Formula E – New York: Two podiums in two days for DS Techeetah!

By Daniel Ortelli / Photos FIA Formula E

With the New York City E-Prix, it was the return of Formula E to the United States, last weekend at the Big Apple docks, with the Statue of Liberty and the towers of Manhattan in the background. .

And two teams got off to a good start: that of the defending champions, DS Techeetah, thanks to two podiums in two races, the first for Jean-Eric Vergne on Saturday (2nd) and the second for Antonio Félix Da Costa on Sunday (3rd). But also that of Sam Bird, Jaguar Racing, because the Briton won by starting from pole position, then leading from start to finish on Sunday, without ever being threatened.

The World Championship ABB FIA Formula E (FE) is totally revived, the suspense is total. There are only four left courses in a month, two in London, then two in Berlin.

Saturday: Günther wins BMW and Team Andretti

It was the German Maximilian Günther (BMW Andretti) who won Race 1 on Saturday, ahead of two former FE champions, Jean-Eric Vergne, alias “JEV”, in his DS E-tense, and the Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi (Audi).

New Zealander Nick Cassidy (Envision Virgin), who started from pole position for the second time this season, like in Rome, got off to an excellent start.

Then he stood up well to JEV, double FIA ​​FE champion. This was without counting on an attack by Vergne on Cassidy, which Günther took advantage of to mystify his two rivals by taking the lead, inside the hairpin at the end of the circuit, 7 minutes from the checkered flag.

This decisive overtaking allowed Günther to win his 3rd FE race, having already won in Chile and Morocco before, in previous seasons. He is also the 9th driver to win this season, in ten races. “It was our race at home, so I’m very happy,” responded Günther, delighted to bring this victory, at home, to one of the two American FE teams, BMW-Andretti. The other is Dragon Penske.

Classification of Race 1 Saturday:

1. Max Günther (GER/BMW Andretti)
2. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA / DS Techeetah),
3. Lucas di Grassi (BRA / Audi Sport),
4. Nick Cassidy (NZL/Envision Virgin),
5. Robin Frijns (NED/Envision Virgin)

Sunday: Bird and Jaguar take back control of the championship

Jaguar totally dominated Race 2 of the New York E-Prix on Sunday, as Sam Bird was untouchable, but the bridle escaped the English mark, when his teammate Mitch Evans left at the fault, a few minutes from the checkered flag… After securing the front row on the starting grid, dominating qualifying and the Super Pole session, Bird and Evans controlled the proceedings from start to finish, playing the teamwork card to keep their initial advantage.

But Evans, under pressure from his compatriot Nick Cassidy (Virgin), already 4th on Saturday, hit the rail three laps from the finish. Slashing his left rear tire, he plunged to 13th place in the final standings, and therefore out of the points. Suddenly, the podium was completed by Cassidy, who starts in FE, and by the defending champion, Antonio Félix Da Costa (DS Techeetah), while the two Porsche drivers, Pascal Wehrlein and André Lotterer, completed the Top 5 .

But the bargain of the day was achieved by Bird who had already won in FE in the streets of New York, when he defended the colors of Virgin. He collected 29 points in the standings, which allowed him to climb in 45 minutes, and only one race, from 11th to 1st place in the World Championship, which he had already occupied at the start of the season.

After this Formula E – New York City E-Prix, there are only two races left in London, still in July, and two last in Berlin, in mid-August, to complete this season 7 of FE. The very first to be contested with the prestigious FIA World Championship label. That is to say more than 100 points to collect, while the first six of the championship stand in 13 points.

Did you say suspense?

Classification of Race 2 Sunday:

1. Sam Bird (GBR/Jaguar),
2. Nick Cassidy (NZL/Envision Virgin),
3. Antonio Félix Da Costa (POR / DS Techeetah),
4. 4. Pascal Wehrlein (GER / Porsche),
5. Other Lotteries (GER / Porsche)

General classification of the Formula E World Championship after the New York E-Prix:

Pilots:

1. Bird (GBR), 81 pts
2. Frijns (NED), 76 pts
3. Da Costa (POR), 76 pts
4. Mortara (SUI), 72 pts
5. Cassidy (NZL), 70 pts
6. Vergne (FRA), 68 pts

Builders:

1. Envision Virgin, 146 pts
2. DS Techeetah, 144 pts
3. Jaguar Racing, 141 pts
4. Audi Sport, 115 pts
5. Mercedes EQ, 113 pts
6. BMW Andretti, 108 pts
7. Porsche, 92 pts
8. Venturi, 89 pts
9. Nissan, 79 pts

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