Dennis hoping to spice it up again in Mexico E-Prix

JAKE DENNIS will be hoping to build on his fine start in the Formula E World Championship as the drivers prepare for tonight’s Mexico City E-Prix.

The third race of the season returns to the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit after a two-year absence.

Last year’s Championship winner and runner-up – Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries and ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Edoardo Mortara – both took victories in the season-opening double header in Diriyah, with Mortara leading the former by four points in the drivers’ championship.

But Avalanche Andretti driver Dennis, right, secured third and fifth positions in the opening races and was ecstatic to win a place on the podium.

The 26-year-old former Bosworth Academy and Loughborough College student, who has been tipped to become the first British Formula E world champion, said: “I felt quite comfortable behind the Mercedes. I think we were on the same strategy. “Things were looking quite good, but when the top four break away it isn’t the best being in third as it allows the car behind to have free attack zones.

“It was always going to be difficult, starting on the inside. I had a feeling Nyck would pass us off the line, as ended up happening.

“Andre (Lotterer) undercutting us ruined our race a bit, but I wanted a podium so bad – we deserved it as a team.

“We tried it the first time, completely got it wrong, but the second time I learned from my mistakes and put it right, got the overtake done and then we pulled clear and tried to close down the Mercedes, but they were a little too quick in the end. We had a great race.”

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, which was used as a Covid vaccination centre during the early stages of the pandemic, is one of the few traditional circuits Formula E races on and is also used in Formula 1 for the Mexico Grand Prix.

The circuit hosted its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1962 and took its name when Mexican driver Ricardo

Rodríguez, the youngest Formula 1 driver ever to race for Ferrari, died during the first day of unofficial practice of the race.

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans was the last driver to win an E-Prix at the circuit when he put in a dominant performance in 2020 to take the lead in the drivers’ championship shortly before the pandemic struck.

The race has one of the most electric atmospheres on the Formula E calendar and the TV audience at home can expect a thrilling spectacle with 40,000 fans in attendance.

■■Watch the action on Eurosport 2 from 9.30pm tonight with highlights on Channel 4 at 8.30am tomorrow.