in a post-race twist, two competitors were handed penalties – including for the heavy contact against Rzadzinski at the hairpin – which lifted the TWR TECHEETAH driver to P3 in the official results, delivering the team’s first podium in turn.
Keith Smout, TWR TECHEETAH Team Principal, said:“Our thanks to Stefan for delivering our first piece of silverwear. We’re looking forward to the next round in Rome already and hope to claim our next podium finish with a win on track.”
Stefan Rzadzinski, TWR TECHEETAH driver, said: “I’m so happy to have put the team on the podium for the first time and to have delivered on the promise that we have shown since the beginning of the season. The race was intensely demanding – both in terms of the pressure from our competition, as well as the intense, tropical heat.”
“I’d like to thank our sponsors and the team for making this win possible, and a special thank you to the fans for their support throughout the past four rounds. I’m looking forward to bringing a winner’s trophy to the TWR TECHEETAH team soon.”
The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY series, which is the official support category for FIA Formula E, will return for action on 13th April in the heart of Rome on the 2.86 km Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR track.
Images and content: TWR TECHEETAH team / Motorsport Images
