Nissan Formula E Team continued its strong form as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship visited the squad’s home country for the first time, with Oliver Rowland taking pole position and second place in the first ever Tokyo E-Prix.
Coming into the race off the back of consecutive podium finishes in Diriyah and São Paulo, both Rowland and the team were feeling confident ahead of the series’ Japanese debut.
The British driver backed up his recent performances by going quickest in Qualifying Group A, before setting the fastest time in all three stages of the Duels to clinch his second Julius Baer Pole Position of the season. Having held the lead for the majority of the race, Rowland dropped to second in an effort to save energy, attacking for the win in the final laps. Despite getting alongside the leader, he was unable to re-claim the position, having to settle for second.
Meanwhile, after a frustrating qualifying, Sacha Fenestraz put in a strong recovery drive to go from 20th on the grid to just outside the points, finishing 11th. The Franco-Argentine racer made some excellent overtakes, and avoided any incidents to move through the field.
The result sees Rowland jump up to third in the Drivers’ Championship, with the squad now fourth in the Teams’ standings.
Aside from the on-track action, the Tokyo E-Prix was significant for Nissan in other ways, as it became the first manufacturer to announce its long-term commitment to Formula E, pledging to remain in the sport until at least 2030. The announcement marks a significant milestone and reinforces the company’s Ambition 2030 electrification targets.
Nissan Formula E Team will be back on track in two weeks’ time, as the championship heads to Misano, Italy for the first time for Rounds 6 and 7 of Season 10.
