15 July: 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix, Round 13
Pole: Mitch Evans
Winner: Mitch Evans
Mitch Evans underplayed his chances of victory heading into Rome, but privately he must have been confident after winning three times in the Italian capital before. Any doubts the Jaguar man had would have disappeared after a brilliant qualifying session which saw Evans defeat Swiss duo Edoardo Mortara and Sebastien Buemi before defeating teammate Sam Bird in the final.
Evans made it three consecutive wins in Rome, but not before a race of two halves, split by a massive multi-car shunt involving his teammate Sam Bird and several other drivers. Sam Bird jumped into the lead at the beginning, with the pair swapping positions again after the opening of the race before Sacha Fenestraz took the lead.
High drama on Lap 9 saw multiple cars caught up in a massive shunt at the quickest part of the track with Bird losing the rear of his Jaguar over the tricky, rapid and undulating section between Turns 6 and 7. Sebastien Buemi's Envision Racing car clipped the back end of the Jaguar on his way through - the Swiss narrowly missing a square-on impact, though still suffering severe and terminal damage to his car.
Edoardo Mortara flew into the side of Bird's car as it sat stricken in the middle of the circuit while several other drivers picked their way through and escaped with minor damage - including championship contender Pascal Wehrlein. All drivers thankfully escaped unharmed in testament to the GEN3's resilience, and fourteen cars made the restart just under an hour later.
Ultimately it was Evans who emerged victorious to achieve a Grand Slam day after also earning the TAG Heuer fastest lap in what must be his favourite city to drive in. Joining Evans on the podium was the ultra-consistent Nick Cassidy who moved to the top of the championship, and Maximilian Guenther proving his Jakarta form was not temporary in third.
Drivers’ Championship top three:
- Nick Cassidy, 171 points
- Jake Dennis, 166 points
- Mitch Evans, 151 points
16 July: 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix, Round 14
The next day began in Rome with excellent news that all cars damaged the day before had been successfully rebuilt and able to race again. Sunday would prove to be even better for Jake Dennis, who would go on to smash records and lead the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship by day's end.
It all started in qualifying for the Brit who, having started the day five points behind Nick Cassidy, reduced the deficit to just two after beating his main rival in the Duels final to claim three essential championship points.
Dennis did not look back from there - literally, as he led every lap of the race, plus scored the fastest lap to achieve the second Grand Slam in two days, the race win, 29 championship points, plus the record for most Formula E podiums in a season - nine.
The news got even better for the current championship leader as Cassidy failed to score any points in the race after Dennis led away from pole and just about kept himself out of the chaos that struck his closest title rivals Cassidy and Mitch Evans on just the second lap of the race.
As the former took a look at Dennis for the lead into the braking zone at the infamous Turn 7, Evans lost the rear of his Jaguar in the compression, clipped the leader's Andretti and spectacularly launched over the top of Cassidy's car.
Neither Cassidy or Evans scored points in the race after the incident, which leaves Dennis a massive 24 points ahead of Cassidy heading into the double-header season-finale this weekend in London.
Drivers’ Championship top three:
- Jake Dennis, 195 points
- Nick Cassidy, 171 points
- Mitch Evans, 151 points
29 July: 2023 Hankook London E-Prix, Round 15
Jake Dennis headed to home soil knowing he could wrap up a maiden title if things went his way on Saturday at London's ExCeL Circuit.
All he had to do was gap Nick Cassidy by five points and the Kiwi would be unable to overcome Dennis' lead with a round left to race.
Sure enough, the Brit navigated a crazy Round 15 to come home second, with Mitch Evans winning for Jaguar TCS Racing.
Dennis survived two missed trips through the ATTACK MODE loop, heavy pressure from his closest rival and polesitter Cassidy (Envision Racing) as well as two Red Flags to become Formula E's first British World Champion and the first to take the title on home soil - all while sealing record 10th podium of the season.
Dennis' title is also Andretti's first in Formula E - the American team having been a part of the series from day one.
The Kiwi led the early stages before ceding top spot to eventual winner and countryman Evans on Lap 11 and second spot to teammate Sebastien Buemi.
Dennis had earlier made it by Cassidy with an opportunistic move at the final corner just a couple of laps before, with Cassidy immediately fighting his way back by the Andretti - a titanic scrap looked to be brewing.
However, with Cassidy running in formation, close-behind the Swiss, the Envision drivers came into contact. The former's front wing was dislodged, catching beneath his left-front wheel. Repairs were attempted but his race couldn't be salavaged - ultimately gifting Dennis the title.
Drivers’ Championship top three:
- Jake Dennis, 213 points
- Mitch Evans, 179 points
- Nick Cassidy, 171 points
29 July: 2023 Hankook London E-Prix, Round 16
With one title wrapped up, there was still a titanic battle for Teams' honours to settle on the final day of the very first GEN3 campaign.
Pole and advantage came the way of Jaguar customers Envision Racing, at the hands of Nick Cassidy. He duly doubled down come the race.
Cassidy led the charge from the front for Envision Racing amid ultra-tricky, wet conditions in a delay-hit Hankook London E-Prix Round 16 - leading lights-to-flag for a fourth win of the season to help ensure his outfit secured Teams' World Championship honours.
After delays for the wet weather to recede to allow a safe race to take place, Cassidy composed himself to stride to a comfortable race win - heading home fellow New Zealander Mitch Evans and new champion Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) to deliver the Teams' crown the way of Jaguar customers Envision Racing, ahead of the factory Jaguar TCS Racing squad.
Cassidy led from pole, lights-to-flag and set the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap of the race, keeping Evans at arm's length throughout, while the lead pair drew out some 10 seconds over next-best Dennis with conditions as tough as it gets. Not only did the Envision Racing-run Jaguar I-TYPE 6 have the pace advantage but it also looked better on energy, too. That result left Cassidy as runner-up in the Drivers' table.
Drivers’ Championship top three:
- Jake Dennis, 229 points
- Nick Cassidy, 199 points
- Mitch Evans, 197 points