Formula E: Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy claims first victory of season in close race in Diriyah, Jake Dennis 10th

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy clinched the Formula E championship lead with victory in Round 3 at Diriyah on Saturday.

The Kiwi timed his attack modes beautifully to take the lead early on and controlled things from there, holding off challenges from Robin Frijns (Envision Racing).

“This is awesome, it’s such a dream start [to racing with Jaguar],” Cassidy said. “I’ve got an amazing car, I’m so privileged. Every [win] is special. It’s just been a dream start; I’m waiting for a bad day, it’s going to come, but for now, we ride.

“I thought I went to hard, but Jaguar TCS Racing gave me an amazing car and I’m super lucky.”

Nissan’s Oliver Rowland started the race from pole position but immediately lost the lead at lights out when Frijns beat him into Turn 1. Cassidy too challenged Rowland at lights out but had to settle for third for the time being.

While Rowland and Frijns swiftly went for their first attack modes, Cassidy stayed out and set the fastest lap of the race. When he finally went wide too, he had built enough of a gap to rejoin the racing line in the lead.

Again, Frijns and Rowland were quick to go for their second attack modes respectively while Cassidy opted to try to pull a gap.

When the Jaguar driver eventually headed for his second attack mode on Lap 13, he once more managed to do so while hanging on to the lead, albeit only marginally ahead of Frijns.

Cassidy and Frijns began to edge away from the field with the gap to Rowland up to six seconds at one point.

However, with both of them warned to conserve energy, Rowland gradually got closer again, dragging Jake Hughes (Neom McLaren) with him.

The field bunched up, the top 10 cars again within striking distance of each other in the closing stages, but Cassidy looked in control at the head of the race throughout.

Indeed, with two laps to go, he dropped the hammer to try and create a gap again. Frijns was able to go with Cassidy initially, but he soon had to admit defeat and settle for second.

“The start was really good, the highlight of my race for sure,” the Dutchman said. “I was leading, so I thought, nice and comfortable. But then I was fighting with Nick [Cassidy] the whole way and we were pulling away, we were almost killing each other.

“But Nick did a very good job. I secured P2, good points, and hopefully, I just want to go one more step forward in the next race.

“I was a bit struggling at the beginning of the season, I had to learn the car a bit more. There’s still some steps to be made, but I will get there.”

Rowland was not able to match Cassidy and Frijns but still bagged a great result in fourth.

“Yesterday was a bit disappointing for us, but today we regrouped and we did an excellent job this morning when we were able to get the pole,” he commented.

“Slightly disappointed – the start was a lot of wheelspin and Robin [Frijns] managed to get me. Our chance today was to control the race if we wanted to win, but we didn’t manage to do that. But it’s still a great result for the team, lots of points, and we’ll take this confidence into the next one.

“I came back to Nissan with the target of winning, so … We know it’s a long road, but we’ll keep pushing and I think the step we made today and also just the potential over the first two races has been very good, so I’m happy.”

Hughes had held a slight energy advantage over the trio ahead of him but could not make it count and came home in fourth, while Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske) completed a quiet race in fifth.

Sacha Fenestraz made it a great day overall for Nissan with sixth ahead of Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) who pulled off the move of the day when he overtook DS Penske’s Jean-Eric Vergne for seventh on Lap 24. Vergne, in turn, had to settle for eighth.

Max Gunther (Maserati MSG Racing) was ninth while winner of the previous race and reigning world champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) rounded out the top 10 following a great comeback from 15th on the grid.

The win and the championship lead on his 50th Formula E race, it has been an excellent day for Cassidy.

After a well-managed effort to take lead, the Kiwi looked in control throughout the race and brought it over the line confidently.

Two podiums from the two previous races and victory now, Cassidy is looking in a fantastic spot with his new Jaguar team.

1/36: FRIJNS STEALS LEAD AT LIGHTS OUT – Excellent start from Frijns who beats pole sitter Rowland to the holeshot. Cassidy too is challenging Rowland but has to settle for third for now.

7/36: ATTACK MODE CASSIDY, HOLDS LEAD – That worked out wonderfully for Cassidy who has created enough of a gap to head wide for attack mode and stay in the lead.

9/36: CASSIDY IN THE LEAD – Cassidy keeps building an advantage at the front, holding just under two seconds over Frijns. Frijns, in turn, is well ahead of Rowland.

13/36: SECOND ATTACK MODE FOR CASSIDY – Cassidy heads for his second attack mode and he has enough of a gap to hold on to the lead. That worked out beautifully for the Jaguar team.

21/36: TOP FOUR GROUP FORMS – The gap was at six seconds at some point but, with Cassidy and Frijns presumably conserving energy, Rowland has closed it and is right back in the mix. Hughes is immediately behind.

26/36: TOP THREE STILL – It’s still Cassidy, Frijns, and Rowland at the top of the field. Of course, all four have used their attack modes and this is a straight racing shoot-out. Hughes is only marginally away and has an energy advantage.

35/36: HAMMER DOWN CASSIDY – Cassidy is stepping things up here. Frijns can go with him but a gap is opening to Rowland.

36/36: CASSIDY WINS IN DIRIYAH – Cassidy keeps pushing, does pull out a buffer to Frijns, and crosses the line for his first win of the season. This now sees him lead the championship standings. Frijns takes second ahead of Rowland.