Shanghai E-Prix: Da Costa wins as Cassidy extends points lead

Da Costa was the dominant force in the weekend’s second race at the Shanghai International Circuit, leading the majority of proceedings to claim his third on-the-road win this season.

With experience of the previous day to rely on, and with Sunday’s race one lap shorter, the pace was noticeably higher during the 28-lap contest, along with greater temperatures.

Da Costa was one of the last of the leading runners to take his final Attack Mode activation, which meant he never dropped outside the leading positions having started third.

The Portuguese driver made the decisive move for the win as early as lap 16, sweeping to the inside of Andretti’s Norman Nato into Turn 1 to move to the head of the field where he remained until the chequered flag.

Behind, poelsitter Jake Hughes claimed his maiden Formula E podium having moved up into second with an aggressive move on Nato through the sweeping left and right of Turns 7/8.

Over the final 10 laps the Briton remained da Costa’s closest challenger but he wasn't able to mount a serious challenge despite never been more than a few tenths back.

The leading pair were clear of Nato, who claimed his first podium for Andretti having led during the early proceedings of the race after charging up from seventh.

Cassidy finished fourth with a damaged front wing that threatened to detach at any moment and lodge itself under his Jaguar after making contact with Hughes at Turn 1.

The Kiwi and his front wing survived, though, and he was able to extend his championship lead after a dismal event for title rival Wehrlein, who finished outside the points having pitted to replace a punctured tyre following contact with Sam Bird.

The Porsche driver failed to feature in the leading group prior to his pitstop on lap 11 after starting down in 13th, and although classified 20th he now sits 25 points, or a race win, behind Cassidy.

Also joining Wehrlein outside the points was fellow title protagonist and reigning champion Jake Dennis, who like the German never featured inside the top 10 as he claimed 11th after starting 14th.

Mitch Evans, victor in Saturday’s Shanghai race, finished fifth ahead of the two DS Penske’s of Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Maserati MSG’s Maximilian Guenther returned to the points for the first time in five races, with Robin Frijns ninth for Envision after starting 20th.

Nissan’s Oliver Rowland lost further ground in the title race as he could only muster one point in 10th.

Shanghai E-Prix II - Race Results:

Main Information Additional Data Additional Data Driver Info

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Main Information Additional Data 1  -  2
Cla	Driver	#		Laps	Time	Interval	km/h	Points	Retirement
1	A. Felix da Costa Porsche Team	13		28
2	J. Hughes McLaren	5		28
3	N. Nato Andretti Formula E	17		28
4	N. Cassidy Jaguar Racing	37		28
5	M. Evans Jaguar Racing	9		28
6	S. Vandoorne DS Penske	2		28
7	J. Vergne DS Penske	25		28
8	M. Gunther Maserati Racing	7		28
9	R. Frijns Envision Racing	4		28
10	O. Rowland Nissan e.dams	22		28
11	J. Dennis Andretti Formula E	1		28
12	S. Buemi Envision Racing	16		28
13	E. Mortara Mahindra Racing	48		28
14	S. Fenestraz Nissan e.dams	23		28
15	N. Müller Team Abt	51		28
16	N. de Vries Mahindra Racing	21		28
17	J. Daruvala Maserati Racing	18		28
18	S. Sette Camara ERT Formula E Team	3		28
19	L. di Grassi Team Abt	11		28
20	P. Wehrlein Porsche Team	94		28
21	D. Ticktum ERT Formula E Team	33		28
dnf	S. Bird McLaren	8		18					Retirement
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