As Formula E charges home to Europe, the first race on the European calendar is in the French capital of Paris, with a 1.93km city centre track around the iconic venue of Les Invalides. Home to DS Automobiles and DS Virgin Racing driver Jean-Eric Vergne, the Paris ePrix is an important race for the team as they continue to challenge for a leading position in the overall championship standings.

On 23 April, the French capital will welcome the FIA Formula E Championship for the first time. The event has already sold out, and with such great interest from local fans the exclusive city centre track in the heart of Paris promises to be a valuable addition to the series. Adding this famous city to the Formula E calendar, the promoters continue to fulfil their ideology of city centre racing.

Both DS Virgin Racing drivers Sam Bird and Jean-Eric Vergne will be looking to earn points during the first of the European races. “The championship is reaching a crucial phase,” explains British driver Sam Bird, currently third in the overall drivers’ standings. “This is our opportunity now to push our team into a podium position. I’m feeling confident after gaining pole position in Long Beach. Paris will be a tough track but I’ll be aiming for a good result.”

With a total of 14 turns the 1.93km track is in the heart of the 7th district and will see the Formula E cars weave around the museums and monuments that make up the stunning complex of buildings known as Les Invalides. A location that DS Virgin Racing’s French driver Jean-Eric Vergne knows all too well.

“I started racing in Paris as a child so competing here with DS Virgin Racing will be an important moment for me. It doesn’t surprise me that the event has sold out and knowing the city and its people, I’m sure it will be a fantastic show. Achieving a podium here is my goal, it’s ambitious but the team as a whole have been working so hard to get us to where we are now, I’m aware it’s time for me to give something back.”

DS Automobiles will also be returning to home territory since joining DS Virgin Racing at the beginning of the season. The French brand has integrated its own engineers within the team who have played a key role in the creation and the technology of DSV-01.

For Xavier Mestelan Pinon, Director of DS Performance, the Paris ePrix is a vital race for DS Virgin Racing. “We are rigorously preparing for the Paris ePrix. With the victory in Argentina and the great qualifying results in Long Beach, we know the car can perform and that our drivers have the chance to be competing for the top spots. It goes without saying that for DS Performance it’s the opportunity to showcase our knowledge and brand technology in the heart of Paris, the birthplace of our brand.”

Team Principal Alex Tai knows the team are still in a strong position to challenge for the leading positions in the championship and wants to achieve the results in Paris that his team are capable of: “We have proven our capability and consistency with Sam’s second pole position of the season at Long Beach, and that we are a leading team who are capable of competing with the best. We have seen with the tight racing Formula E provides that anything can happen and I remind the team that success will be earned through making the least mistakes and being resilient in the face of incidents. We have worked tirelessly with DS since the beginning of the season to improve and we have two extremely talented drivers who I’m sure will want to showcase their abilities. I look forward to seeing what Paris will bring.”

The Paris ePrix will take place on 23 April at Les Invalides. Tickets are sold out. For key timings and more information please visit: http://paris.fiaformulae.com/.

Fans can submit a Fanboost vote via the official app or website at www.fiaformulae.com/fanboost or via Twitter and Instagram by posting the #Fanboost hashtag alongside either #SamBird or #JeanEricVergne.

FIA Formula E Championship 2015-16 – Driver Standings

Pos N°. Driver Team Points1 11 Lucas DI GRASSI ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport 1012 9 Sébastien BUEMI Renault e.Dams 1003 2 SAM BIRD DS VIRGIN RACING FORMULA E TEAM 714 7 Jérôme D’AMBROSIO Dragon Racing 645 4 Stéphane SARRAZIN Venturi Formula E Team 486 6 Loïc DUVAL Dragon Racing 487 23 Nick HEIDFELD Mahindra Racing Formula E Team 398 8 Nicolas PROST Renault e.Dams 389 27 Robin FRIJNS Andretti Formula E Race Team 3110 66 Daniel ABT ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport 3111 21 Bruno SENNA Mahindra Racing Formula E Team 2212 55 Antonio FELIX DA COSTA Team Aguri 1613 88 Oliver TURVEY NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team 1014 25 JEAN-ERIC VERGNE DS VIRGIN RACING FORMULA E TEAM 615 1 Nelson PIQUET JR NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team 416 77 Nathanaël BERTHON Team Aguri 417 28 Simona DE SILVESTRO Andretti Formula E Race Team 218 12 Mike CONWAY Venturi Formula E Team 119 12 Jacques VILLENEUVE Venturi Formula E Team 020 23 Oliver ROWLAND Mahindra Racing Formula E Team 021 77 Salvador DURAN Team Aguri 0FIA Formula E Championship 2015-16 – Team Standings

Pos. Team Points1 Renault e.Dams 1382 ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport 1323 Dragon Racing 1124 DS VIRGIN RACING FORMULA E TEAM 775 Mahindra Racing Formula E Team 616 Venturi Formula E Team 497 Andretti Formula E Race Team 338 Team Aguri 209 NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team 14