Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist has been handed victory for the second Formula E race in Hong Kong after Daniel Abt’s disqualification due to a technical rules infringement.
Abt had claimed his maiden victory in the series, and Audi Sport Abt's first as a works Formula E team, after long-time leader Edoardo Mortara spun late in the race. However, a post-race inspection revealed that the FIA security stickers on the inverters and motors did not correspond with those declared on one of his car's technical passport – a breach of the series' technical and sporting regulations.
Rosenqvist thus claims his second Formula E win, completing an unusual race for the Mahindra driver after he spun out of the lead at the first corner at the start of the race and recovered to second. Mortara inherits second place, while Mitch Evans is promoted to the podium - Jaguar's first in the series.
Abt's victory had launched him to the top of the championship after two races, but his exclusion means Saturday race winner Sam Bird now heads the table on 35 points, two points clear of Jean-Eric Vergne.
It has also gifted 2015/16 champion Sebastien Buemi 10th place, meaning he at least has a solitary point to show for a disappointing opening weekend.
It’s been an overall positive weekend for Mahindra Racing, which also secured a podium in the first race of the opening weekend, with Nick Heidfeld bagging third place. DS Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird won the season opener, despite serving a drivethrough penalty after he overshot his pitbox mark during the mid-race car swap. Bird, who managed to gain the race lead from poleman Jean-Eric Vergne over the first half of the race, still emerged ahead of the battling duo of Vergne and Heidfield, and went on to win the race.
Unnatee Gidithuri
Dipan Sur
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