Citroën Racing Formula E Team resumes it’s challenge of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the race calendar resumes this weekend in Sanya following a short break since Monaco. The all-electric series returns to the Chinese venue for the first time since Season 5 in 2019 for the 2026 Lianxin Sanya E-Prix.
Kiwi driver Nick Cassidy will experience the Sanya circuit for the first time in his Formula E career as he takes on one of the championship’s most distinctive venues.
“Whenever you go to a circuit you haven’t raced at before, there are always a few unknowns,” commented Cassidy. “We’ve done plenty of preparation work in the simulator, which helps build a picture of what to expect, but it never tells the whole story.
“Sanya looks like a circuit where energy management, braking and race execution will be particularly important. The challenge is to take everything you’ve learned virtually and apply it in the real world as quickly as possible once the weekend starts.”
The trip to Sanya also marks the beginning of an important Asian phase of the Championship, with a series of races across the region set to play a key role in shaping the title battles.
Located on the tropical island of Hainan, the Sanya Haitang Bay Circuit offers one of the most unique layouts on the Formula E calendar. The 2.520km temporary street circuit, featuring 12 turns and running in an anticlockwise direction, combines long straights, heavy braking zones, tight hairpins and technical sections, creating multiple overtaking opportunities while placing a strong emphasis on energy management and regeneration.
Weather conditions are also expected to play a significant role throughout the weekend. High temperatures and constantly evolving grip levels could have a major impact on tyre behavior, energy efficiency and overall race management.
Following a particularly demanding Monaco double-header, Citroën Racing Formula E Team heads to China determined to build on the lessons learned in the Principality and convert them into a stronger performance in Sanya.
The return to Sanya will also bring back positive memories for Jean-Éric Vergne. During Formula E’s previous visit to the venue in 2019, the Frenchman claimed victory in a race that proved to be a turning point in his season. After a challenging start to the campaign, Vergne went on to secure his second consecutive Formula E World Championship title later that year.
With margins across the field remaining tighter than ever, both Jean-Éric Vergne and Nick Cassidy will be aiming to maximize every session from the very beginning of the race weekend.
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