After a dominant performance from Pascal Wherlein in Round 1 of the Formula E season in Mexico. Many questions were raised as to what went wrong for the 2023 Formula E champion Jake Dennis. However in Round 2, the first of the Diriyah Double Header Dennis silences all concern as he bounced back to take his first win of the season. Dennis spoke with the media after the race.
“I can only honestly thank these guys out here so much, you know, we’ve had a difficult start to the season, but we turned it around and came back. I got my biggest win in Formula E tonight. The last eight, nine laps I could really give everything and create that 13 second lead. These days don’t come around very often. I got to show these guys tonight and we’ll try and do it again tomorrow.
There was a little bit of debate between me and the team about when we should take it [ATTACK MODE] but ultimately, we got it right. That was the main thing, it’s obviously so difficult to overtake here. We saw Mitch Evans trying to pull a do or die move, and thankfully that didn’t work out and allowed me to get away.
I have to say the enjoyment of racing here in Saudi under the lights and just enjoying every lap. It was so much fun. The track really started to grip up at the end and we could actually push the cars. It was a pretty phenomenal performance.”
Dennis started third on the grid but navigated tricky slick track conditions to out pace his rivals. He finish 13.289 seconds ahead of Jean-Éric Vergne (DS PENSKE). Nick Cassidy (Jaguar TCS Racing) finished third in round 2 but would bounce back in the double header on Day 2 in Diriyah.
Nick Cassidy Bounces Back in Diriyah
After his third place finish in race 1 of the weekend Cassidy was determined to return to his winning ways. Cassidy won the second leg of the Diriyah stop sending himan 18-point lead in the Drivers’ World Championship, with Jaguar TCS Racing securing the lead in the Teams’ standings. Cassidy said, “This is awesome I mean it’s such a dream. I’ve got an amazing car and I’m so privileged but this here… I mean – I want it that way. Every win is special, it’s just been a dream start. I’m waiting for a bad day, it’s gonna come but for now we ride, we ride. I took advantage at the start – I initially thought I went too hard at the start – but, you know, Jaguar TCS Racing gave me an amazing car and I’m super lucky.”
Thus far the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has seen 3 different winners in the first three rounds. The series moves to Sao Paulo, Brazil for Round 4 on 16th March, where the season will continue.