Formula E title race heats up for Sam Bird as championship heads to Chile

With just four points separating the top two drivers, Formula E's first race in Chile could be crucial when it comes to deciding who lifts the title come the end of the fourth season. 

Virgin Racing's Sam Bird sits behind championship leader Felix Rosenqvist on 50 points ahead of the Santiago and the Briton is keen to continue his run of scoring points in every race this season. 

Bird won the season opener in Hong Kong and followed that with a fifth-place finish in the second race of the Asian double-header, before returning to the podium by coming third in Marrakesh.

But neither Bird nor Rosenqvist, who stars for Mahindra Racing, can afford to take their current standing for granted with Jean-Eric Vergne just seven points behind Bird in third. 

And the 31-year-old is keen not to look too far ahead in what is a highly competitive series. 

Prior to the race, he said: "I think this track is really exciting. We walked around it earlier and every corner is different and they each have a bit of character. It may be bumpy and dirty at the moment but that makes it a typical Formula E track. It looks like it has the potential to be a really good race.

"The only thing I'm thinking about going into each race is taking it as it comes and enjoying it. I didn't have massive expectations going into this year so for me to be where I am right now, I'm just enjoying it. We're on a decent run of form at the moment and I just want to enjoy it for as long as I possibly can."

Unfortunately there was more bad news for reigning champion Lucas Di Grassi after it was announced that he would start the race with a 10-place grid penalty after his Audi Sport Abt Shaeffler team was forced to change the inverter on one of his cars following his Lap 7 retirement in Marrakesh.

It has been a difficult start to the campaign for the Brazilian who has failed to score in any of the opening three races to leave him 19th of the 22 drivers. Already 54 points behind the leader he has a challenge ahead to retain his title with only seven races left after their trip to Chile.