The System E 2023/24 season involves an in depth this weekend with the London E-Prix double-header on the ExCeL Area as all three titles stay nonetheless up for grabs.
Simply 33 factors separate Jaguar and Porsche within the groups’ title race, whereas the latter holds a 19-point margin over its British rival within the new-for-2024 producers’ battle.
However the principle focus can be on the drivers’ title, with seven people nonetheless in with a mathematical probability of successful the title in London.
Forward of the 2 races this weekend, each of which can be shown on free-to-air TV via the channel Quest for the first time this year, listed below are how the championship protagonists stack up:
7. Jake Dennis
It hasn’t been a powerful title defence to this point for Dennis
Photograph by: Andreas Beil
This time 12 months in the past, Jake Dennis was on the cusp of his maiden System E title and after a dramatic penultimate race which included two purple flags, the Briton secured a coveted world title on house soil.
The reigning champion heads again to London with a mathematical probability of retaining his crown however being 45 factors off the highest spot with solely 58 obtainable throughout the weekend means it’s an nearly inconceivable activity. Whilst early as Shanghai in Might, Dennis claimed that “for sure I’m out of the championship” as his Andretti machine lacked the tempo of Porsche and Jaguar runners.
A dominant win within the opening Diriyah contest again in January is Dennis’s solely victory this 12 months, as a run of three podiums throughout Tokyo and Misano double-header earlier than the mid-point of the season stored him within the midst of the title battle. However three non-scores throughout the second a part of the marketing campaign in Monaco, Berlin and Shanghai – coupled with no additional rostrums – means one eye is already on the 2024/25 marketing campaign.
Even so, with Andretti a buyer outfit to Porsche, robust outcomes to finish the season would assist the German model within the producers’ standings and will but play an element within the vacation spot of the drivers’ title.
6. Jean-Eric Vergne
Vergne’s been a constant factors scorer however hasn’t been in a position to climb to the highest step of the podium this 12 months
Photograph by: DPPI
The one one of many title protagonists who has but to register a win this season, Jean-Eric Vergne’s consistency means he nonetheless has a shot at this 12 months’s title. Throughout the 14 races to this point this time period, Vergne has solely failed to complete within the factors as soon as when he was unable to progress via the sphere after beginning exterior of the highest 10 in Tokyo.
Three podiums have been the spotlight, the most recent coming within the opening race at Portland the place he climbed from 14th on the grid to take the ultimate spot on the rostrum, whereas victory within the opening Berlin race would have been his however for Nick Cassidy’s various vitality technique.
The one two-time System E champion has additionally taken three pole positions this time period (the joint most within the season) which has helped transfer his profession whole to a brand new report within the all-electric championship with 17, whereas the hiring of the Frenchman’s ex-F1 engineer Phil Charles mid-season has solely strengthened DS Penske’s outright tempo.
Regardless of being 38 factors behind within the championship standings, Vergne’s robust qualifying type and strong, defensive driving may play a vital half within the championship battle, particularly across the tight and twisty confines of the ExCeL.
5. Oliver Rowland
The shock package deal of the season, Rowland misplaced important floor when he missed the Portland races resulting from sickness
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Surely the darkish horse of 2024, Oliver Rowland has reignited his profession having left Mahindra mid-season final 12 months after a disastrous run of type. Now again at Nissan, the Briton has been a challenger for race wins for the reason that second spherical of the season in Diriyah the place he completed third – having began on pole.
One other pole place got here for Nissan’s house race in Tokyo, the place Rowland was pipped to the win by Maximilian Guenther within the closing levels. However he left Japan having registered three podiums from the primary 5 races.
Victory, solely his second in System E, was inherited within the opening Misano race after Antonio Felix da Costa was disqualified for an unlawful element on his automotive. The outcome put Rowland to the highest of the standings, earlier than a glitch together with his lap counter denied him one other win the following day as he ran out of vitality on the ultimate tour.
A double podium in Berlin and two extra factors finishes in Shanghai stored him within the championship combine, however his title aspirations took a blow final trip as he was unable to race in Portland due to illness, which was understood to be an ear an infection.
Given the all-clear this weekend, Rowland can be itching to place in a powerful displaying on house soil, even when the factors deficit stands at 36.
He stated: “I am delighted to be again after lacking the final spherical in Portland, initially it was laborious to simply accept however I am now feeling significantly better and able to tackle the ultimate spherical. It has been a constructive season with a win, a number of podiums and a few pole positions too, so I will be wanting so as to add to this in London at a observe I actually get pleasure from.”
4. Antonio Felix da Costa
4 wins from the final 5 rounds have thrust da Costa into the title battle – one thing unthinkable after zero factors from the opening three races
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
4 wins from the final 5 races implies that Antonio Felix da Costa is the motive force in type on the most important stage of the season. It’s additionally a run of outcomes that would not have regarded additional away simply six months in the past, because the Porsche driver started his marketing campaign with three non-scores in Mexico Metropolis and Diriyah.
