Formula E Tokyo E-Prix: Ticktum pulls off last-lap overtake on Dennis for victory

Dan Ticktum stunned Jake Dennis with a last-lap overtake to clinch victory in the Formula E Tokyo opener, while Mitch Evans reclaimed the drivers’ championship lead as Pascal Wehrlein failed to finish.

The Cupra Kiro driver outfoxed Dennis on the final lap, despite having communicated over team radio a few laps earlier that he would not attack and settle for second.

Using a smart strategy, Ticktum undercut Dennis with his mandatory Pit Boost stop, using clean air to set up the overtake on the poleman.

Despite Ticktum’s efforts, Dennis managed to retake the lead with six laps remaining, moving back in front after closing the gap that had opened up during the pitstop phase.

Although it initially seemed Dennis might pull away, Ticktum managed to stay glued to him, aware that an attack to snatch victory from his fellow British driver might come late on.

Curiously, with a few laps to go, the Cupra Kiro driver suggested over the radio that Dennis’ team should be told that he would not attack the Andretti driver, as to prevent the chasing pack from closing back in.

Jake Dennis, Andretti Formula E

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

Ticktum initially did not attack, leaving Dennis what seemed like an almost assured victory, but on the final lap the Cupra Kiro driver launched his move to take the lead and duly clinch his second career win in Formula E. It is not known whether Dennis had been given Ticktum’s earlier message about not attacking.

The Andretti driver duly had to settle for second place, bringing home important points with a view to the world title fight as he climbed to third in the standings, 14 points behind Evans, who took advantage of Wehrlein’s retirement to move back to the top of the standings by three points over the German.

Earlier in the race, Wehrlein was involved in an incident with Antonio Felix da Costa that left the Porsche driver in the barrier.

Nick Cassidy completed the podium for Citroen, an emotion result to honour the memory of team principal Cyril Blais who died the week before the Japanese round.

Evans kept clear of Mahindra’s Edoardo Mortara for fourth place, a fine drive having been eliminated in the first stage of qualifying, with Jean-Eric Vergne in sixth for Citroen.

Defending Formula E champion Oliver Rowland kept his title hopes alive with seventh place for Nissan, as Pepe Marti (Cupra Kiro), da Costa (Jaguar) and Taylor Barnard (DS Penske) rounded out the top 10.

Formula E - Tokyo E-Prix results

RACE

All Stats

 

Cla	Driver	#		Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Points	Retirement
1	D. Ticktum Cupra Kiro	33		36	47'41.746		116.6	25
2	J. Dennis Andretti Formula E	27		36	+0.380 47'42.126	0.380	116.6	18
3	N. Cassidy Citroën Racing	37		36	+0.617 47'42.363	0.237	116.6	15
4	M. Evans Jaguar Racing	9		36	+4.763 47'46.509	4.146	116.4	12
5	E. Mortara Mahindra Racing	48		36	+6.223 47'47.969	1.460	116.4	10
6	J. Vergne Citroën Racing	25		36	+6.619 47'48.365	0.396	116.3	8
7	O. Rowland Nissan e.Dams	1		36	+7.159 47'48.905	0.540	116.3	6
8	P. Martí Cupra Kiro	3		36	+7.516 47'49.262	0.357	116.3	4
9	A. Felix da Costa Jaguar Racing	13		36	+7.765 47'49.511	0.249	116.3	2
10	T. Barnard DS Penske	77		36	+10.456 47'52.202	2.691	116.2	1
11	L. di Grassi LOLA YAMAHA ABT FORMULA E TEAM	11		36	+11.411 47'53.157	0.955	116.2
12	J. Eriksson Envision Racing	14		36	+14.380 47'56.126	2.969	116.0
13	F. Drugovich Andretti Formula E	28		36	+15.391 47'57.137	1.011	116.0
14	S. Buemi Envision Racing	16		36	+15.808 47'57.554	0.417	116.0
15	M. Gunther DS Penske	7		36	+19.028 48'00.774	3.220	115.8
16	N. Nato Nissan e.Dams	23		36	+36.804 48'18.550	17.776	115.1
17	N. de Vries Mahindra Racing	21		36	+46.973 48'28.719	10.169	114.7
18	N. Müller Porsche Team	51		36	+1'04.205 48'45.951	17.232	114.1
19	Z. Maloney LOLA YAMAHA ABT FORMULA E TEAM	22		36	+1'11.524 48'53.270	7.319	113.8
dnf	P. Wehrlein Porsche Team	94		24	+12 Laps 47'59.410	12 Laps			Retirement
View full results