Formula E crowns its first champions in London

The winners of the FIA Formula E Championship was decided at the final round in London. British driver Sam Bird (Virgin) won the last ePrix of the season, while the all-electric series’ inaugural titles were won by Nelson Piquet Jr   (Nextev TCR), in a thrilling showdown with rival Sébastien Buemi, and e.dams-Renault.

India’s Mahindra Racing, represented by Bruno Senna, took fourth place in the final race and finished the championship with 40 points. Team Mahindra Racing was eighth in the final standings.

At the end of the London double-header, the team led by Alain Prost and Jean-Paul Driot saw its drivers Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Prost finish in second and sixth position respectively. All the drivers and teams will now be stepping up their preparations in order to be ready for the start of the second season, beginning with an official test session in August.

An incredible start to the season had seen six different victors in the first six races, with Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt) winning the inaugural race in Beijing. Later on, Sébastien Buemi became the first to win a second race, a feat subsequently matched by Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR). Piquet started the second and final London race as championship leader, trailed by Sébastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi.

Stéphane Sarrazin (Venturi) took pole position after the final qualifying session of the season was disrupted by rain.  Sébastien Buemi started sixth on the grid, ahead of his title rivals Lucas di Grassi and Nelson Piquet, who were 11th and 16th respectively. Stéphane Sarrazin crossed the finish line first, but he was handed a time penalty for exceeding his energy allowance, meaning that the race win went to Sam Bird. Most attention was however focused on the three title contenders.

Running fifth when the drivers came in for their mandatory pits stops to change cars, Sébastien Buemi looked on course to secure the title, but a spin on his out lap cost him a place. Despite making a number of attempts to regain his position right until the final lap, the Swiss driver was unable to find a way past Bruno Senna. Nelson Piquet finished seventh to win the championship by a single point.

RACE RESULT

1. Sam Bird (Virgin Racing) 29 laps

2. Jérôme d’Ambrosio (Dragon Racing) +6.973

3. Loïc Duval (Dragon Racing) +9.430

4. Bruno Senna (Mahindra Racing) +10.147

5. Sébastien Buemi (e.dams-Renault) +10.689

6. Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt) +11.204

7. Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR) +11.561

8. Salvador Duran (Amlin Aguri) +12.402

9. Oliver Turvey (Nextev TCR) +14.142 

10. Nicolas Prost (e.dams-Renault) +14.535 

Fastest lap: Sam Bird (Virgin Racing) 1:26.790

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

DRIVERS

1. Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR), 144 points

2. Sébastien Buemi (e.dams-Renault), 143

3. Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt), 133

4. Jérôme d’Ambrosio (Dragon Racing), 113

5. Sam Bird (Virgin Racing), 103

6. Nicolas Prost (e.dams-Renault), 88

7. Jean-Eric Vergne (Andretti), 70

8. Antonio Felix da Costa (Amlin Aguri), 51

9. Loïc Duval (Dragon Racing), 42

10. Bruno Senna (Mahindra Racing), 40

TEAMS

1. e.dams-Renault, 232 points

2. Dragon Racing, 171

3. Audi Sport Abt, 165

4. Nextev TCR, 152

5. Virgin Racing, 133

6. Andretti, 119

7. Amlin Aguri, 66

8. Mahindra Racing, 58

9. Venturi, 53

10. Trulli, 17

Also read: Formula E could drive to India and Africa