Very important factors finishes adopted in Sao Paulo and Tokyo earlier than a breakthrough win in Misano, just for da Costa to be stripped of a well-deserved victory resulting from a automotive breach associated to his automotive’s throttle pedal setting.
A primary official win of the season adopted 4 races later within the second Berlin bout and once more on the subsequent spherical in Shanghai. The Portuguese loved nearly the proper weekend within the US final month by successful each races. He inherited the opener, after on-the-road winner Mitch Evans was handed a five-second penalty, earlier than displaying his dominance within the second outing.
“Contemplating the place we began the season [with three non-scores], when you instructed me 4, 5 months in the past that I might have gained 4 races this 12 months I might not have believed you,” stated da Costa, who sits because the highest-placed driver to have beforehand gained a System E crown.
PLUS: How da Costa’s double and Cassidy’s collapse sets up a Formula E showdown
The lost 25 points for his victory in Misano have proved essential, although, as he sits 33 factors off the highest of the drivers’ standings. However given his scintillating run of type, he may nonetheless feasibly problem for a second System E title this weekend.
3. Pascal Wehrlein
Wehrlein’s type has contrasted da Costa’s, with only one podium from the final seven races
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
The perfect positioned of the 2 Porsche drivers, Pascal Wehrlein has been some of the constant performers this season, having solely failed to complete within the factors twice in 14 races.
His marketing campaign started within the good style with pole and victory within the Mexico Metropolis season opener, earlier than a run of 4 factors finishes that was solely ended within the opening Misano race after damaging his entrance wing.
He was in prime place to learn from Rowland’s vitality miscalculation within the sequel, securing his remaining win of the 12 months to this point, earlier than one other 4 race-run of factors finishes which culminated within the runner-up spot in Shanghai.
A puncture within the second race meant solely his second non-score and whereas team-mate da Costa loved a powerful weekend in Portland, Wehrlein was left to select up the items as he completed tenth and fourth, every time with injury that leaves him 12 factors down within the standings.
Porsche has received on high of its poor qualifying type from final season, evidenced by three poles for Wehrlein in 2024, and the outright tempo of the German mixture may show key on a observe the place overtaking is tough.
2. Mitch Evans
As soon as once more Evans is within the title showdown however is aware of he wants assist elsewhere to catch team-mate Cassidy
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images
For the fourth 12 months in a row, Mitch Evans enters the ultimate System E occasion of the season with a sensible probability of strolling away with the title. Like Wehrlein, he finds himself simply 12 factors behind Jaguar team-mate Nick Cassidy.
The Kiwi, as in earlier years, has performed catch-up for a lot of the marketing campaign after two non-scores within the opening half of the season, with a victory in Sao Paulo additionally snatched from him within the remaining turns by McLaren’s Sam Fowl.
Having come near successful in Monaco not solely in System E however junior single-seater classes as properly, Evans lastly realised that dream as he headed house Cassidy after a Jaguar technique masterclass.
It marked a turning level, as since then Evans has completed within the factors throughout the final six races. This included a second win within the Shanghai opener and third within the second Portland race, however only after losing the win the day before due to a time penalty for a collision.
A possible downside for Evans this weekend may come up if Jaguar decides to implement crew orders, one thing the British producer has been in opposition to to this point this season. However ought to the squad discover itself ready the place it could assure the groups’ or producers’ crowns, then Evans could also be pressured to play second fiddle on the expense of the drivers’ standings.
1. Nick Cassidy
Cassidy can’t afford one other double catastrophe as he suffered in Portland
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Nick Cassidy sits in prime place to say his maiden System E title this weekend, the Jaguar driver 12 factors clear on the high of the desk after impressing in his maiden season with the crew.
The Kiwi returns to London 12 months after he may have feasibly gained the title with Jaguar buyer outfit Envision, when a collision with team-mate Sebastien Buemi scuppered his probabilities and meant he completed runner-up within the standings to Dennis.
Since transferring to the manufacturing facility crew, Cassidy has been the category of the sphere as two wins in Diriyah and Berlin, together with an extra six podiums, have propelled him to the highest of the standings for the reason that German occasion in Might.
However the Kiwi enters the London E-Prix double-header having failed to attain in both Portland race final trip, which included spinning from the lead on the penultimate lap of the opener when on course to all but secure the title.
His solely main mistake of the season has come at a vital second and opened the door for others to probably steal a crown that has regarded like his for a lot of the 12 months.
“You stroll into the battle with weapons up and also you go for it,” stated Cassidy on his scenario heading into this weekend’s finale. “That’s motorsport and that’s the place I’m in. However I’m not giving up, I’m nonetheless main the factor.”
Can Cassidy seal the title in London 12 months on from narrowly lacking out?
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images