Brazil dressed up to receive the first Formula E E-Prix in its history. The Amazonian country, a land of motorsport tradition, lived an unparalleled party that combined with the category of the 22 drivers that make up the grid of the electric series.
Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) led a one-two-three for the Jaguar powertrain, with Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) and Sam Bird (Jaguar TCS Racing) crossing the line together.
The trio finished just half a second apart to close out an exciting inaugural E-Prix Julius Baer São Paulo in front of more than 23,000 passionate motorsport fans.
Related content:Airspeeder Unveiled Crewed Version of MK4 Flying Vehicle
Evans in the Lead
Evans managed to work his way through constant position changes through the pack to take the checkered flag first from third on the grid.
The New Zealander took the initiative and the race lead from compatriot Cassidy when the race went into extra laps after multiple safety car incidents.
His move on lap 32 proved decisive, as neither Cassidy nor Evans’ teammate Bird could undo the leader’s defensive driving, even though Bird had accumulated a couple of extra percentage points of usable energy during his move up from tenth on the grid early on.
Cassidy had led the race more than once, but will be more than pleased to score three consecutive podiums for the first time in his Formula E career.
Uneven Road for the Champion
Defending World Champion Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE) started in Julius Baer Pole Position and led the way from the start, fending off António Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) during the first round of ATTACK MODE activations until the race reached the halfway point.
The lead was nearly impossible to track on lap 14 with three or four changes on that tour alone and Cassidy coming out on top.
But Vandoorne would finish sixth after fighting for usable energy from his time out front. Da Costa had dropped to fourth and briefly made podium designs, but ended up settling just outside the top positions.
The Comeback of the Leader
Qualifying leader Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) had to row from 18th on the grid and managed to work his way through the pack to seventh at the checkered flag with Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team) finishing eighth, just ahead of teammate René Rast in ninth and with Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) completing the top 10.
Meanwhile, Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E Avalanche) suffered another failure after contact from Dan Ticktum‘s NIO 333 saw his 99X Electric pushed into Wehrlein’s Porsche.
Wehrlein maintains his lead in the World Drivers’ Championship with an 86-point advantage over Dennis, who accumulates 62 points. Cassidy moves up to third place, just one point behind the Briton.
