How Rowland stamped his authority on Jeddah as rivals faltered

As Britons locked out the rostrum for the primary time in System E historical past final weekend, Oliver Rowland headed the cost and proved himself to be the all-electric championship’s in-form driver.  

The Nissan driver’s victory in Mexico City a month ago was considerably fortuitous after being aided by a late security automotive, whereas remaining Assault Mode in contrast along with his Porsche rivals forward meant he was in a position to capitalise.

However there was no such luck concerned through the Jeddah E-Prix double-header final weekend, as throughout the mixed 62 laps from each races Rowland led 35 in complete and, however for a shocking last nook, last-lap overtake from Maximilian Guenther, the 32-year-old would have left Saudi Arabia with a double triumph.

Even with simply a single victory and a runner-up end to his identify, Rowland’s spectacular performances have moved him to the highest of the drivers’ standings with a wholesome 17-point buffer over his nearest rival, Taylor Barnard.

There had been a lot anticipation within the build-up to the opening race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, not least as a result of it was a brand new venue utilizing a shorter configuration of the total grand prix format, which was supplemented with no fewer than 4 chicanes to help the power restoration of System E’s Gen3 Evo machines.

But an even bigger focus was on the use of the Pit Boost technology for the first time, which having been extensively examined during the last two seasons was lastly put into service. With every driver required to make a compulsory pitstop through the first 31-lap affair to obtain a ten% battery recharge, there have been hopes it will add a brand new tactical component to races.

Having acquired the leap on front-row starter Pascal Wehrlein from third, Rowland shadowed polesitter Guenther through the opening laps, which consisted of a two-lap security automotive intervention to retrieve particles that had been scattered across the circuit because of quite a few incidents behind the leaders.

Rowland moved into the lead for the primary time on lap 10, Guenther deciding to cede the place in a bid to save lots of power within the slipstream of his rival throughout a race which proved to be quick paced from the outset by System E requirements.

Guenther pitted from second on lap 16 however ideas of taking victory started to slide away as first the German misplaced a place to Nyck de Vries, the Mahindra driver having pitted instantly behind however rejoining fractionally faster.

Each, nonetheless, had been usurped by Jake Hughes and Barnard, because the younger Britons had been the primary drivers together with Antonio Felix da Costa to take Pit Increase on lap 14, with the clear air and Assault Mode making the distinction to initially achieve positions.

“He [Rowland] did all the things proper, made himself very broad however I knew if he needed to raise early [for the last corner] then I’ve acquired an opportunity and I took it” Maximilian Guenther

A lap later Rowland made his cease, admitting after the race that the plan had all the time been to cease later than most to keep away from any potential issues the usage of the brand new expertise may need brought about.

Rejoining in a net-lead, Rowland quickly cycled again to the entrance and proceeded to tug a niche of greater than 3.5 seconds by lap 25 over de Vries, who by the usage of his second Assault Mode had moved as much as second from Guenther. The DS Penske driver had dropped as little as eighth at one level following the pitstop cycle, however armed with each his Assault Modes, he quickly started to make progress.

A transfer into the Flip 8 bus cease chicane elevated Guenther again into second on lap 26, and he started to rapidly shut the margin to Rowland forward with the pair again collectively on the penultimate lap.

Guenther’s beautiful late transfer on Rowland secured him victory within the Saudi Arabian spherical opening race

Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Pictures

With Rowland inserting his automotive in defensive positions, notably on the within into the lengthy left of Flip 14, it appeared that he had victory assured with simply two tight chicanes remaining. However extremely because the chief moved to dam the within into the ultimate chicane, Guenther swept across the outdoors to take snatch victory.

“He [Rowland] did all the things proper, made himself very broad however I knew if he needed to raise early [for the last corner] then I’ve acquired an opportunity and I took it,” mentioned Guenther, after his inaugural win for DS Penske and his first since Tokyo final season.

Rowland would have his revenge within the sequel, although, however once more fell simply wanting taking pole place. That honour went to Barnard, his first in System E which additionally made him the youngest driver to take the accolade.

