Kiwi duo target contrasting goals
Kiwis Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy will attack this weekend from different perspectives, as Formula E races in Jakarta for the first time.
After eight of 16 races, Evans has two wins and a second driving for Jaguar Panasonic Racing to be fourth overall on 83 points, 28 behind leader Stoffel Vandoorne of Belgium.
Evans has contested the category since its inception and will aim to consolidate his place near the top of the standings.
Cassidy is a Formula E newcomer who has a best placing of seventh and sits 13th overall. He has set two fastest laps this season and showed form last year with two second places as a rookie, so talent and speed aren’t an issue but the 27-year-old and his Envision Racing are struggling to get everything working well at the same time.
This season’s Formula E is proving competitive, with five winners and 10 different drivers on the podium — nearly half the field.
There may well be new names on the podium this weekend, with teams unable to rely on data from previous races as Formula E makes its Indonesian debut.
“I’m really excited to race in Jakarta for the first time. A new track is always a challenge for myself and the team,” said Evans.
“We’ve seen how competitive we can be with some incredible performances so far this season, but with the championship fight well and truly on, I know I need to stay focused and hopefully reach the podium again.”
Cassidy’s struggle for consistency was never more evident than in the last round in Germany last month, when he was given an 80-place grid penalty. During free practice, the car was so slow, his team decided they were going to qualify at the back of the field, so why not change the entire powertrain, take the grid penalty and start at the back anyway?
The cars in Formula E this year are much closer in pace, timing and efficiency — the differences lie in car set-up.
“Because the championship is close now in terms of performance, you’ve got teams who are strong at certain tracks and not others,” said
Cassidy. “Added to that, the qualifying group system makes everything uncertain. The racing is pretty rough and tough, so scoring each time you go out is difficult.”
It’s not as if Cassidy is out of his depth in Formula E. He has gained plenty of experience the past five years and has completed the triple crown of Japanese racing: Formula 3, Super GT and the Super Formula championships.
He’s driven countless categories, including Speedway, Supercars, SuperTourers, Toyota 86s, Intercontinental GT Challenge, Blancpain GT Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Asian Le Mans Series and FIA Formula 3.
Cassidy says Formula E cars are different to drive — mainly due to lack of downforce and high torque from the electric power train — but that his adaptability will help him navigate that.
Being at the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit, Ancol Beach could be just what Cassidy needs to recapture last year’s form. A new venue, new circuit layout and no previous data to distract could provide the clean sheet he and the team needs.