The most dramatic season of the ABB FIAFormula E World Championship to date continues this weekend with a double-header at the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix, with both races live on Channel 4.
The all-electric-series returns to the Italian capital with one of its flagship streets races at the Circuit Cittadino dell-EUR. Heading into Rounds 13 and 14, Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis leads the World Championship by a solitary point, with Nick Cassidy of Envision Racing hot on his heels.
With more wheel-to-wheel action expected, here are all your talking points:
Tightest title race of all time
Formula E’s characteristic competitiveness has been on display in Season 9 and four drivers remain in the hunt for the World Championship crown with just four races to go.
Dennis and Cassidy are out in front on 154 and 153 points, respectively, while Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) aren’t far behind on 138 and 122 points.
Table-topping Dennis has been in imperious form in recent weeks and has secured five consecutive podiums. The Brit is getting familiar with the Formula E podium, having finished in the top three in an impressive eight out of 12 races this season.
Jake Dennis leads the standings by just one point— (Gareth Harford / LAT Images)
If Dennis has a strong weekend in Rome, he’ll have the opportunity to be crowned the first British winner of Formula E on home soil as the series reaches a climax in London later this month.
Cassidy will be looking to spoil Dennis’ party though and can leapfrog the Andretti man in the Italian capital. The Kiwi heads to Rome off the back of victory in Portland, his third this season, and will be brimming with confidence as he takes to the Circuit Cittadino dell-EUR
Wehrlein and Evans shouldn’t be dismissed either though. The pair have been competitive all term, bar a couple of unfortunate DNFs, and with plenty of points still to play for in Season 9, any one of the top four could be lifting the Formula E trophy on July 30th.
Emperor Mitch the man to beat
No driver has had more success in Rome than Jaguar’s Evans. The Kiwi has three race victories in the Italian capital to his name, including back-to-back wins in Season 8.
Evans is looking forward to his return to Rome and sees it as the perfect location to continue his title charge; “if I could choose – at this stage of the Championship – a venue, this is definitely the one I would definitely want to be going to.”
He is in impressive form too, having climbed from 20th on the grid to finish fourth in Portland – sealing the ABB Driver of Progress Award in the process – last time out. With both historic and recent form on his side, he’ll be among the favourites to take the chequered flag this weekend.
Two-horse race for Team Championship
It’s looking like a two-horse race for the Teams’ World Championship title, between TAG Heuer Porsche and Envision Racing. German-based TAG Heuer Porsche sit top and six points ahead of their British rivals.
With Porsche and Envision’s leading drivers, Wehrlein and Cassidy, fighting it out for the driver’s crown – their teammates Antonio Felix da Costa and Sebastien Buemi will likely play supporting roles to try and get their team over the line.
Mitch Evans has won three times in Rome in his Formula E career— (Jaguar Racing via Getty Images)
While it looks likely that one of Porsche or Envision will take the crown, it would be remiss to completely ignore Jaguar TCS Racing. The team, who share a powertrain with Envision, are currently in third place, 41 points behind their counterparts.
Their driver duo of Evans and Sam Bird have won 75% of Formula E’s races in Rome, and if history were to repeat itself their first manufacturers’ title in the series could be on the cards.
Maserati seeking home advantage
Iconic Italian automotive racing brand Maserati will be hoping to utilise home advantage this weekend in the Eternal City.
Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther and Edoardo Mortara will have home support on their side as the brand competes at home in a single-seater World Championship for the first time since 1957 when Juan Manuel Fangio took to the podium in Monza.
With two podiums in his last three, Guenther is in fine form and will be looking to replicate his predecessor Fangio with a successful drive on home soil for Maserati.
Return to Rome
Rome plays home to a Formula E race for the seventh time this weekend. The 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix will take place at one of Formula E’s flagship tracks, the Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR,
The 19-turn, 3.385km track is one of the longest in Formula E history and drivers will race past iconic landmarks including the Palazzo dei Congressi and the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana, known as the "Square Coliseum".
Thousands of fans are expected in attendance for a track that promises plenty of excitement due its mix of high-speed turns and overtaking opportunities.
Rome plays home to a Formula E race for the seventh time this weekend— (Jaguar Racing via Getty Images)
Jonas Blue and Coma Cose to perform
Jonas Blue will headline the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix on the Saturday for a weekend that promises entertainment both on and off the track.
“I have a huge love for cars and it’s going to be a monumental occasion to play this event and see the GEN3 cars on the track for the very first time, I think it would be quite fitting to play Fast Car in my set for this show!”, the DJ said.
The entertainment doesn’t stop there, and on Sunday fans can look forward to a performance from Coma Cose. The Italian indie pop-hip hop musical duo will take to the Fan Village before the second race of the double-header.
Watch the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix this Saturday July 15 & Sunday 16 July live on Channel 4 with coverage starting from 13:30 BST across both days.
