Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns topped the timesheets in an eventful first practice session for tomorrow’s Tokyo E-Prix.
Torrential rain in the Japanese capital dissipated in the hours leading-up to the session with the sun eventually coming out, but some water failed to shift on parts of the track, most notably at turn one, leading to cars spinning into the sizeable run-off areas. The second of two red flags was caused by the most notable incident at the corner, with Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz, whilst exiting the pitlane, helplessly t-boning NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird, who was unable to brake for the corner due to the standing water. Whilst Bird was able to continue, Fenestraz suffered front-left suspension damage, ending his afternoon.
The first red flag of the day was caused by the DS Penske of Stoffel Vandoorne stopping out on track due to a battery fault, with Jake Dennis also unable to keep out of trouble, planting his Andretti into the wall at turn 15,.
There were no such problems for Frijns, however, who went fastest late in the session with a time of 1:20.865. The Mahindra of Edoardo Mortara was second, two tenths off Frijns.
Maserati MSG Racing’s Max Guenther, off the back off an impressive last-to-ninth performance in Sao Paulo, was third, just two one thousandths of a second ahead of the Tag Heuer Porsche of Pascal Wehrlein.
The sister Porsche of Antonio Felix da Costa was fifth, some two tenths off Wehrlein, with Jaguar TCS Racing duo Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans sixth and seventh.
Nyck de Vries was able to ensure both Mahindras finished high with eighth, whilst Oliver Rowland and ABT Cupra’s Lucas di Grassi rounded-up the top 10.
With no rain expected tomorrow, the main talking points will largely be focused upon the track layout. Bumpy and with some sections exhibiting hidden crests, some cars were noticeably lifting off the ground during their laps. A challenge for the drivers, perhaps, but this brand new street circuit appears set to provide some thrilling entertainment for the spectators.
