PARIS PODIUM FOR SAM BIRD & DS VIRGIN RACING

DS Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird secured third place during today’s dramatic Formula E Paris E-Prix with the Briton clinching the final podium place on the last corner of the last lap. The result means the team maintains its momentum in the all-electric championship, lying second in both the teams’ and the drivers’ standings.

Bird once again looked quick from the off, topping the timesheets in the opening practice session with team-mate and fellow Brit Alex Lynn following suit with P6. In the all-important qualifying session, Bird only narrowly missed out on pole to Jean-Eric Vergne, with Lynn set to line-up in P15 – despite only being half a second off the pace.

As the race got underway, Bird was just able to hold off from a charging Andre Lotterer behind to run second throughout the first half of the race, all the while pushing Vergne ahead.

Then, in the second half, Lotterer made a late lunge up the inside on lap 35 to squeeze by Bird with Lucas di Grassi also getting by a lap later. Lying fourth, it looked like the Briton would miss out on a top three finish but with just seconds to go, Lotterer – now in third – had depleted his energy. Crawling along, just meters from the finish line, Bird was helpless to avoid the stricken Techeetah car, making contact but somehow still managing to limp over the line in third and his 14th podium in Formula E. Despite his pace, Lynn was unable to improve on his P14 finish.

Bird said: “The weekend has been strong for us and the team but Jean-Eric [Vergne] drove a very smart race and we were unable to bring the fight to him. He fully deserved the win and I know how special it is to win on home soil. It was certainly an eventful race and I’m really pleased to come away with third place and more points for me and the team.”

Lynn said: "It's not been the best weekend for me sadly. From our side of the garage we had a little bit of a disappointing qualifying, which then means it's always going to be difficult in the race. We managed to gain a couple of positions but unfortunately couldn’t move further up the grid. However, we know the pace is there and we’ll regroup and bounce back in Berlin.”

DS Virgin Racing Team Principal Alex Tai commented: “Paris has been a fantastic weekend for the team, both on and off the track. It’s great to see Sam on the podium yet again, and at the home race of our manufacturing partner DS Automobiles. We’ve also hosted an Innovation Summit here, as well as announce both a new partner in STANLEY Black & Decker, and a new majority team owner in Envision. With just four races to go, the team remains in a very strong position and we’re very much looking forward to the next race.”

DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan Pinon added: “It’s great to see Sam on the podium three times in a row and to continue being in the top three in our Paris home race, and a real satisfaction to be still in the race for both titles in this really demanding championship.”

Yves Bonnefont, DS Automobiles CEO said: « It was a great race in Paris. We are delighted with the show given to the DS fans. Sam Bird was able to finish the race on three wheels, as did the 1955 DS… It’s a tradition for our brand. »

The next Formula E race takes place in Berlin on May 19.

For more information visit http://map.ds-virginracing.com/. Click here to watch the Paris race highlights

1. JEAN ERIC VERGNE, TECHEETAH (28PTS, P)

2. LUCAS DI GRASSI, AUDI SPORT ABT SCHAEFFLER (19, FL)

3. SAM BIRD, DS VIRGIN RACING (15PTS)

4. MARO ENGEL, VENTURI FORMULA E (12PTS)

5. SEBASTIEN BUEMI, RENAULT E.DAMS (10PTS)

6. ANDRE LOTTERER, TECHEETAH (8PTS)

7. DANIEL ABT, AUDI SPORT ABT SCHAEFFLER (6PTS)

8. FELIX ROSENQVIST, MAHINDRA RACING (4PTS)

9. OLIVER TURVEY, NIO FORMULA E (2PTS)

10. JOSE MARIA LOPEZ, DRAGON (1PTS)

14. ALEX LYNN, DS VIRGIN RACING

2018 FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP

DRIVERS’ STANDINGS (AFTER RD 8):

1. JEAN ERIC VERGNE 147PTS

2. SAM BIRD 116PTS

3. FELIX ROSENQVIST 86PTS

4. SEBASTIEN BUEMI 70PTS

5. LUCAS DI GRASSI 58PTS

TEAMS’ STANDINGS (AFTER RD 7):

