Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein has triumphed in a thrilling Formula E World Championship title showdown in the season’s final race.
Second place, ahead of Evans, was enough for the German to secure the title by six points over the Kiwi, who battled for his third consecutive podium in third.
Having led the championship by 25 points over Wehrlein ahead of the penultimate double-header in Portland, Nick Cassidy only scored nine points over the final four races to finish the season in third.
The 2023 runner-up sat seven points off the lead ahead of the final race and staked his claim to the title by claiming the pole and three championship points in this morning’s qualifying outing.
Cassidy’s chances, however, were compromised late in the decider when contact from Maximilian Guenther immediately caused a puncture, ending the Kiwi’s race.
Evans missed the Attack Mode activation loop while attempting to begin his second 50kW boost on Lap 33, which lost him ground on Wehrlein and Oliver Rowland. He successfully activated it on the penultimate lap but could not fight, having to slow down to squeeze the boost in before the chequered flag.
Rowland went on to win the race ahead of Wehrlein and Evans.
There was minor consolation for the all-Kiwi Jaguar TCS Racing lineup, who did clinch the Team’s Championship for their outfit.
The scene was set for a scintillating title showdown in the final qualifying session of the season.
Cassidy topped Group A and won his quarter-final duel before a showdown with Wehrlein in the semi-finals. The Kiwi triumphed in that, 0.14 seconds to the good of the eventual title winner.
Evans, too, qualified for the semi-finals but lost to Maximilian Gunther by just 0.046 seconds and was consigned to the second row.
Cassidy triumphed in the final over Gunther to claim the pole.
With one race remaining in the season, only four points separated the three contenders, who all featured on the front two rows.
Evans jumped Guenther to make it a Jaguar one-two into Turn 1, while Wehrlein settled into fourth.
The first Safety Car came following contact between Jake Dennis and Edoardo Mortara at Turn 3 on Lap 2.
Wehrlein climber to third to make a title contender one-two-three on the track with a tidy leap up the inside on Guenther on the final turn of Lap 6.
The second Safety Car followed on Lap 7 when Jehan Daruvala squeezed Sam Bird into the wall. Dan Ticktum and Norman Nato were also caught in the incident.
Much to his displeasure, Evans played rear-gunner to allow Casisdy to activate his first Attack Mode unchallenged shortly after the Lap 10. He would not repeat the favour a second time and hit the front ahead of Wehrlein when Cassidy activated his second allotment of added power.
By Lap 18, Rowland had worked his way from ninth on the grid and sat on the tail of the lead trio. Da Costa had also made ground and was fifth come Lap 22, with his teammate and Evans still needing to use Attack Modes.
Wehrlein had done well saving power over the early stints and was three per cent to the good of the Kiwi leader by Lap 24.
Rowland made his way to third ahead on Cassidy through the final corners on Lap 29, but the pack consolidating behind saw Guenther make contact with the Jaguar, sending it into a half-spin and puncturing his left rear.
Cassidy immediately dove into the pits for repair, and the three-car title battle was down to two.
Evans and Wehrlein both attempted to take their first Attack Modes shortly after, but both failed due to the Safety Car appearing for the recovery of Guenther’s Maserati, which was left stricken after its front wing lodged beneath his car after the contact with Cassidy.
Rowland hit the front as the leaders attempted to run through the activation loop.
After the green flag, Evans and Wehrlein successfully activated their first Attack Mode allotments on Lap 31. Rowland was ordered to give Evans the lead for taking the lead during the Safety Car intervention, returning to split the two title contenders.
Evans and Wehrlein attempted to activate their second Attack Modes on Lap 33, and only the latter did so successfully. Rowland returned to the front as they did so, but Evans retained second, ahead of his rival.
However, he did lose his place on the next tour when he was forced to run wide a third time, giving the Porsche second place and the championship advantage.
Needing his two-minute allotment to finish before the chequered flag, Evans was forced to slow and was subsequently unable to challenge Wehrlein for the position over the final lap.
Header Image: Formula E
What an utter cock up by the kiwi boys. Heart braking for us spectators , must have been gutting for the Jag team.