Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries took a first Formula E win in the opening Round of Season 7, besting Diriyah at night to head home Edo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) – by some four seconds – and Mitch Evans (Jaguar Racing) in the series’ first race as an FIA World Championship.
The Dutchman’s victory was picture perfect in the end, with de Vries handling Safety Car periods and pressure from behind to romp home four seconds clear of the pack.
De Vries launched well to cover the advances of Wehrlein and Rast, with the Audi driver pushing his compatriot for second place into Turn 1. A poor getaway from the Porsche man allowed the polesitter to build an early gap to the pack – some 1.2 seconds by the end of the first lap.
The lead group ran as you were with de Vries leading Wehrlein, Rast, Mortara, Evans and Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing) the top six, whilst Jaguar new-boy Sam Bird made his experience tell as he got the jump on Maximilian Guenther into the chicane (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) for seventh.
Rast looked racy in the Audi early on, looking to apply the pressure on Wehrlein in second spot just ahead. De Vries responded to the pressure from behind by setting and maintaining race pace – though maintaining that one-second gap led to complaints of energy overconsumption.
The battle between Evans in fifth, Lynn sixth, Bird seventh and Guenther in eighth looked feisty, with just 1.5 seconds covering the quartet. Bird was able to make up more ground with a slice by the Mahindra ahead setting him off after his teammate on Lap 8.
On Lap 16, Bird and Lynn came to blows in the scrap for sixth with the Mahindra coming off worst – the BMW i Safety Car having to neutralise the race at the half-way stage with de Vries, Rast, Mortara, Evans, Wehrlein, Guenther, Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams), Porsche’s Andre Lotterer, Mahindra Racing’s Alexander Sims and Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) – who’d gained six places to round out the top ten.
De Vries got things back underway with less than 15 minutes plus one lap left to run, and immediately put the hammer down to steal 1.7 seconds on those behind.
With five minutes plus a lap to go, de Vries led from Mortara, Rast, Evans, Wehrlein, Sims, Rowland, di Grassi, Vandoorne and NIO 333’s Oliver Turvey – the Brit a big mover in the opening race.
Rast was able to grab track position back when Mortara swept right at the chicane for a second shot of ATTACK MODE but the battle was now on with the Venturi 35kW to the good over the Audi until the chequered flag. Rast couldn’t fight it, though, with the Swiss moving out of the Audi’s slipstream on that long back straight to retake second. Mitch Evans followed a lap later with a carbon copy on the German for third.
De Vries’ victory was serene as he crossed the line with plenty in hand, whilst Mortara followed in an impressive second with Evans holding firm for third, despite Rast using every trick in the book to get by. Wehrlein was next in fifth and a last lap move from Rowland saw Sims steal sixth. Vandoorne, di Grassi and Turvey – with a point in Round 1 breaking NIO’s Season 6 non-scoring hoodoo – completing the top ten. Rast, meanwhile, sealed an extra point by setting the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap.
Speaking following the first of two night races, HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation said: “What an incredible race. Once again Diriyah has made sporting history with another ‘first’ and I’m so pleased Saudi Arabia has proudly opened this wonderful series to start Season 7. It’s a championship that aligns so perfectly with our future vision and commitment to sustainability as a nation. You can tell the drivers love the track and I’ve no doubt millions around the world have been thoroughly entertained.”
“Due to COVID we have all faced many challenges over the last year. There have been dark moments and many felt staging the race would be impossible. But tonight the light has shone bright and it is clear, the Kingdom is not slowing down. It is a sign of hope and a positive step forward that shows what can be achieved if we work together to overcome all obstacles.”
Carlo Boutagy, Founder and CEO of CBX, the official race promoter, said: “On behalf of CBX, I am delighted that the team behind the Diriyah E-Prix has been able to build a safe, secure starting point to the new Formula E season in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
It has been a pleasure to work with Formula E, the teams, the Ministry of Sport and SAMF to be able to overcome so many obstacles together, and to give this exciting new season the best possible opening event and a weekend to celebrate for fans around the world.”
Formula E’s back to do it all again tomorrow, with Round 2 and more dicing in the dark from Diriyah’s Riyadh Street Circuit and a second jolt of electric street racing to launch the 2020/21 campaign.
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