Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne clinched the 2017-18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship on Saturday during Race 1 of the New York City ePrix, and ended the season in style by winning Race 2.
Vergne, who started second, was on the charge from outset, launching into the lead directly off the start after beating pole sitter Sebastien Buemi to the first turn. Vergne’s teammate Andre Lotterer also made a strong start to challenge for second, but was deemed to have jumped the start and given a penalty.
For the final time in season four, we go green in New York City! #NYCEPrix pic.twitter.com/cQveQwfdL1
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2018
.@Andre_Lotterer pits to serve his 10 second stop and go penalty for jumping the start... #NYCEPrix pic.twitter.com/5yKn68PJjd
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2018
Up front, however, Vergne dominated the rest of the way, vending off a late challenge from Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi. But, with di Grassi’s teammate Daniel Abt finishing third, it was enough to give them the team championship. Vergne’s teammate Lotterer could only come back to finish ninth.
.@JeanEricVergne wins the #NYCEPrix but @audiformulae are the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Teams' Champion! #ABBFormulaE pic.twitter.com/o344TNNgfi
— ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2018
Still, the victory, Vergne’s fourth of the season, concludes an incredible run in which he finished every race inside the points - his worst finish was tenth, in Switzerland.
Full results can be found here, and the final championship standings can be found here. Vergne ended up leading di Grassi by 44 points at season’s end, di Grassi having gotten around Sam Bird, who finished tenth in Race 2.