The ABB Formula E world championship enjoyed a successful return to the Principality, as the drivers battled it out on the street circuit of Monaco in an electric race on the afternoon of Saturday, May 6.
Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy fired to the top of the championship with a storming drive from ninth on the grid to the race win, as some slick early-race moves proved to be decisive for the Kiwi, who managed to make three overtakes in one go at the famous Fairmont hairpin.
Wringing his bright green I-TYPE 6 by its metal neck all the way to the front of the pack by only the seventh lap, Cassidy then had the challenge of keeping his compatriot competitor Mitch Evans in the rear view mirror. Jaguar’s Evans had himself clambered from sixth on the grid to second at the chequered flag, coming within touching distance of Cassidy’s Envision until a Safety Car separated the Kiwis three laps from the race finish.
With a ‘Driver of the Day’ performance on the Principality’s streets, Cassidy won the race and climbed to the top of the championship standings. Evans crossed the line after his fellow countryman and Jake Dennis of the Avalanche Andretti followed suit to complete the podium, having stormed from 11th to third place.
Fans of the relatively new racing series will have enjoyed another absorbing Monaco E-Prix, as the cars were small enough to take each other on in proper wheel-to-wheel battles. In fact, this year’s E-Prix saw 116 overtakes, a shocking number especially when compared to that of its fossil-fuelled alternative. The 2022 Monaco F1 Grand Prix saw only 12 overtakes, of which only two were shown on live broadcast thanks to some remarkable TV direction courtesy of the Automobile Club de Monaco.
Featured image: Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy
