Dennis on top of the world after double delight

NUNEATON’S Jake Dennis dug deep with two inspired performances from poor positions on the starting grid to bag two second places and share top spot in the race for this year’s ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Race one saw Antonio Felix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche take the chequered flag with Oliver Rowland second and Dennis third from a starting place of 17th on the grid.

But da Costa was later disqualified for a technical breach following FIA investigation, giving Rowland the race win and Andretti Formula E driver Dennis the runner-up spot.

Speaking after the race, but before the da Costa disqualification, Dennis, right, said: “What an incredible race.

“To come from 17th all the way up to third is an exceptional result after a pretty challenging day.”

In race two Pascal Wehrlein of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team emerged triumphant. Dennis was second and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy clinched third place. Afterwards Dennis said: “It all came together.

“From ninth to second is a pretty good day in the office but it was a struggle, it was just survival mode for me, but coming home with two second places when you’re starting outside of the top 10 is a good starting point.

“Overall, a lot of hard work to do before Monaco to sort our qualifying pace out and then we can really start the championship.”

The results leave the reigning world champion tied with Wehrlein at the top of the drivers’ standings, with previous leader Rowland falling to third.

The next race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the Monaco E-prix scheduled for Saturday April 27.