Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy have finished on the podium of the opening Shanghai E-Prix, with Evans making a last-lap pass for the win and Cassidy charging through the field for third.
Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein split the pair in second, reducing Cassidy’s championship lead to 13 points with five races remaining in the 2024 season.
Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne qualified on the pole ahead of Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, who topped Evans by just 0.001 seconds in their semi-final duel.
Evans started third, alongside Wehrlein. Cassidy was left tenth on the grid, missing a berth in the quarter-finals by just 0.009 seconds.
Vergne led away from the line, with Wehrlein starting well and moving into second, ahead of Evans.
Cassidy lost places early in proceedings and sat 13th at the start of Lap 2. He remained deep in the midfield for the opening half of the race.
Wehrlein and teammate Antonio Felix da Costa joined Evans and Envision’s Robin Frijns amongst a lead pack. Positions changed regularly, and the Porsche duo controlled the pace to activate both attack modes and remain at the front.
Cassidy put the hammer down on Lap 9 while using his second attack mode, climbing into the top 12 and then into the top six on Lap 15.
Evans remained in the front group and led on several occasions, with Wehrlein, da Costa, and reigning champion Jake Dennis also nearby.
Wehrlein went on to hit the front, entering the closing stages and had the first of the Kiwis right on his tail. Cassidy also inched his way forward, and Jaguar ran second and third, entering the closing lap with extra energy available compared to their rivals.
Wehrlein defended the racing line hard over the final laps, but Evans pounced at Turn 1 with a move around the outside of the right-hander.
Evans then slowed the German through the hairpin to allow Cassidy to attack, but he could not get the move done for second.
However, Evans faces a post-race investigation for allegedly leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Formula E returns for the second race of the Shanghai E-Prix at 6.00 pm on Sunday, following qualifying at 2.00 pm.
Header Image: Formula E
