Dennis Drives to Dominant Victory in Diriyah Double-Header
Reigning champion Jake Dennis showcased his resilience and skill as he stormed to a commanding win in Round 2 of the Formula E season, held in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
Following a disappointing start in the Mexico City season-opener, Dennis redeemed himself with a dominant performance, clinching victory by a staggering margin of over 13 seconds under the lights of Diriyah.
Dennis had faced setbacks in Mexico City due to an uncharacteristic qualifying error, leading to a false start in his title defense. However, in Diriyah, the British driver left no room for error, swiftly recovering from a sluggish start to maintain his lead throughout the race. Notably, Dennis capitalized on the ATTACK MODE, a strategic element unique to Formula E, solidifying his position at the front of the pack.
Jean-Eric Vergne, starting from pole position for DS PENSKE, initially held the lead but found himself under pressure from the Jaguar TCS Racing duo of Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy as the race progressed. A late slip from Vergne allowed Dennis to pull away, relegating the Frenchman into a battle with the Jaguars for podium positions.
In a dramatic last-lap maneuver, Evans attempted to secure second place but ultimately lost control into Turn 18, relinquishing the position to his teammate Cassidy. Cassidy, a newcomer to Jaguar TCS Racing for the current season, executed a strategic race, utilising the ATTACK MODE boosts to climb through the field from seventh on the grid.
The combined performance of Evans and Cassidy propelled Jaguar TCS Racing to the top of the Teams’ standings, signaling a strong start to their campaign in Season 10 of Formula E.
Meanwhile, Sam Bird of NEOM McLaren showcased his prowess in Diriyah with a notable fourth-place finish, gaining four positions during the race. Norman Nato of Andretti secured sixth place, followed by Maximilian Guenther of Maserati MSG Racing in seventh.
Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche, the winner of the Mexico City race, narrowly retained his lead in the Drivers’ World Championship standings by just a single point following a ninth-place finish in Diriyah.
Sergio Sette Camara impressed in qualifying for ERT, securing fourth on the grid and ultimately claiming ninth place, while Robin Frijns of Envision Racing rounded out the top 10.
Dennis’s commanding victory in Diriyah sets the stage for an exciting and competitive season ahead in Formula E, with drivers and teams gearing up for further challenges in the electrifying world of electric racing.
