Mitch Evans bounced back from yesterday’s DNF to finish on the podium in this evening’s second race of the Jakarta E-Prix. It was a contrast of fortune for Nick Cassidy, the Kiwi losing his front wing in contact and finishing in 18th, out of the points.
Maximilian Gunther drove for a commanding race win, topping Jake Dennis by 2 seconds to convert pole position into victory.
Evans fought hard for third, having to defend the entire second half of the race as the front two pulled clear, taking the final podium spot 15.6 seconds down the road from Dennis.
The race results on the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit shuffle the championship order, with Pascal Wehrlein, who finished sixth, taking the lead over Dennis by just one point.
Cassidy drops to third but remains only 6 points off the top spot, while Evans moves up to fourth, 23 points off Wehrlein.
Evans’ strong result came from an impressive qualifying performance, the Kiwi losing in the semi-finals to start third on the grid. He led briefly as Dennis and Gunther used their attack modes, eventually relinquishing when he later activated his own.
Energy saving and a lack of car pace hurt his chances once the two leaders put the hammer down. However, Evans was able to position wisely to prevent the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne, Antonio Felix Da Costa and Sacha Fenestraz from passing.
Cassidy has started 10th on the grid and had slowly worked forward to sit seventh, behind Wehrlein, by Lap 19. An untimely dive up the inside cost the Kiwi, the gap quickly closing and Cassidy damaging his front wing before coming to a stop on track.
He was able to return to running but required a stop for a wing change, never threatening for points from here.
Just five races remain in the 2023 Formula E season, with the title battle now setting the year up for a thrilling conclusion.
The series next returns on June 24 for the Portland E-Prix, before a double-header in Rome (15-16 July) and the season-ending double-header in London (29-30 July).
Header Image: Jaguar TCS Racing