1. TECHEETAH 188PTS

2. DS VIRGIN RACING 133PTS

3. MAHINDRA RACING 114PTS

4. AUDI SPORT ABT SCHAEFFLER 107PTS

5. PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING 88PTS

CONTACT INFORMATION

ADRIEN DA CUNHA BELVÈS – DS Performance

+33 685 262791 / adrien.dacunhabelves@DSautomobiles.com

TOM PHILLIPS – DS Virgin Racing, PR & Communications Manager

+ 44 (0) 7496 972965 – tom.phillips@ds-virginracing.com

DS AUTOMOBILES - UK COMMUNICATIONS

KEVIN JONES – Head of Communications

+44 (0)2476 884215 / +44 (0)7880 786596 / kevin.jones@DSautomobiles.com

UK PRESS WEBSITE: http://uk-media.dsautomobiles.com

For more information about DS Automobiles, please visit www.DSautomobiles.co.uk

FOLLOW DS ON TWITTER AT: www.twitter.com/ds_uk_official

FIND DS ON FACEBOOK AT: www.facebook.com/dsukofficial

FOLLOW DS ON INSTAGRAM AT: www.instagram.com/ds_uk

ABOUT DS VIRGIN RACING

The DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team is one of the founding and leading outfits in the FIA Formula E Championship - the world's first fully-electric single-seater racing series.

Headed up by Team Principal Alex Tai and with the continued support of Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson, the team works in partnership with French luxury car manufacturer DS Automobiles, collaborating together in order to power innovation.

The team's commercial headquarters are based in London, whilst it's operational arm is centred at new state-of-the-art facilities at Silverstone, both overlapping with DS Automobiles' facilities in Satory, France - part of the PSA Group's Centre of Excellence.

Now entering its fourth season, the team remains one of the most successful on the grid. From its debut season in 2014/2015, the squad has secured an impressive 467 points, five wins, 13 podiums, six poles, five fastest laps and nine FanBoosts from its 33 race starts. It is also one of only three teams to have recorded victories in every Formula E season to date.

Meanwhile, Virgin Group is a leading international investment group and one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel & transportation, financial services, leisure & entertainment and health & wellness.

For further information visit www.ds-virginracing.com

ABOUT DS AUTOMOBILES

A French brand born in Paris, DS was founded on 1 June 2014. Its ambition is to embody the French know-how of luxury in its cars. Driven by its outstanding heritage and avant-garde spirit, DS perpetuates the values of innovation and distinction inherited from the first DS, launched in 1955.

Designed for customers looking for a means to express themselves as individuals, the DS Collection comprises DS 3, DS 3 CABRIO, DS 4, DS 4 CROSSBACK, DS 4S*, DS 5, DS 5LS*, DS 6* (Chinese market only) and completed with DS 7 CROSSBACK. The models in the DS range stand apart through their avant-garde design, refinement and attention to detail, advanced technology and dynamic serenity.

DS 7 CROSSBACK, the SUV featuring Parisian-style innovation and savoir-faire, ushers in the second generation of DS models. Committed to high-performance hybrid and electric cars, the Brand will launch the DS 7 CROSSBACK E-TENSE 4x4, the hybrid powertrain by DS, in 2019.

DS models are available from DS Stores and DS Salons. DS also has flagship stores, DS WORLD PARIS, 33 rue François 1er in Paris, France and DS Urban Store, at Westfield London. DS represents a brand experience that goes beyond the products to include ONLY YOU, a collection of exclusive services showcased at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

Follow all DS news on www.DSautomobiles.com @DS_Official

ABOUT THE FIA ABB FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP

The FIA ABB Formula E Championship is the world's first fully-electric single-seater racing series, competing on the streets in the backdrop of some of the most iconic cities - including Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Santiago, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Rome, Paris, Berlin, Zurich and New York. The championship represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions. Future seasons will see the regulations open up further allowing manufacturers to focus on the development of motor and battery components, which in turn will filter down to everyday contemporary electric road vehicles.

ABOUT TOTAL

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and a major player in solar energy with SunPower and Total Solar. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.

ABOUT FIA & MICHELIN – TODAY’s Partners for tomorrow’s Mobility

As well as being the official Formula E tyre supplier, Michelin is an official partner, at the international level, of the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign. The programme is designed to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety initiated by the UN, the aim of which is to save five million lives over the next 10 years. This programme is set up to educate and advocate for safer roads, vehicles and behaviours around the globe.