Mitch Evans has finished fifth in the inaugural Misano E-Prix at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli after provisional winner Antonio Felix Da Costa was disqualified post-race for a technical infringement.
Evans had qualified on pole for the race and remained amongst the top ten for the entirety of proceedings. His Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Nick Cassidy failed to finish, having taken contact from Jean-Eric Vergne through the Turn 8/9 chicane on Lap 6.
Cassidy was forced to box for a new front wing and retired on the penultimate lap, while Vergne received a five-second penalty.
“Today started well after securing Pole in Qualifying, but unfortunately went downhill from there,” said Evans. “The race was messy, and it was difficult to stay out of trouble, and ultimately, front wing damage ruined my chances of a podium today. Overall, a frustrating day but we’ll give it what we can tomorrow.”
Cassidy added, “I made progress at the start of the race today, and by Turn 8 of Lap 1, I was up into second place. However, a collision and damage to my front nose cone ended my chances of points. We have a quick car with the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 and a fantastic team at Jaguar TCS Racing, so let’s go again tomorrow.”
A frantic race at Misano was expected, and it was delivered. Peloton-style racing saw the lead exchange hands countless times, with drivers not wanting to be in front on the straights.
Cars were often three-wide or more in a condensed pack, which saw several drivers suffer front-wing damage or take contact from the rear.
Cassidy had driven from the fourth row and ran second behind Evans at one stage on Lap 1, while Envision’s Sebastien Buemi, who started eighth, also spent time in the lead on the opening circuit.
Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara was an early casualty, pulling off with damage shortly before Cassidy and Vergne came together.
Championship leader Pascal Wehrlein suffered a fate similar to that of his Kiwi rival and was also forced to pit for repairs.
The lead continued to cycle between several drivers, with racing condensed and at a pace some three seconds a lap slower than Cassidy and Wehrlein, who had returned to the track following a front wing change, were managing in clear air.
Da Costa, Oliver Rowland, Vergne, 2023 Champion Jake Dennis, Maximilian Gunther and Evans were running as the top six when the hammer went down at the front, and the pace dramatically increased with six laps to run.
Da Costa and Rowland pulled away over the closing circuits as Vergne, with a five-second penalty looming, kept Dennis at bay.
The Porsche driver would come home for the victory, with Rowland 0.410 seconds in arrears. Dennis completed the podium.
However, Da Costa was disqualified after the FIA determined that “the Throttle Damper Spring mounted in car 13 during the race was not found in conformity with one of the three optional items declared in the GEN3 Spark Catalogue.”
This elevated Rowland to the win from Dennis, with Gunther promoted to the podium.
Dan Ticktum managed a late move on Evans for fourth, leaving the Kiwi fifth and one place ahead of a relegated Vergne. Norman Nato, Stoffel Vandoorne, Sacha Fenestraz and Lucas Di Grassi completed the top ten.
Rowland’s victory puts him at the top of the Driver’s Championship standings with a 9-point advantage over Dennis. Cassidy drops from second to fifth, one place behind Wehrlein and one ahead of his Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Evans.
Jaguar remains at the top of the Team’s Championship, holding a 19-point lead over Andretti.
Round 7 of the Formula E World Championship begins with qualifying in Misano this evening, at 8 pm NZ time, before the second race of the double-header at midnight.
Header Image: Jaguar TCS Racing
