The latest Formula E world championship wrapped up in London last weekend, with Mitch Evans (Jaguar) and Nick Cassidy (Citroen) finishing third and eighth in the championship standings. Viewed in isolation, not a bad result for the Kiwis, but seen in the wider context, another season in which a New Zealander could have (or should have) won the Formula E world crown, only for that chance to slip away at the final post. This season it was Evans whose chances evaporated as the season reached its climax. He was leading the points standings heading into the season’s final two rounds, but slipped to second after retiring from one of the two races in the penultimate round in Japan. A mixed run in London then saw him slip to third in the final tally, with the championship’s drivers’ crown going to Germany’s Pascal Wehrlein (Porsche) from Briton Jake Dennis (Andretti Racing). Last season it was also Wehrlein who bested Evans to the title, while the season before Cassidy finished as bridesmaid to Dennis. Evans can at least take some satisfaction in leading Jaguar TCS Racing to the Formula E teams title. It’s already confirmed he is leaving Jaguar for next season, most likely to join the new Opel team. Cassidy, meantime, is confirmed to stick with Citroen. It will be all change in Formula E next season in respect of cars too, with the debut of the new Generation 4 machines. These feature larger batteries and motors producing 70% more power, have refined aerodynamics and are expected to be around ten seconds a lap faster than the current cars on a typical circuit. This means they will be roughly on par with a Formula 2 car performance-wise, and perhaps not much more than five seconds a lap slower than an F1 car. There wasn’t much to please Kiwis in the IndyCar scene last weekend either, with Scott McLaughlin eighth, Marcus Armstrong 16th and Scott Dixon 18th after torrid times around the tough Markham street circuit in Ontario. As a result, McLaughlin is the only New Zealander now in the top ten of the IndyCar championship standings. Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen is just hanging in there to qualify for the next stage of the Nascar Cup championship, the Chase. Having finished 14th at last weekend’s Nascar Cup race in New Hampshire, he is placed 16th in the series with two races to go before it. It’s the top 16 that progress to the ten-race Chase, so he truly is on the cusp. Rather closer to home, last weekend saw Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour (Citroen C3) take two wins at the Catlins Rallysprint double-header, closely matched on both days by Gore driver Andrew Graves (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo). Just 0.6 secs separated Gilmour and Graves on Saturday’s Puaho Road course, while the gap was 1.7 secs on Sunday’s run over Cannibal Bay Road. Canterbury’s Tim Smith (Subaru Impreza) came home third on both days. Nationally, motorsport attention next weekend moves to Hawke’s Bay and round four of the national rally championship. Current championship leader Jack Stokes (Skoda Fabia) is top seed ahead of his main championship rival Jack Hawkeswood (Toyota GR Yaris) and his brother Robbie Stokes (Skoda Fabia). Non-championship entry Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20) is, however, sure to set the pace. While total entries for the Hawke’s Bay event are low, with 40 expected starters, there are some interesting elements. They include former national champions Richard and Sarah Mason (Subaru Impreza) making their first appearance at a national event since winning the Rally of the Bay in 2020, and the return of talented youngster Zeal Jones (also in a Subaru) after time honing his skills overseas. Further afield, this weekend sees East Otago’s Courtney Duncan back in action in the Women’s World Motocross in the Netherlands, while the Nascar season continues in New Hampshire and the IndyCar circus visits Washington DC. Called the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, the IndyCar race is particularly novel. It is being held as a one-off around the streets of Washington DC’s Mall area as part of the United States’ extensive presidentially orchestrated America250 birthday celebrations. A swath of the US capital’s city centre is being closed off for the race, which takes place over a 1.7 mile course running through Washington’s National Mall, and flanked at one end by the Capitol. David Thomson Editor Drivesouth
