In partnership with Formula E
Jean-Eric Vergne capped a memorable Formula E season by winning the final E-Prix of the season in New York on Sunday
A remarkable drive had seen the Frenchman clinch the title on the Brooklyn circuit the previous day – climbing from the back of the grid to take fifth place.
This was a fitting way for the newly crowned champion to end his season, leading the race from the very first corner after passing Sebastian Buemi, who started on pole, and teammate Andre Lotterer, who moved into second.
His victory wasn’t enough, however, to guarantee the team championship for Techeetah, who were denied by Audi.
Lotterer was later hit with a ten-second stop/go penalty for jumping the start, enough for him to drop to 15th place. Though he would later recover to finish in ninth, a strong finish from Audi’s Lucas Di Grassi and Daniel Abt, who finished second and third respectively, saw them clinch the team championship by just two points.
Outgoing champion Di Grassi, fresh from consecutive victories in Zurich and in Round 11 the previous day, pushed Vergne hard towards the end of the race – at one stage pushing the rear of the Frenchman’s car as they rounded the final bend.
The Brazilian’s efforts weren’t enough for him to take his third victory on the spin, but another podium did see him finish the season in second place in the drivers’ standings. Britain’s Sam Bird, who had arrived in New York as Vergne’s only challenger for the title, slipped to third after ending the race in tenth.
