Overtaking and beating the stopwatches at high speeds are the great attributes that offer excitement to motor racing. That is why Formula E implemented a fast Gen3 car that is already making waves on the racetracks.
In Jakarta, interesting comebacks were evidenced that, in addition to the characteristics of the new single-seater, show the great performance and quality of the drivers who are racing.
Jake Hughes, from NEOM McLaren, had an extraordinary race in Indonesia that allowed him to place in the top 10, after starting from 20th place.
Meanwhile, Dan Tickum guided his NIO 333 up nine places in a strategic E-Prix on Sunday. This is how they made the most of their respective weekends.
Gold Struck
“I’ve never been so happy with a point in my life,” declared Hughes after climbing from 20th to 10th in the first part of the Indonesian double-header of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Hughes’ climb meant he was the winner of the “ABB Driver of Progress” recognition, as he turned a difficult qualifying session – where he failed to capitalize on his pace and pole in Monaco – into an unlikely point.
Read also: Jakarta in Numbers: Leader Change and Guenther’s Records
The achievement was no easy task. Overtaking is transacted on a complex circuit where minimum speeds and momentum are critical, meaning big stops and opportunities are at a premium.
Overtaking Comparison
Jakarta saw a total of just 54 passes on Saturday and 80 on Sunday. These numbers stand in contrast to Monaco – a circuit where other series struggle particularly with overtaking – and this year 116 moves were evident.
In Berlin, the competition had more than twice as many as Jakarta with 190 and 172 moves in Rounds 7 and 8.
An added change for the weekend in Indonesia occurred with the first race where two shorter laps were run than the one held on Sunday.
Energy saving was not critical enough to be the only factor in Hughes’ progress. The McLaren driver gained three places on the first lap and three more in the first half of the races as the strategy of Ticktum (NIO 333), Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz and TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa activated the ATTACK MODE.
