With only four races remaining and two locations on the schedule, Formula E arrives in Tokyo, Japan for rounds 14 & 15. The championship battle is truly in full swing, with multiple drivers in contention and every point to play for. Tokyo has provided brilliant spectacles in the past, and this weekend will hopefully be no different.
Lola Yamaha on a High from Shanghai
Last race weekend will be difficult to top. Lola Yamaha secured their first win in Formula E, seeing Lucas Di Grassi take an incredible and emotional victory from the back of the grid. The win puts the team in a great position. Their hard work is beginning to prove rewarding, which will be key moving forwards into the GEN4 era.
At the top of the championship standings, it couldn’t be closer between the main runners. Recovering from a few rocky results, Pascal Wehrlein returns to the lead after his win in round 12. Mitch Evans remains latched to the Porsche driver, running only nine points behind. However, round 13 saw Evans DNF from the race, which allowed Wehrlein to regain the championship lead. Still in the running are Oliver Rowland, Antonio Felix da Costa, Jake Dennis and Edoardo Morara. The four of them are only separated by 11 points.
Shanghai was also a pivotal race for Felipe Drugovich, the Brazilian coming home with a 23-point haul for Andretti. After a disappointing first half of the season, the rookie has had consistent point finishes since round eight. For the second race in Shanghai he also secured pole position, eventually finishing P6. On the other side, Cupra Kiro arrive in Japan after another difficult weekend. The duo fell short of scoring any points in Shanghai.
Historic Night Under The Lights
For the first time ever, the drivers will attack the Tokyo Street Circuit under the lights, with the Asian leg ending with two night races. The GEN3 EVO cars will get their final chance to shine under the bright lights. The circuit is located by the Tokyo Bay waterfront, creating a spectacular backdrop for the entire weekend. The Japan E-Prix is also an important weekend for Nissan, serving as their home race.
“Racing at Nissan’s home event is something we all look forward to, and the atmosphere around the circuit is fantastic. I’ve always enjoyed driving at this track and it’ll be interesting to see how it changes under the lights for the first night race here.” – Oliver Rowland of Nissan Formula E Team.
The 2.582km circuit features a range of high speed sectors as well as technical turns across its 18 corners. The nature of its layout means there’s little room for error. Many of the drivers can’t afford to make mistakes this weekend, for the sake of the championship, so free practice will bey key. Not only do the teams need to perfect their lap, the new challenge of a night circuit changes the conditions.
A Tribute to Cyril
This week, we were saddened to learn about the heartbreaking passing of Citorën Racing’s team principal Cyril Blais. The news comes as a shock to the entire motorsport community and he will be honoured this weekend. A number of tributes will be present, including a minutes silence before Saturday’s race. This weekend Formula E will remember his incredible career and legacy in the sport.
The FIA Girls on Track will also be present this weekend, offering young women and girls exclusive behind-the-scenes access to motorsport. After their attendance at the Berlin E-Prix, they will continue to represent and educate women within motorsport.