Porsche has secured its second consecutive Formula E Manufacturers’ Championship after an enthralling Tokyo E-Prix double-header.
Porsche ended the Japanese round with a 90-point lead over Jaguar, clinching the crown with one round remaining.
It marks back-to-back manufacturers’ titles, after the team also took the honour last season.
In the drivers’ standings, two Porsche-powered drivers are in the thick of the title fight with just one round remaining, after a thrilling Tokyo double-header.
Andretti’s Jake Dennis leads the way in the standings after taking two podium finishes in Japan, while
In a successful weekend for the Porsche powertrain, Cupra Kiro driver Dan Ticktum won Saturday’s race ahead of Dennis.
That was followed up on Sunday by a third-place finish for Dennis, putting him in the lead before the London finale on August 15 and 16.
The story of Race One
Porsche power took a stellar 1-2 in the first of the two Tokyo E-Prix, with Dan Ticktum scoring his second Formula E victory.
Cupra Kiro driver Ticktum led the way from Andretti’s Jake Dennis after a thrilling race during which rain threatened to cause disruption several times.
Dennis 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 a final-lap power cut for the Andretti driver meant Ticktum dived up the inside of Turn 16 to clinch victory, his first since Jakarta last season.
It was just the second time that Porsche customer teams have taken a 1-2, following the Sanya E-Prix last month, which was won by Dennis.
It was a tricky outing for the Porsche Formula E Team drivers, with Pascal Wehrlein starting in eighth before sustaining damage after contact with another driver 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.
Nico Müller also had a difficult day, with extensive work needed on his Porsche 99X Electric after a qualifying crash.
The mechanics worked hard to get the car ready for the race, making it out the garage just 95 seconds before the pit exit closed.
Müller started fourth, but was involved in an opening-lap collision and had to make a pitstop. He carried damage for the remainder of the race.
The story of Race Two
With more rainfall on Sunday morning, the second race was also set for more mixed conditions.
Ticktum lined up third after his win on Saturday, with team-mate Pepe Martí also inside the top 10.
But with the mixed conditions, the result was largely decided late on as those with wet tyre pressures faded, and their dry-pressure rivals forged ahead.
While Ticktum struggled for grip as the track dried, Dennis surged ahead late on with the assistance of Attack Mode and made strong progress through the field.
He was fighting Citroen’s Nick Cassidy for second and could have been on for the win when there was a late red flag after a multi-car crash, which caused a concertina effect and blocked the track.
This meant the final result was decided by just one racing lap, and Dennis held on to take third and capture the championship lead.
Porsche Formula E Team driver Nico Müller finished inside the points in eighth, while Wehrlein was 15th after struggling with a lack of grip late on.
Coming next
Season 12 will now draw to its thrilling conclusion with a double-header at London’s ExCel Centre.
Taking place on August 15 and 16, the championship battle will go down to the wire with even more exciting all-electric racing.
In the drivers’ standings, Dennis has 146 points, with Evans on 144 in second ahead of Wehrlein in third on 141.
There are just 16 points between leaders Jaguar TCS Racing and the Porsche Formula E Team in the Teams’ Standings.
