Mortara bounces back to take victory in Diriyah E-prix Round 2

Monday, 31 January 2022 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Edoardo Mortara secure victory in the second race of the 2022 Diriyah E-Prix double-header

Result means the first two races of the season have been won by last year’s top two, following Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries’ victory in Round 1

Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) led home Robin Frijns (Envision Racing) and his Venturi teammate Lucas di Grassi to seal the race win in Round 2 of the Diriyah E-Prix to cap a storming race for the Monegasque team.

Through the second round of ATTACK MODE activations, di Grassi was able to position himself for a move on polesitter and then-leader Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) on Lap 16. The Brazilian accelerated around the outside of de Vries at turn 18 and held the position, with Mortara also able make it through.

The Swiss then swept by his teammate for the lead a lap later, and there he stayed, fending off Frijns until the race came to an end behind the Safety Car after Alexander Sims (Mahindra Racing) found the wall.

André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) made amends after slipping down the order during Race 1 as the German battled to fourth. Lotterer jousted with Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) and Jean-Éric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH) throughout and got the better of the pair, who followed the Porsche driver home.

Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-EQ) stealthily manoeuvred from 12th spot into seventh at the flag to claim valuable points from a challenging situation.

Oliver Rowland (Mahindra Racing) fired off the line and back from a pre-race three-position grid penalty to finish eighth, with Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) in ninth.

Round 1 winner and reigning champion, Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) was shuffled down the pack after the Venturis made their way through and following a pass by Vergne which resulted in some close contact. The Dutchman salvaged a point and 10th.

After Round 2 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, Mortara sits four points ahead of de Vries at the top of the Drivers’ standings, while ROKiT Venturi Racing heads the Teams’ running by 11 points over Mercedes-EQ with Avalanche Andretti third.

Round 3 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place in Mexico City on 12 February.