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Rowland: Formula E races like karting which is 'best in the world'

Nissan e.dams driver Oliver Rowland has compared the style of ABB FIA Formula E's competition to what he believes is the "best in the world", kart racing

Rowland joined FE for the 2018/19 season after Alexander Albon left Nissan on the eve of the season for a 2019 Toro Rosso Formula 1 drive.

Since joining the team, Rowland has shone at times during his debut season, outqualifying team-mate Sebastien Buemi in the last two rounds and has impressed in his wheel-to-wheel battling in recent races.

Asked whether he enjoyed the style of racing FE promotes, Rowland told Autosport: "It is [robust]. I've done a lot of karting in my years, I've got a karting team. That racing is best in the world.

"If you watch any kart race it's the best, they touch each other, they hit each other, they bump each other. Of course within reason, if you deliberately smash someone off it's a different story.

"If you run someone a bit wide if you nudge someone and don't gain a position or an advantage it should be swept under the carpet.

"Sure some people might take a liberty sometimes, it happens, as long as they're penalised rightly.

"I really enjoy it [in FE]. In Formula 2 if you think about making a move and you damage your front wing, it makes a big difference and can end your race. Here you could try, touch, and still carry on which is good. It's why you see so much overtaking.

"You're not scared to damage your car and I'm a fan of it."

Reigning FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne has been critical of racing standards in the series this season, after getting embroiled in mid-pack incidents in recent races.

The Gen2 FE car's lack of aerodynamics - meaning the cars rely mostly on mechanical grip - and the narrow street circuits it competes on has helps cause minor contact, and Vergne believes there needs to be greater clarity on what is considered a fair overtake.

The Techeetah driver finished 13th in Hong Kong after earning a penalty for colliding with NIO's Tom Dillmann.

"I'm not frustrated but this is the kind of race I like," Vergne told Autosport.

"We need to understand what the penalties can be and if we are able to overtake by touching other drivers.

"As long as this is clear, we can all play by the same rules, then I get why not?

"But I don't think that's what people want to see."

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