Published on July 16, 2023 at 4:25 p.m. – updated on July 16, 2023 at 5:27 p.m. Mathieu Warnier
While his rivals for the championship Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans hung on and did not score a single point, Jake Dennis was a big hit by dominating the second race of the Rome ePrix ahead of Norman Nato and Sam Bird.
Jake Dennis made a very good deal. The day after Mitch Evans’ success in the first race on the streets of Rome, the Andretti driver dominated the second race head and shoulders. Starting from pole position, the Briton started the 24 laps on the program this Sunday on a false pace in the furnace of Rome. Raising his voice in the second loop, Jake Dennis surprised his rivals and in particular Mitch Evans. In turn 7 which claimed many victims throughout the weekend, the Jaguar driver missed his braking and violently hit Nick Cassidy’s single-seater, even taking off to pass over his compatriot. An incident which immediately caused the neutralization of the event by the safety car, the time to put everything back in place. Two laps later the green flag returned with Jake Dennis leading the way ahead of Norman Nato and Sam Bird. Also caught up in a collision at the start of the race, Jean-Eric Vergne saw his hopes of doing well go up in smokebeing forced to replace his front wing and settling for 15th place at the finish, ahead of his compatriot Sacha Fenestraz.
DENNIS WINS IN ROME ????????????@JakeDennis19 opens up a 24 point lead at the top of the Championship!!!@Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/NFowB7WZke
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 16, 2023
Dennis lands a big shot, Nato held on
Sensing there was an opportunity, Norman Nato tried to pass Jake Dennis but the door slammed shut and the Nissan driver left part of his front wing there. From then on, the Andretti driver gradually broke away and was not worried to get his second victory of the season. after the opening round in Mexico City. Norman Nato, meanwhile, defended tooth and nail his second place despite a damaged single-seater and held on against Sam Bird to reach the podium for the first time in 2023. A welcome result for the Habs, whose place at Nissan is threatened for next season. Making a splash this Sunday with the points for victory, the fastest lap in the race and pole position, Jake Dennis took full advantage of the zero points of Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans. In effect, the Briton will tackle the last two rounds of the season, next July 29 and 30 in London, leading the championship with a very clear margin over his two New Zealand rivals. Relegated to 40 points, Pascal Wehrlein will have to hope for a miracle to snatch a world title which is not out of reach for Jean-Eric Vergne, fifth at 88 lengths behind the leader.
FORMULA E / ROME ePRIX
Classification of race 2 – 24 laps (83.926km) – Sunday July 16, 2023
1- Jake Dennis (GBR/Andretti) a 45’04”323
2- Norman Nato (FRA / Nissan) at 3”105
3- Sam Bird (GBR/JAGUAR) At 3”633
4- Edoardo Mortara (SUI/Maserati MSG Racing) at 4”357
5- Sebastien Buemi (SUI/Envision) at 5”004
…
15- Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA / DS Penske) at 1’26”623
16- Sacha Fenestraz (FRA / Nissan) 1 lap away
…
Ranking of the drivers’ world championship after 14 races (out of 16)
1- Jake Dennis (GBR/Andretti) 195 points
2- Nick Cassidy (NZL/Envision) 171
3- Mitch Evans (NZL/Jaguar) 151
…
5- Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/DS Penske 107
…
10- Norman Nato (FRA/Nissan) 57
…
14- Sacha Fenestraz (FRA/Nissan) 32
…
