Nick Cassidy took his first Formula E win of 2024 Saturday Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The Jaguar TCS Racing driver started third and spent little time fighting towards the front and taking the lead from polesitter Oliver Rowland on lap 5.
Once he had the lead Cassidy was able to stretch his lead to score the win in his 50th Formula E race.
“This is awesome I mean it’s such a dream,” Cassidy said. “I’ve got an amazing car and I’m so privileged but this here… I mean – I want it that way.”
In the chaos of lap 5, Robin Frijns was able to snatch the top spot for a moment from Rowland and in the end held on to the runner up spot.
Rowland had to settle for third. Jake Hughes and Stoffel Vandoorne rounded out the top five.
Friday’s winner and reigning champion Jake Dennis of Andretti crossed the line in tenth place but was later taken out of the points after a five-second penalty from overtaking during a yellow flag. He was scored 12th in the final results as Mitch Evans moved up into the points in 10th.
Cassidy’s victory gives him an 18-point lead in the Drivers’ World Championship, with Jaguar TCS Racing a significant lead in the Teams’ standings. Cassidy is also the only driver to score podiums in all three races so far this season.
“Every win is special; it’s just been a dream start. I’m waiting for a bad day, it’s going to come but for now we ride, we ride,” Cassidy said. “I took advantage at the start – I initially thought I went too hard at the start – but, you know, Jaguar TCS Racing gave me an amazing car and I’m super lucky.”
For Frijns it was his first podium since his last appearance in New York City two seasons ago.
“I had a bit of trouble at the beginning of the season and had to get to know the car,” he said. “Obviously, Nick has been driving the whole of last year with this car. There are still some steps to be made, but I will get there.
“I thought today was really good. I was leading at first, so I felt nice and comfortable. But then began fighting with Nick the whole way – we were pulling away constantly, and almost killing each other at times. But Nick did a very good job. I secured good points too. I’ll take another step forward for the next phase.”
Rowland had to settle for third after starting from the pole.
“I can absolutely build on this momentum going into Sao Paulo,” Rowland said. “I came back to Nissan with the target of winning. We know it’s a long road, but we’ll keep pushing and I think the first step was made today, and the potential we’ve seen over the first two races has been very good. I’m happy.”
The FIA Formula E World Championship moves to Sao Paulo for Round 4 on March 16.
Nick Cassidy
Diriyah E-Prix Results
Race 2 Result
- Nick Cassidy Jaguar I-Type
- Robin Frijns Jaguar I-Type +1.192
- Oliver Rowland Nissan e-4ORCE +1.875
- Jake Hughes Nissan e-4ORCE +2.931
- Stoffel Vandoorne DS E-TENSE FE23 +3.397
- Sacha Fenestraz Nissan e-4ORCE +4.598
- Pascal Wehrlein Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 +4.816
- Jean-Eric Vergne DS E-TENSE FE233+5.195
- Maximilian Günther Maserati Tipo Folgore +5.709
- Jake Dennis Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 +6.240
- Mitch Evans Jaguar I-Type 6+6.866
- Edoardo Mortara Mahindra M9Electro +10.116
- Nico Müller Mahindra M9Electro +14.462
- António Félix da Costa Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 +17.960
- Nyck de Vries Mahindra M9Electro +19.295
- Norman Nato Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 +20.235
- Sérgio Sette Câmara ERT X24+21.564
- Lucas Di Grassi Mahindra M9Electro +25.639
Daniel TicktumERT X24 DNF
Jehan DaruvalaMaserati Tipo Folgore DNF
Sam BirdNissan e-4ORCE DNF
Sébastien BuemiJaguar I-Type DNF
I have been around and written about the sport of NASCAR for over three decades and previously worked fulltime for the Sporting News and Scripps-Howard News Service. I am also a contributor to two Chicken Soup for the Soul books including the NASCAR edition, published in 2010 and the author of “The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers’ Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing.” I am a multiple National Motorsports Press Association award winner. Early in life I spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community serving in support of Operation Just Cause, Desert Shield/Storm and ended my military career in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
