In a strategic and controlled performance in Saturday’s Diriyah E-Prix, Nick Cassidy delivered to Jaguar TCS Racing its maiden win of the 2024 Formula E season, with the Kiwi also scoring his first triumph for the British team.
Cassidy’s victory in the all-electric series’ third round also marked his third consecutive top-three result of the year, having finished third in Mexico City and third in Friday’s first round of racing in Diriyah.
The Jaguar charger demonstrated exceptional timing and composure to surge to the front and maintain his position, despite facing intense pressure from Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns who claimed second and Nissan’s Oliver Rowland who started from pole position and finished third.
Frijns seized the lead at the first corner, but Cassidy’s Jaguar I-TYPE 6 displayed impressive pace and efficiency, allowing him to stay close to the top two and utilize the first round of ATTACK MODE activations to take the lead.
Once in front, Cassidy maintained his advantage during his second mandatory 50kW ATTACK MODE boost, building a 2.5-second cushion.
From there, he cruised to the finish line, never looking back, despite Frijns and Rowland pressing him relentlessly in the final quarter of the race.
Frijns’ podium finish marked his return to the top three after two seasons, while Rowland’s third place was his first podium since Season 8 in Seoul.
NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes replicated teammate Sam Bird’s result from Round 2 to cross the finish line in fourth, a career-best performance at the venue of his maiden pole position in Formula E.
Season 8 champion and DS Penske charger Stoffel Vandoorne secured fifth place for the fifth time in Diriyah, just ahead of the second Nissan of Sacha Fenestraz.
Early championship leader and Mexico City winner Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) wound up seventh on Saturday, making progress from 10th on the grid to a currently unmatched 14-race scoring streak.
Double FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Penske) followed in eighth, Maximilian Guenther (Maserati MSG Racing) was 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.
Thanks to his victory, Cassidy takes a commanding 18-point lead in the Drivers’ World Championship standings, followed by Wehrlein in second, Vergne in third, and Dennis in fourth. Jaguar TCS Racing holds a significant 29-point advantage in the Teams’ table over DS PENSKE.
Formula E will resume in São Paulo on March 16th for the fourth round of the 2024 championship.
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Cassidy conquers maiden win with Jaguar in second Diriyah E-Prix F1i.com.
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