It continued a exceptional run of kind from the earlier evening, having taken his second podium of the season after surging previous de Vries with a late transfer and simply seconds of his last Assault Mode remaining.

Ending on the coat tails of the 2 leaders, the 20-year-old was assured forward of the second contest however with the race distance the identical because the evening earlier than, minus a further 10% of power afforded from Pit Increase, the sequel featured a higher diploma of peloton racing.

“I knew to maintain the lead for the entire race was going to be nearly inconceivable,” mentioned the McLaren driver, who gave the place up as early as lap seven to Rowland. Thereafter, the person from Barnsley held a slim however essential power benefit and fixed updates between himself and the staff ensured there have been no miscalculations that had price him victory prior to now.

“I all the time have flashbacks of Misano [last season], then flashbacks of Sao Paulo and slightly little bit of yesterday, so there’s all the time a second the place I’m doubting what’s happening, nevertheless it was clear the power benefit was fairly early on,” admitted Rowland after his second win of the season.

Rowland made mild work of holding away from Barnard and put fears of power miscalculation to relaxation

Photograph by: Andreas Beil

As Rowland romped to a virtually 6s victory, his trigger was helped by the fierce battling behind between Barnard and Hughes. The Maserati MSG driver went for a transfer across the outdoors into Flip 1 on the penultimate lap, however strong defending that Hughes believed was simply on the suitable aspect of acceptable meant he took to the run-off space and slotted again in behind.

All this allowed Jean-Eric Vergne and Jake Dennis to shut up, establishing a grandstand end by the ultimate chicanes as Barnard held on from Hughes and Dennis, with Vergne slipping right down to seventh within the last reckoning.

For Vergne’s team-mate Guenther it was a weekend of two halves as Saturday’s race became a catastrophe. After solely managing sixth on the grid, his race got here to an finish on the primary lap as he locked up into the left of Flip 4 and clattered into the aspect of da Costa forward.

“They [Guenther and Muller] each got here to apologise nevertheless it’s arduous to swallow, it’s simply not acceptable at this stage, we’re professionals getting paid to do that job and individuals are behaving like they’re rookies” Antonio Felix da Costa

Da Costa was additionally pressured to retire, and it compounded a depressing weekend for the Porsche man, who had been the championship chief getting into the occasion. The Portuguese driver was pressured to limp house simply ninth within the opener, which was one thing of a miracle as his automotive suffered large rear finish harm after Nico Muller clattered over the again of the Porsche into the braking zone of the bus cease chicane on the primary lap.

“What hurts is that if we rating near no factors as a result of we’re sluggish that’s on us, however I acquired hit massively arduous each days on lap one by very skilled individuals,” mentioned da Costa. “They each got here to apologise nevertheless it’s arduous to swallow, it’s simply not acceptable at this stage, we’re professionals getting paid to do that job and individuals are behaving like they’re rookies.”

Da Costa’s team-mate and reigning champion Wehrlein fared little higher, managing simply eighth within the sequel as a software program subject consigned him to thirteenth on the grid. His efforts from second on the grid within the opener got here to nought on the primary lap as successful from behind by Mitch Evans pressured a pitstop and the German remained in direction of the again of the sphere thereafter.

Da Costa was within the wars in Saudi and duly misplaced his early championship lead

Photograph by: Andreas Beil

Reigning groups’ champion Jaguar endured a torrid weekend as effectively, with season-opener winner Evans failing to attain in both race. After pitting for a brand new entrance wing in race one having accosted each Wehrlein and de Vries briefly order, incomes himself a penalty for the previous, he completed final and was pressured to retire the following day with a technical subject.

Staff-mate Nick Cassidy lastly acquired his marketing campaign off the bottom with fifth within the second race, having didn’t register any factors within the opening three races of the marketing campaign.

After difficult for the drivers’ title over the past two seasons, the Kiwi already sits 58 factors behind Rowland as Jaguar seeks a significant improve bundle through the two-month hole earlier than Miami on 12 April.

System E takes a mini-break now earlier than returning to motion in April

Photograph by: Andreas Beil