Misano E-Prix: Evans silences own doubts to take pole

Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans secured his, and his team’s, first FIA Formula E pole position of the season for the first race of this weekend’s Misano E-Prix double-header.

Evans, who told Motorsport Week yesterday of his concerns that longer circuits would not suit his car, pipped the in-form Jean-Eric Vergne – who topped both practice sessions – with title-leader Pascal Wehrlein lining-up third, an impressive Jake Hughes fourth, Nico Müller fifth, and Oliver Rowland sixth.

GROUP A

With Vergne impressing so far this weekend, the two-time champion graduated his form into Group A, ending it nearly two tenths of a second ahead of Wehrlein, with Rowland – who almost lost his Nissan at the end of his last run and opted for a spot of impressive rally driving – third and Tokyo winner Max Günther fourth. The most notable casualties from the group were Stoffel Vandoorne – second in FP1 – and Antonio Felix da Costa, whose future with Tag Heuer Porsche already under close scrutiny.

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GROUP B

Hughes showed poise throughout to top the group, two tenths up on Evans, with Sam Bird third and Müller fourth. Nick Cassidy – who felt aggrieved after crashing in FP2 to avoid a slowing Bird – will surely feel sorer still after missing out on the duels in fifth. Both Andrettis of Jake Dennis and Norman Nato have it all to do in the race after failing to make it through.

DUELS

In the first duel, the in-form Rowland ran wide yet again, costing him a place in the semis. Wehrlein’s neat and tidy lap saw him make it through, one tenth faster.

A mouthwatering duel between Günther and Vergne could not live-up to hype, as Günther’s lap was compromised after running wide and launching himself over a sausage kerb, leaving Vergne to easily make it through, a whole second ahead.

Evans’ stunning first sector saw him defeat Bird in the third duel, finishing nearly half-a-second up on the McLaren man

The final duel saw Hughes set a very impressive time to defeat Nico Müller by three tenths.

SEMI-FINALS

Vergne pipped Wehrlein by a tenth to prove his practice times have been no fluke, making it through to the final.

In the second semi, Hughes’ great run came to an end, losing-out to Evans after running over the same sausage kerb that claimed Günther.

FINAL

Evans saved his best run for the end, almost breaking into the one minute sixteens, a tenth quicker than Vergne to secure pole.

However, speaking after the session, Evans acknowledged the peloton-style race ahead means pole position is not the be-all-and-end-all, with the Kiwi likely opting to try and slow the pack down for further racing towards the final few laps.