HOME HERO DENNIS CHASING CORONATION AS DAY OF DESTINY LOOMS IN LONDON

The British capital beckons for a high-stakes season finale, as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship prepares to crown a new champion…

London is calling this weekend (29/30 July) for the finale of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship campaign – with Britain’s Jake Dennis targeting a home soil coronation as his rivals launch one last bid to stop him in his tracks.

Located in London’s historic Royal Docklands, the ExCeL Circuit is unique in featuring both indoor and outdoor sections – made possible by the emissions-free nature of Formula E’s pioneering electric single-seaters.

The flowing 2.09km, 20-turn lap challenges competitors with its blend of silky-smooth surface inside the exhibition centre and highly abrasive asphalt outside. Characterised by curves and chicanes as well as changes in elevation and lighting, the track has traditionally been something of a British benefit, with three home winners from four races there to-date.

Twelve months ago, Dennis was on electrifying form in London. The Avalanche Andretti ace took a clean sweep of pole position, fastest lap and victory on the opening day, before backing that up with the runner-up spoils from pole 24 hours later. He similarly prevailed at ExCeL in 2021.

The 28-year-old began Season 9 in much the same vein – on top of the rostrum in Mexico City. While he subsequently slipped down the order due to four consecutive non-scores, since the second race in Berlin in April, he has not finished lower than fourth to soar inexorably back to the summit of the standings, tallying six podiums from seven starts including a second triumph of the campaign last time out in Rome.

That leaves Dennis 24 points clear of his closest pursuer with only 58 remaining in play – and firmly in pole position for championship glory – but daunting as his record in the British capital might be, his adversaries are not about to lay down without a fight, especially as whoever takes the title this weekend will do so for the first time.

Three more drivers remain mathematically in contention for the coveted crown. For much of the mid-part of the season, Nick Cassidy looked to be in control as he won in Berlin, Monaco and Portland, but the New Zealander’s chances were dealt a hefty blow in Rome when he was hit by Mitch Evans, resulting in a failure to score. 

The Envision Racing man might have a mountain to climb, but in Formula E, nothing can be taken for granted and he clearly has pace around the ExCeL Circuit; Cassidy pipped Dennis to fastest lap in the most recent London E-Prix, but it did not officially count as he was not a classified finisher.

Evans is similarly still in the hunt in third place, though he too is counting the cost of his clash with his countryman in Italy, leaving him 44 points behind Dennis. The Jaguar TCS Racing star ascended the rostrum in London two years ago, while TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein – who topped the table for much of the early part of the 2022/23 campaign – is now the outsider in the battle at five points further adrift again.

Team-mates may also have a part to play in the final outcome. Cassidy’s Envision stablemate Sébastien Buemi and Evans’ Jaguar partner Sam Bird both won in London around the previous Battersea Park venue. André Lotterer (Avalanche Andretti) finished just one step shy of the podium at ExCeL in 2021, while António Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche) took the chequered flag fifth there last year.

And then, of course, there are the potential jokers in the pack. Outgoing champion Stoffel Vandoorne claimed pole position in London in 2021 and scooped the runner-up spoils 12 months later on his way to his maiden series crown. DS Penske team-mate Jean-Éric Vergne twice reached the rostrum in Battersea, while fellow former title-holder Lucas Di Grassi (Mahindra Racing) triumphed in the UK last summer.

So the scene is set for a high-stakes showdown. Round 15 will get underway at 17:03 local time (18:03 CET) on Saturday, 29 July, followed by Round 16 at the same time on Sunday, 30 July.

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2023

– Introduction of the smaller, lighter and faster Gen3 cars

– Races will run to a set number of laps rather than time, in a bid to make them simpler to follow while allowing teams more control over their own strategies.

– The Safety Car or Full Course Yellow neutralisations will be compensated by added laps rather than added time. 

Please find here the 2022 – 2023 Sporting Regulations.

THE 2023 TRACK

MEDIA CENTRE

Opening Hours of the Media Centre

– Friday July 28: 07:30 – 19:30
– Saturday July 29: 08:00 – 22:00
– Sunday July 30: 08:00 – 22:00

2023 LONDON E-PRIX TIMETABLE

Friday 28 July
Starts	Ends	Length	Activity
14:30	15:45	00:15	SHAKEDOWN
17:00	17:30	00:30	FREE PRACTICE 1
Saturday 29 July
Starts	Ends	Length	Activity
10:30	11:00	00:30	FREE PRACTICE 2
12:40	12:52	00:12	QUALIFYING Group A
12:57	13:09	00:12	QUALIFYING Group B
13:17	13:32	00:15	QUARTER FINAL
13:36	13:46	00:10	SEMI FINAL
13:50	13:55	00:05	FINAL
≈17:04			RACE
Sunday 30 July
Starts	Ends	Length	Activity
10:30	11:00	00:30	FREE PRACTICE 2
12:40	12:52	00:12	QUALIFYING Group A
12:57	13:09	00:12	QUALIFYING Group B
13:17	13:32	00:15	QUARTER FINAL
13:36	13:46	00:10	SEMI FINAL
13:50	13:55	00:05	FINAL
≈17:04			RACE

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
 

Friday 28 July
12:30 – 12:45	Drivers FIA Press Conference
	Sylvain Filippi – Envision Racing
	Florian Modlinger – TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team
	James Barclay – Jaguar TCS Racing
12:45 – 13:00	Drivers FIA Press Conference
	Jake Dennis – Avalanche Andretti Formula E
	Nick Cassidy – Envision Racing
	Mitch Evans – Jaguar TCS Racing
13:00 – 13:20	Media Pen (All Drivers)
Saturday 29 July
18:35 – 18:50	FIA Press Conference – Top 3 + potential World Champion(s)
18:50 – 19:10	Media Pen
Sunday 30 July
18:35 – 18:50	FIA Press Conference – Top 3 + World Champions if not known on Saturday
18:50 – 19:10	Media Pen

2023 LONDON E-PRIX ENTRIES

2023 ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS 

The classification of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is available on the following link.