Jake Dennis (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) secured his first win in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a dominant display at the DHL Valencia E-Prix, converting his Julius Baer Pole Position into victory, ahead of André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) and Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing).
The 25-year-old rookie was able to maintain his composure throughout the day, setting the fastest lap during the group qualifying stages and taking top spot, catapulting the Brit from 22nd to eighth in the driver standings.
With the focus on managing usable energy, the majority of the 24 drivers looked to play the long game and make their progress during ATTACK MODE and towards the end of the encounter where those who’d looked after their usable energy most effectively tried to make it count.
Dennis held fast and even managed a 1.5-second gap to Lotterer to the chequered flag, while the Porsche driver broke his duck to notch his first podium, and maiden points, of Season 7.
Lynn had looked to sit right underneath the rear diffuser of Dennis’ iFE.21 through the encounter and ran second for the majority, until a nudge from Norman Nato (ROKiT Venturi Racing) sent the Mahindra driver into the gravel and sliding down the order. Lynn’s strong energy management meant a late recovery charge and a well-earned debut podium appearance.
Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams) made up a handful of spots with a collected drive to fourth, and while Nato was fifth on track, he incurred a five-second penalty for that move on Lynn, meaning Rene Rast (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) wound up with a nine-place gain – storming through the top half of the pack from 14th on the grid.
Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) came home seventh, NIO 333’s Oliver Turvey slipped to eighth having run as high as second but will still be happy with good points while Edo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) and Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) rounded out the top 10.
None of the Drivers’ standings top five scored points, with the majority starting well down the order as a drying track benefitted the later runners in qualifying. Even so, Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) heads teammate Stoffel Vandoorne and Sam Bird (Jaguar Racing) and Mercedes hold onto their advantage in the Teams’ running.
Next up, Formula E heads to the Principality of Monaco for Round 7 of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, on May 8.
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