The FIA Formula E Championship will take to the streets of Marrakesh in Morocco this Saturday, 13 January, for round three of the 2017/18 season. The 1.86-mile circuit comprises 12 corners, beginning by following the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan before joining the city streets of Marrakesh. Located alongside the centuries-old Marrakech Wall, the race takes place just a few minutes from the medina and world-famous souks.

The all-electric championship heads to the African continent following an unpredictable and intense first event in Hong Kong in December. The established hierarchy of the previous season was literally turned on its head, as season three’s two main protagonists Sebastien Buemi and eventual champion Lucas di Grassi found themselves fighting to get into the points while some of the series’ young guns were battling for the top spots.

Sam Bird was the first winner of the season for DS Virgin Racing, and leads the standings by a narrow margin with another strong finish in round two. Having scored a podium in Marrakesh last year the Englishman will be looking to carry that momentum forward this weekend.

It was an eventful second round in Hong Kong for eventual winner Felix Rosenqvist, who spun his Mahindra car in the first corner but ultimately recovered to take a maximum points haul with pole position, fastest lap and the race win. He impressed everyone at last year’s Marrakesh round by taking pole position for only his second race in Formula E, and now with a year’s experience is likely to be at the sharp end once again. Rosenqvist’s team-mate Nick Heidfeld was a runner up at the first event and is still looking for a breakthrough first win in the championship.

Until the very last lap of round two, it was in fact Venturi’s rookie driver Edoardo Mortara who looked certain to take victory, but as he tried to push for the fastest lap of the race he spun his car and ended up crossing the line third.

Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne was quickest out of the box at the start of the season having grabbed the first pole position, and while he couldn’t quite convert it into victory, a second and fourth place on the Harbourfront circuit puts him second in the standings and in a strong position coming into this event.

Spirits are high in the Panasonic Jaguar Racing garage following their best weekend to date in Formula E in Hong Kong. Mitch Evans scored the marque’s first podium, while Nelson Piquet Jr also started strongly with a fourth place in the season-opener.

The upcoming race will see the 20 drivers battle it out over 33 laps – see the day’s full timetable below:

Event Timetable

SATURDAY, 13 JANUARY

Championship standings