Big twist in Formula E title fight with three races left
Dan Ticktum took a sensational second Formula E win in the first Tokyo E-Prix, passing Jake Dennis just two corners from the end of the race.
The Cupra Kiro driver passed his Andretti rival up the inside of Turn 16 on the final lap for his second career victory, his first since Jakarta last season.
The Brit had earlier told his team he wouldn’t pass poleman Dennis - but snatched victory after the latter struggled with a power issue at the end of the race.
Citroen’s Nick Cassidy completed the podium, having started eighth, on an emotional occasion for the team - the first race since the sudden passing of team principal Cyril Blais.
Dennis had led for much of the race, but an early pitstop from Ticktum allowed him to undercut Dennis and hold the advantage heading into the final 10 laps.
A strong late charge from the Andretti driver using Attack Mode put him back in contention, and he retook the lead on lap 29.
Once Dennis had passed Ticktum, the latter said over the radio that he would not fight his rival. But Dennis’s final-lap power cut meant Ticktum dived up the inside of Turn 16 to clinch victory.
Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans finished fourth to reclaim the championship lead by three points, as title rival Pascal Wehrlein failed to score.
Top six in standings
1 Mitch Evans - 144
2 Pascal Wehrlein - 141
3 Jake Dennis - 130
4 Oliver Rowland - 120
5 Antonio Felix da Costa - 113
6 Edoardo Mortara - 113
The Porsche driver was forced into retirement after contact with former team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa while the pair battled at Turn 7.
Wehrlein attempted to continue, but a broken front wing forced him back into the garage and left him without any points at a crucial point of the championship fight.
Results
1 Dan Ticktum 47m41.746s
2 Jake Dennis +0.380s
3 Nick Cassidy +0.617s
4 Mitch Evans +4.763s
5 Edoardo Mortara +6.223s
6 Jean-Eric Vergne +6.619s
7 Oliver Rowland +7.159s
8 Pepe Marti +7.516s
9 Antonio Felix da Costa +7.765s
10 Taylor Barnard +10.456s
11 Lucas Di Grassi +11.411s
12 Joel Eriksson +14.380s
13 Felipe Drugovich +15.391s
14 Sebastien Buemi +15.808s
15 Max Guenther +19.028s
16 Norman Nato +36.804s
17 Nyck de Vries +46.973s
18 Nico Mueller +1m04.205s
19 Zane Maloney +1m11.524s
DNF Pascal Wehrlein
