Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans has missed out on scoring his first win of the 2019–’20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
Racing at the Santiago E-Prix, Evans began the race from pole position alongside Maximillian Günther of BMW i Andretti Motorsport.
Evans led the field away from the front row to establish a handy lead over Mahindra Racing driver Pascal Wehrlein who had found his way past Günther.
Championship leader Alexander Sims stopped early in the race and brought out the Full Course Caution. With 37 minutes left on the clock, the race restarted.
There was drama behind between the experienced heads Oliver Rowland and Sam Bird. Rowlands of Nissan e.dams lost his front wing and carried on while Bird spun and fell to 19th overall.
Having fallen back early on, Günther used the first of his Attack Mode opportunities to surge back towards the front.
Still streaks ahead at the front of the field, Evans’ team told him to use energy early on, a decision that probably cost him the win.
As the race wore on, Evans’ margin dissipated. Günther made the most of his remaining Attack Mode uses and got within shooting distance of the Kiwi as the race neared its end.
The driver from Germany lunged forward and looked to have the measure of Evans who was valiant in defence. Unfortunately, Evans couldn’t keep Günther behind and succumbed at the tight Turn 9.
Günther was quick to walk away from Evans who then fell victim to Antonio Felix Da Costa of DS Techeetah.
With less remaining energy available, Evans fell back while Da Costa surged towards Günther. They embroiled themselves in a captivating battle. Da Costa briefly got by with a daring dive into the Turn 10 hairpin. He forced his way through, making contact with Günther but coming out the other side unscathed.
Günther quickly composed himself and with a minute to go mounted an attack. This time it was a scintillating pass at Turn 9 that got him the place with just a handful of corners to go.
Eventually, Günther crossed the line well clear of Da Costa who was quickly running out of power. Evans was a distant third with Wehrlein fourth ahead of Nyck de Vries for Mercedes-AMG.
Round 4 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship takes place at Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan for the Marrakesh E-Prix over 29 February.
ABB FIA Formula E Championship, Santiago E-Prix
Pos | Driver | Team | Laps/Diff | |
1 | 40 Laps | |||
2 | +2.067 | |||
3 | +5.119 | |||
4 | +7.050 | |||
5 | +9.883 | |||
6 | +11.237 | |||
7 | +14.437 | |||
8 | +18.255 | |||
9 | +20.430 | |||
10 | +21.780 | |||
11 | +23.786 | |||
12 | +27.778 | |||
13 | +43.257 | |||
14 | +47.198 | |||
15 | +1 Lap | |||
16 | +1 Lap | |||
17 | +4 Laps | |||
18 | +1’57.624 | |||
19 | +5 Laps | |||
20 | +8 Laps | |||
21 | +11 Laps | |||
22 | +12 Laps | |||
23 | +36 Laps | |||
24 | +38 Laps |