Formula E: Cassidy claims maiden Jaguar win at Diriyah E-Prix

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy sealed a first win for the team of Season 10 with a measured drive in Diriyah.

Cassidy had already taken third spot in the season-opening Mexico City E-Prix and followed that up with the same result in Round 2 from Diriyah yesterday before pushing at just the right time in Saturday’s encounter to hit the front and stay there, amid pressure from second-placed Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) and Oliver Rowland (Nissan) – the polesitter, who ended the race third.

Frijns flew off the line to steal the lead into the first corner from Rowland, but Cassidy had enough pace and efficiency in his Jaguar I-TYPE 6 to stick with the top two and pick his way through the first round of ATTACK MODE activations and take top spot.

Once he had the advantage, Cassidy was able to retain it during his second mandatory 50kW ATTACK MODE boost having built up a 2.5-second cushion. From there, he never looked back and managed things perfectly to the chequered flag, despite Frijns and Rowland being no more than a second behind him for the final quarter of the race. Frijns sealed a return to the podium, with his last trip coming in New York City two seasons ago, while Rowland notched his first rostrum since Seoul in Season 8.

Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren) matched his teammate’s result from Round 2 to cross the line in fourth – a career best – at the site of his maiden pole in Formula E. Season 8 title-winner Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) finished fifth for the fifth time in Diriyah, just ahead of the second Nissan of Sacha Fenestraz – both cars inside the top six for the Japanese marque having scored no points this season prior to Round 3.

Prior standings leader and Mexico City winner Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) wound up seventh, making progress from 10th on the grid to a currently unmatched 14-race scoring streak. Double champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS PENSKE) followed in eighth, Maximilian Guenther (Maserati MSG Racing) ninth and reigning champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) managing only 10th and a bonus point for the fastest lap after a disastrous qualifying session – by his own admission – saw him miss out on the Duels.

All that sees Cassidy jump to a chunky 18-point lead in the Drivers’ World Championship from Wehrlein with Vergne third and Dennis fourth. Jaguar TCS Racing holds a 29-point advantage in the Teams’ table over DS PENSKE.

Formula E returns for Round 4 of Season 10 in Sao Paulo on 16 March.