REPORT: Rowland secures home win for Nissan in Tokyo E-Prix Round 9

The polesitter had slipped to sixth during a late jump for ATTACK MODE but he was able to make the final few seconds of his last mandatory 50kW four-wheel drive boost count as he sliced by then-leader reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein - the Porsche driver squeezing Rowland on the defence between Turns 15 and 16 but unable to hold on with just five laps to run.

Three poles, two podiums and now the race win in Formula E's three Tokyo races for Rowland - much to the delight of many in the grandstands donning Nissan red.

RESULTS: The full Tokyo E-Prix Round 9 classification

Wehrlein would have to settle for second following that late move despite his best efforts to cling to P1, while early leader Dan Ticktum (CUPRA KIRO) was left ruing a late appearance by the Safety Car which scuppered his chances of bettering what was a maiden podium. It could have been more, with the Brit holding energy in-hand over the duo ahead, but Ticktum would be more than happy to secure his first Formula E silverware - and the team's best result since Mexico City, 2018.

Jake Dennis (Andretti) made stealthy progress through the pack with consummate use of ATTACK MODE and some smart moves on the way to fourth, up from 14th on the grid at lights out.

Lucas di Grassi followed up a strong showing in qualifying for Lola Yamaha ABT with a fighting fifth at the flag while Jean-Eric Vergne rounded out the top six for DS PENSKE.

Rowland stretches his legs yet further as the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship passes its halfway mark. He's now sitting pretty on 161 points to Wehrlein's 84. Nissan head Porsche in both the Teams' and the Manufacturers' World Championships as we head next to a double-header in Shanghai on 31 May & 1 June.

As it happened...

Rowland launched well and led through the first couple of turns while Ticktum was forced into defensive manoeuvres under pressure from reigning champion Wehrlein.

Barnard, da Costa and Hughes were among the first of the front runners to jump for their first of two mandatory four-wheel drive, 50kW ATTACK MODE boosts as of Lap 7, with the rest following - except leader Rowland - a lap later.

Ticktum made a move for the race lead into Turn 1 on Lap 8, making it stick in ATTACK. Barnard followed into Turn 15 after Rowland put the squeeze on the NEOM McLaren rookie - smart move from a fearless driver. Wehrlein was next to dispatch the Nissan for third, with Rowland shuffled into fourth and the reigning champion made use of his 50kW boost to take second from Barnard moments later.

A brief Full Course Yellow on Lap 12 came to an end a lap later after debris from Nyck de Vries' Mahindra was cleared. Ticktum fired the field away with Wehrlein, Barnard, Rowland, Mortara, di Grassi, Nato, Bird, Vergne and Hughes the top 10.

Wehrlein jumped Ticktum for the lead on Lap 17 out of Turn 15, while Rowland finally jumped for his first ATTACK MODE deployment - leaving him sixth as it stood.

Cassidy's progress in ATTACK continued as he sliced by the Nissan for fifth at the start of Lap 18 - strong progress from 13th on the grid. Rowland would repay the favour half a lap later to claw that spot back - Nissan banking on a late six-minute ATTACK MODE activation to push the standings leader back up the pack.

Dennis was next to make that ATTACK MODE activation count - the Brit clambering up to fifth and past Rowland before sweeping around the outside of Mortara for fourth at Turn 1 on Lap 21 having started down in P14.

Rowland and Cassidy took their final ATTACK at the start of Lap 22. He made ground up to second amid the lead group making their move for their second ATTACK MODE deployments, with Rowland having just under minute of his 50kW boost over and above the rest.

Nissan's Rowland made that extra boost pay with a storming move around the outside with Wehrlein squeezing hard on the defence between Turns 15 and 16 - the home support thrilled with the Brit's efforts.

No sooner had Barnard fended off the advances of Mahindra's Mortara, was he making a move on Ticktum for third - a stunning leap that caught the CUPRA KIRO driver out. Ticktum didn't like that, though, and he stuck it past Barnard at the final turn of the same tour - Lap 29 - to take third back. 

A grandstand finish was tempered with Mortara nudging Barnard into the wall at Turn 3, forcing a Safety Car. The Swiss didn't much like Barnard's earlier defence, it appears - and he was duly penalised by five seconds by Race Control.

One lap was left by the time the Safety Car peeled back into the pits - Rowland pushed clear through Sector 1, with Ticktum hunting second-placed Wehrlein with more energy in-hand.

The Nissan driver had done enough - another peerless win, number four of the year, in Nissan's backyard.

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