Second place for Jake Dennis in an eventful London E-Prix – the second last round of the 2023 (Season 9) Formula E World Championship – was enough to make him the first British driver to claim a world title at home.
Dennis, driving for the Avalanche Andretti Formula E team, survived two missed trips through the ATTACK MODE loop, heavy pressure from his closest rival and pole-sitter Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) as well as two red flags to become Formula E’s first British world champion.
Formula E firsts
The title is also Andretti’s first in Formula E – the American team having been a part of the series right from the beginning in 2015 – and Dennis’ first FIA world championship title.
The Briton had started the race on the streets of London 24 points ahead of Cassidy, who picked up 3 points before the race began by earning Julius Bar Pole Position.
Cassidy led the early stages before ceding top spot to eventual winner and countryman Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) on Lap 11 and second spot to teammate Sebastien Buemi. Dennis had earlier made it past Cassidy with an opportunistic move at the final corner just a couple of laps before, with Cassidy immediately fighting his way back around the Andretti.
However, with Cassidy running in formation close behind Buemi, the Envision Racing drivers came into contact. Cassidy’s front wing was dislodged, catching beneath his left-front wheel.
Early exit for Cassidy
Despite pit stop repairs and a return to the track, Cassidy was unable to continue which effectively ended his hopes of pushing on from second place in the Drivers’ World Championship standings. That was good news for Dennis and the Avalanche Andretti team.
Loose bodywork from that clash caused a brief spell under the Porsche Taycan Safety Car, bunching up the pack. Meanwhile, Dennis shared his exasperation over the radio at Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) with the German hanging onto fourth place. The Avalanche Andretti, coincidentally was also Porsche-powered.
But Wehrlein’s challenge then also ended in a shunt just before a red flag for the recovery of Sacha Fenestraz’s Nissan. He and Jake Hughes tangled into Turn 1, with damage to the German’s Porsche being terminal.
Dennis hangs on till the end
On the restart, Evans sped ahead, with Dennis working his way into third – enough to seal the title as it stood.
An over-optimistic move from Norman Nato (Nissan Formula E Team) at the penultimate turn on Lap 34 caused a chain reaction behind with several cars unable to take avoiding action. The resulting chaos brought on another period of race suspension.
The restart came swiftly with a 3-lap sprint to the flag. It was nearly Dennis’… he only had to hold on to his position to secure his first world title. In front of jubilant home support, the 28-year old driver took the chequered flag in third behind Evans.
However, he was promoted to second following a penalty for TAG Heuer Porsche’s António Felix da Costa. Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing) rounded out the podium.
Team title still being fought
While the driver’s title is confirmed, there remains the Teams’ World Championship. This will be decided in the final round today, also on the streets of London in the Docklands area.
Envision Racing is just 8 points ahead of their factory powertrain provider, Jaguar TCS Racing. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team are in third with a mathematical change of top spot.