Formula E: Evans Clinches Thrilling Victory in Shanghai

Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing secured his second win of the 2023 Formula E season in a nail-biting last lap battle with Tag Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein at the Shanghai ePrix. Starting from third on the grid, Evans navigated the peloton race with precision, ultimately snatching victory from Wehrlein on the final lap.

Team-mate Nick Cassidy’s Impressive Performance

Team-mate Nick Cassidy drove an impressive race from further down the grid to claim third, but felt robbed of the win due to having more energy than his rivals. Oliver Rowland finished fourth, followed by Antonio Felix da Costa in fifth, and Jake Dennis in sixth. Pole-sitter Jean-Éric Vergne struggled to maintain his challenge, finishing seventh, with Nyck de Vries driving well to secure eighth, Sebastien Buemi ninth, and Stoffel Vandoorne tenth.

Race Highlights

The race unfolded with Vergne and Rowland getting off to a slow start, allowing Evans to take the lead. Da Costa made early moves, taking Rowland for fourth and then Evans for third at the start of lap two. Frijns also displayed pace, moving up to seventh and then fifth.

As the race progressed, Wehrlein opted for Attack Mode, taking the lead, with Frijns dropping back to fourth. Cassidy found himself in 14th, as a rhythm began to form amid the peloton. Wehrlein took a second Attack Mode, handing his team-mate the lead, but soon reclaimed it.

Dennis made his way past da Costa for fourth, with Frijns dropping to 11th after activating Attack Mode. De Vries moved up to sixth, eventually relinquishing the lead to Wehrlein. Evans soon took second, and by half-distance, he led, followed by Wehrlein and Vergne.

Cassidy started to make moves, working his way up to sixth, as Müller maintained a good battery percentage in 10th. A retirement for Edo Mortara, caused by contact with Jake Hughes, added to the drama.

Intense Battle for the Lead

At the front, the Porsches maintained a 1-2, with Evans stalking their every move. He soon took second ahead of da Costa, while Cassidy moved into fifth. Dennis took his final Attack Mode, dropping only one place to fifth.

In the final laps, Evans desperately tried to take the lead, with Cassidy one percent of battery up on those near him. The battle for first was intense, with Wehrlein taking the lead off-track while dueling with Evans. On the final lap, Evans took the lead, with Cassidy three percent of battery up on him and Wehrlein.

Cassidy tried to muscle past Wehrlein at turn six but could not find a way past. In the final sector, Cassidy touched Wehrlein in the final chicane but could not find a way through, with Wehrlein taking to the grass to defend his position. Evans took the chequered flag, with Wehrlein second, Cassidy third, and Rowland stealing fourth off da Costa on the line.

Evans’ Second Win of the Season

As the Jaguar team celebrated Evans’ win, a furious Cassidy pleaded for answers over the radio, asking his silent engineers: “Can someone talk to me?!” Evans’ win is his second of the season and the 12th of his career, keeping him in contention for the title.

“Can someone talk to me?!” – Nick Cassidy

Formula E Standings

Wehrlein’s second place leaves him 13 points adrift of Cassidy at the top of the standings. The battle for the championship title continues, with Evans’ Shanghai victory keeping him in the hunt.

Upcoming Formula E Schedule

The next ePrix takes place on [Date] in [Location]. Stay tuned for more updates on the Formula E calendar and standings.

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