Evans Wins Formula E In Rome

ROME, Italy — Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans claimed victory on the streets of Rome for the second time in his ABB FIA Formula E World Championship career.

Polesitter Stoffel Vandoorne held onto the lead to start off the event, fending off Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns in second as the pack moved around the 19-turn Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR street circuit in Rome.

Trouble would begin when Mahindra Racing’s Oliver Rowland hit the barrier in turn seven, causing cars to back up behind the British driver.

Shortly after, Nissan e.dams’ Max Guenther crashed into the barrier on turn 11, bringing the safety car out while his stricken race car was recovered.

With 35 minutes left on the clock, racing commenced with Vandoorne out in front leading Frijns and Mercedes-EQ Nyck de Vries.

As time ticked down, DS TECHEETAH’s Antonio Felix da Costa in fourth would use Attack Mode for extra power to close in on the top three.

Down into turn four, Frijns made his move on Vandoorne, pulling past the Mercedes driver on the inside of the turn to take the lead. The following lap, both Mercedes’ drivers used Attack Mode — allowing da Costa to move into second — to close in on race leader Frijns.

With his Attack Mode used and Vandoorne still in the higher power mode, the Mercedes driver slipped into second behind Frijns.

Despite contending for the lead early on, da Costa continued to slip down the order before a hit from Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis in turn four set him further back.

Back at the front, Vandoorne and Frijns continued to trade places with Frijns using his Attack Mode between Turns 3 and 4 to pass the Belgian driver and hold Vandoorne at bay in second.

With 14 minutes left on the clock, Vandoorne blasted past Frijns on the uphill section between turn six and seven using Attack Mode, to take the lead.

Shortly after, Jaguar’s Mitch Evans used extra power from Attack Mode to made a successful move on Vandoorne and Frijns to take the lead.

Evans was clear of the pack, out in front by a comfortable margin. After the safety car outing earlier in the race, the race was extended by 5 minutes and 15 seconds.

Into added time, Evans held firm at the front, followed by Vandoorne and DS TECHEETAH’s Jean-Eric Vergne, who’d made his way into third.

On the final lap, Evans would hold the lead on Frijns and Vandoorne in third.

“It is my second win here, I’m feeling great” Evans said. “We have had a tough start to the season to be honest, there has been a lot of work gone in behind the scenes, and the car was absolutely perfect, I couldn’t have asked for anymore. The team has done a great job, I want to say a huge thanks to everyone, let’s hope for the same for the rest of the season.”