Formula E News: Guenther wins inaugural Tokyo E-Prix

Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther out dueled polesitter Oliver Rowland (Nissan) to win the inaugural Tokyo E-Prix on Formula E’s first visit to Japan.

The German hit the front on Lap 24 after long-time leader and polesitter Rowland ceded top spot as energy become critical with the race drawing towards its close. Guenther had placed himself in the slipstream of the leader and was able to keep with the Nissan – which had looked very strong on home soil – while saving some usable energy for a final push.

Once Guenther hit the front, Rowland was unable to make a move stick as hard as the Yorkshireman tried in front of a passionate Nissan support. Guenther fended off three attempts on the final lap and was able to drive to the flag to seal his and Maserati MSG Racing’s first win since Jakarta in Season 9 and his fifth in the series.

That made it five different race winners, representing five different teams, from the opening five races – the level of competition at the top as intense as it’s ever been in electric motorsport’s top tier. For much of the race, no more than a second split the top three runners, while the whole pack sat within 10 seconds of one another.

Reigning champion Jake Dennis (Andretti) lined up fifth on the grid and was able to outdo the Porsches to come home third after a tasty battle between himself and Season 6 champion Antonio Felix da Costa who finished fourth ahead of teammate Pascal Wehrlein – the Mexico City winner doing enough to top the Drivers’ World Championship.

Nico Mueller produced the goods in the ABT CUPRA to take sixth with prior standings leader Nick Cassidy only seventh – though the Kiwi did impressively to climb through the pack from 19th on the grid at the outset. Edo Mortara had finished seventh over the line but was later disqualified for energy overuse.

Robin Frijns followed in eighth for Envision Racing, the Dutchman in the wars but able to score. Sergio Sette Camara notched points for ERT with ninth, while Sacha Fenestraz made it two Nissans in the points with 10th. Guenther

All that means Cassidy is level on points with Wehrlein at the top of the Drivers’ table while Jaguar TCS Racing hold top spot in the Teams’ World Championship with 102 points to TAG Heuer Porsche’s 83.

Formula E heads to Italy for a double-header and a first trip to Misano in a fortnight, 13 & 14 April.