Edoardo Mortara hit the top of the FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship with victory in the Marrakesh E-Prix as the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver fended off severe pressure from DS TECHEETAH teammates António Félix da Costa and Jean-Éric Vergne throughout.
Da Costa started on Julius Bär Pole Position and, after falling behind Mortara during the early duo of ATTACK MODE activations, he clung to the back of the Swiss’ car as the race reached its climax. But the Season 6 champion couldn’t make it past the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver who looked utterly unflustered on the way to the top step and his third win of the season, as well as the standings lead.
Mercedes-EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne was top of the Drivers’ World Championship going into the race but a braking glitch in qualifying left him down in 20th on the grid. He recovered to finish eighth but with just four points on the day, Mortara stands tall at the end of Round 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Vergne had found himself in second heading into the closing stages with two percent of usable energy available before he slipped back behind da Costa to an eventual fourth position. Fellow title challenger Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) fought from sixth on the grid to the podium with a final lap lunge on Vergne for silverware and a handful of extra, crucial World Championship points.
“That was a tough one to manage, they threw everything at us: battery management, thermally and also energy-wise,” commented Evans. “Obviously battling with the other guys, I lost a bit of ground at the start, but then made it back. The team guided me really well today. It was hard to manage but we got there. Another podium, a lot of points, another trophy – I’m happy.
“Obviously you’ve got a rough strategy and you’ve got to play through instincts a bit. To be honest, I settled for fourth and then JEV was struggling towards the end managing something so I was able to pick him off at the end and that’s full credit to the guys for guiding me through really well.”
Next time out is the New York City E-Prix on 16 and 17 July for Rounds 11 and 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The much-anticipated double-header takes place on the streets of the Red Hook district of Brooklyn against the spectacular backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.
Two more double-headers close out Season 8, with the London E-Prix weekend on 30 and 31 July before the championship climaxes with a first-visit to South Korea and the Seoul E-Prix weekend on 13 and 14 August.
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