Nick Cassidy finally achieved a top ten finish in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in race one of the Valencia E-Prix last weekend, but it was not without drama as depleted energy levels in the closing laps led to a frantic conclusion.
The New Zealander, racing this year with Envision Virgin Racing, was one of only nine drivers to make it to the line without exceeding their usable energy, and he was rewarded with a fourth-place finish and twelve points.
Cassidy has previously finished twice inside the top ten, only for post-race penalties to knock him down the order, so to score good points at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo was a good boost for the former Super Formula champion.
“That was a crazy race with a lot going on, but we felt if we kept out of trouble and stuck to our game plan that the race would come to us – although I doubt anyone could have predicted that finish!” said Cassidy.
“For me, it’s great to get a good result under my belt as it’s felt like it’s been coming, and really hope I can continue this momentum into Sunday’s race.”
Unfortunately, Sunday’s race did not go to plan, and he missed out on points as he finished thirteenth. He currently sits seventeenth in the Drivers’ Championship heading to next week’s Monaco E-Prix.
“At the end was really strange though as there was a lot of energy reduction” – Robin Frijns
Team-mate Robin Frijns was another to make it to the line in race one in Spain, with the Dutchman just about getting to the line without running out of usable energy in sixth.
The eight points for sixth, as well as a bonus point for fastest lap, keeps Frijns in the title picture. He admitted it was a tough end to the race and to score points despite conserving a lot of energy was hard work.
“Visibility was really tough in that race and I felt like I was ‘surviving’ at the beginning,” said Frijns after Saturday’s race. “It felt good in car though when I had free air, and as a result I picked up the fastest lap time.
“At the end was really strange though as there was a lot of energy reduction, everyone was struggling around me, but I managed to cross the line P6.”
However, much like team-mate Cassidy, Frijns also missed out on points on Sunday, coming home a lowly nineteenth on what was a difficult day for Envision Virgin Racing. He does remain fourth in the championship standings, just fourteen points behind Nyck de Vries.
