On a weekend when Formula E championship rivals collided, a multi-car accident wiped out nearly half the field, and a clear title favourite emerged after a virtuoso performance, it was fitting that, with its gladiatorial heritage, Rome should prove to be the venue.
While Jake Dennis has not claimed this year’s title just yet, the Briton firmly placed one hand on the crown with his performance across the scorching Rome E-Prix double-header, despite at one stage losing the championship lead he held coming into the event. That typified a frenetic weekend of racing in Italy where the balance of the championship swung in several directions before landing in favour of the Andretti Autosport Porsche driver, who had to wait until Sunday’s second race of the weekend before unleashing his true potential.
Even before that race, Dennis had signalled his intent by beating new championship leader Nick Cassidy to pole position in the final qualifying duel, as well as surviving a post-session investigation for an alleged incident of impeding, which the stewards dismissed. Apart from being a vital confidence boost and the obvious advantage of starting at the front, pole more importantly gifted an extra three points to Dennis, which trimmed Cassidy’s lead from five points down to just two even before the race got under way.
After holding the lead off the line, Dennis headed Cassidy and fellow championship challenger Mitch Evans, the trio covered by only 20 points prior to the race and seemingly
