Nick Cassidy has returned to the Formula E podium for the second time in two weeks after finishing third in this morning’s Cape Town E-Prix.
It was Antonio Felix Da Costa who took overall honours after a charging drive from 11th on the grid, passing Jean-Eric Vergne in the dying stages to force the Frenchman to settle for second.
Both Cassidy and fellow Kiwi Mitch Evans had qualified well for the E-Prix, locking out the second row after making the duels and winning their respective quarter finals before falling short in their semis.
Cassidy was immense off the start and immediately went about putting the leaders under pressure to take the lead after the first round of attack mode activations.
He retained his lead through the early and mid stages before a Lap 21 Safety Car, caused by a wrecked Maximilian Guenther, condensed the field.
The Envision racer then went about holding a charging Da Costa at bay only to be outdone by a superb overtaking maneuver on Lap 24.
Vergne followed through shortly after and took the lead shortly after when Da Costa missed the Attack Mode activation loop in a bid to extend on his lead.
The duo locked in a tight battle for the race victory with Team Porsche leading DS Penske after the scheduled 30 laps.
Two laps were added in to make for lost time which worked in favour of Da Costa who retook the lead on Lap 31 at the same Turn 7, 8 and 9 complex where he’d passed Cassidy. There were tense moments in the move as the pair appearing to make light contact.
It was enough for Da Costa to take the flag leaving the Frenchman in second.
Cassidy had his hands full with Sacha Fenestraz whilst that had been unfolding up front, the French driver working through to take third and looking set for a podium.
It wasn’t to be for the Nissan racer who hit the wall on the final lap to elevate Cassidy to the podium.
It was a contrast in fortunes for Evans, finishing outside the points after serving a drive-through penalty for an overpower violation early in proceedings. He came home in 11th.
It continues a run of torrid form for Jaguar TCS who leave South Africa without scoring a point after other driver Sam Bird failed to make the start after a massive qualifying shunt.
The Brit was one of five drivers to not take the grid after Mahindra withdrew its and customer ABT Cupra’s cars with safety concerns about the rear suspension.
Championship leader Pascal Wehrlein also failed to finish after running into the back of Envision’s Sebastien Buemi on Lap 1. Buemi was able to keep running and finished fifth but Wehrlein was forced to retire.
He joined Edoardo Mortara, Guenther and Fenestraz as non-finishers.
The German still retains his championship lead, however, after second-placed Jake Dennis also failed to score a point due to a drive through penalty for under pressure tyres.
Vergne moves up to third in the standing and reduces the gap to the leaders with Da Costa and Cassidy hot on his tail in fourth and fifth respectively.
Evans currently sits 12th but will be one to watch going forward with pace evident but luck not on his side.
Formula E returns on March 25 with the Sao Paulo E-Prix.
Header Image: Formula E
