Brakes problem hampers Dennis in New York double-header
FORMULA E star Jake Dennis only picked up five points after finishing 10th and eighth in the New York City E-Prix double-header at the weekend.
The 27-year-old Avalanche Andretti driver told Twitter they had “issues with the brakes” but he was “pleased to come home with points in both races”.
Former Bosworth Academy and Loughborough College student Dennis, pictured, has been struggling all season after finishing third in the world championship in his rookie season last year, but hoped to find some form ahead of the London E-Prix at the end of the month.
New Zealander Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing) claimed a maiden Formula E race win in the first New York City E-Prix, finishing ahead of Lucas di Grassi (ROKiT Venturi Racing) and team-mate
Robin Frijns as torrential rain deluged the track late in the race, creating the most dramatic finish of the season so far. A storm swept in with heavy rain buffeting the Brooklyn Street Circuit, leaving pools of standing water in the braking zone to Turn 6.
A Full Course Yellow was called but Cassidy, di Grassi and Stoffel Vandoorne – as well as Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) – were unable to stop their cars aquaplaning straight on and into the wall.
More drivers fell foul in the impossible conditions as the race was brought to an early conclusion with a Red Flag.
In the second race, António Félix da Costa led from the start to the chequered flag, the first victory of the season for da Costa and his DS TECHEETAH team.
Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team) finished second to move ahead of Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT
Venturi Racing) at the top of the drivers’ world championship standings.
A third place finish for Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing also closed the gap on Mortara to five points after Mortara was limited to 10th place and a single point.
A braking problem in qualifying had marooned Mortara at the back of the grid.
Rounds 13 and 14 of the world championship take place in London on July 30 and 31, following by the season’s concluding double-header Seoul E-Prix on August 13 and 14.