SANYA, China, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven years after claiming one of the most significant victories of his Formula E career, Jean-Eric Vergne said his triumph in Sanya for Chinese outfit DS Techeetah remains a defining moment in his successful title-winning campaign.
Formula E returns to the southern Chinese resort city this weekend for the first time since 2019, when Vergne produced a crucial victory that helped revive his championship challenge and ultimately laid the foundations for his second consecutive drivers' crown.
At the time, the Frenchman was struggling to keep pace in the title race before his victory on the streets of Sanya transformed the trajectory of his season.
"It was a great moment and it was especially at a point in the season where I was a little bit far away from the championship lead," Vergne said ahead of the 2026 Sanya E-Prix.
"I think that was the most important race of the year in terms of unlocking some potential in the team and gaining a little bit of confidence and momentum for the rest of the season."
The victory carried extra significance because Vergne was driving for DS Techeetah, a Chinese-owned team that enjoyed considerable popularity on home soil.
Winning in front of Chinese fans gave the result an emotional weight that extended beyond the championship battle itself.
"Obviously, I remember winning for a Chinese team, in China, and here in Sanya," Vergne said. "It was a great moment for all of us."
Vergne went on to secure the 2018-19 Formula E drivers' championship, becoming the first driver in the series' history to win two titles.
Formula E's return to Sanya also marks the end of a seven-year absence from the city. The championship had originally planned a multi-year stay after its 2019 debut, but those plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
While DS Techeetah no longer exists, having since evolved into DS Penske, Vergne's victory remains one of the standout moments in Formula E's history in China. ■
