In a stunning display of skill and determination, Envision Racing driver Nick Cassidy secured a lights-to-flag victory in the final race of the Formula E season. Cassidy’s exceptional performance in treacherous conditions allowed him to rebuff a strong challenge from Jaguar’s Mitch Evans, solidifying Envision’s claim on the teams’ championship. With his sixth-place finish, Sebastien Buemi contributed to the team’s overall success, putting Envision ahead of Jaguar entering the final race.
The season finale took place at the unique indoor/outdoor circuit of ExCeL London, creating an electrifying atmosphere for both drivers and spectators alike. Cassidy, who had taken pole position from the previous day’s winner Evans, was not only aiming for victory but also crucial points that would give Envision the upper hand in the teams’ standings.
The race began behind the safety car due to heavy rain outside the main arena. Race director Scot Elkins decided to circulate the field for several laps before lining them up on the grid for a standing start. However, due to worsening conditions, the safety car was redeployed, and ultimately the decision was made to red flag the race.
After a 30-minute delay and efforts to disperse the water on the track, the race finally resumed with the field behind the safety car. Another red flag was shown after two laps as the standing water persisted. A second lengthy delay followed, but with the rain easing, the race finally resumed at 1830 local time, allowing for the first rolling start on lap eight.
Right from the restart, Cassidy and Evans quickly established themselves at the front of the pack. Their domination was evident as they steadily pulled away from the chasing cars. While Evans struggled to keep up with Cassidy’s pace, he managed to secure a respectable second-place finish, nearly 5 seconds behind the leader.
Meanwhile, newly crowned champion Jake Dennis found himself stuck behind Norman Nato for two laps before making his move when Nato activated his first Attack Mode. Despite the challenging wet conditions, all three drivers effectively utilized their Attack Mode activations early on, rendering energy saving somewhat irrelevant.
Cassidy’s lead over Evans never exceeded 3 seconds for long, with the gap generally stabilizing around 2.5 seconds. Dennis, on the other hand, fell more than 10 seconds behind Cassidy after just 10 laps of green flag running. The extended safety car period led to four additional laps being added to the race distance, allowing Evans to close the gap slightly. However, it was not enough to challenge Cassidy’s dominance.
Dennis ultimately secured a well-deserved podium finish, over 16 seconds behind Cassidy but far ahead of the rest of the field. Stoffel Vandoorne of DS Penske claimed fifth place after delivering a solid performance throughout the race.
Behind the lead group, Buemi in the second Envision Racing car made a decisive move on lap 26, overtaking Jaguar’s Sam Bird on the outside of Turn 1 to secure sixth place. This move cemented Envision’s position at the top of the teams’ championship, extending their lead by 12 points.
Abt Cupra’s Nico Muller fought off intense pressure from NIO 333’s Dan Ticktum to finish eighth, while Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein completed the top ten.
An extraordinary feat in itself, all 22 cars managed to finish the race without any yellow flag periods, highlighting the exceptional skills and adaptability of the drivers in coping with the challenging conditions.
Envision Racing’s dominant performance in the Formula E season finale showcases the team’s resilience and determination. Nick Cassidy’s lights-to-flag victory and the team’s overall success in the treacherous conditions underline their prowess in the world of electric racing. With their victory in the teams’ championship, Envision Racing has rightfully claimed their place at the top of the Formula E hierarchy.
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