Evans and Cassidy give Jaguar a 1-2 finish in Monaco E-Prix

Evans and Cassidy give Jaguar a 1-2 finish in Monaco E-Prix
Jaguar TCS Racing tea celebrates victory at the Monaco E-Prix. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 29 April 2024
Follow

Evans and Cassidy give Jaguar a 1-2 finish in Monaco E-Prix

Evans and Cassidy give Jaguar a 1-2 finish in Monaco E-Prix
  • Duo recorded the team’s second such triumph in Formula E history
  • Evans broke a streak of four previous misses where he led but did not secure a win in the principality

MONTE CARLO: Mitch Evans claimed victory in the 2024 Monaco E-Prix, breaking his streak of four prior misses where he had led but failed to win.

Leading his Jaguar TCS Racing teammate Nick Cassidy, Evans executed the team’s strategy flawlessly, securing a dominant 1-2 finish for the British team. Their tactics, including strategic use of ATTACK MODE boosts, propelled Evans to his first Monaco win and Jaguar TCS Racing’s second 1-2 finish in Formula E.

“It feels mega, and a lot of relief to finally get that first win here,” said Evans after his win. “It feels like it should have come a few years earlier, but finally got it done today. Extra special as it’s my first win of the season as well here. Hopefully, this is a turning point for me and I can start to consistently get big points. I’ve been chipping away at it but nothing too crazy, so it’s come at a crucial time. It just feels amazing, and a massive team effort with Nick today to get a Jaguar 1-2 here in Monaco.”

With this victory, Evans bumps himself up to fifth in the drivers’ standing and solidifies his position as a championship frontrunner for Season 10, while Jaguar TCS Racing maintains its impressive lead in the Teams’ running.

Behind the top three, Stoffel Vandoorne’s teammate Jean-Eric Vergne was close behind in fourth. Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche finished fifth, while Oliver Rowland of Nissan Formula E Team crossed the line sixth. Seventh place went to Antonio Felix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche, followed by Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz of Nissan Formula E Team. Captain of consistency, Maximilian Gunther of Maserati MSG Racing, took ninth place securing more points for the Monaco-based outfit, while Norman Nato of Andretti Formula E rounded out the top 10.

As the season progresses, the stage is set for further excitement and fierce battles on the track, with the next rounds scheduled to take place in Berlin for the next double-header on May 11 and 12.

“It’s an unreal feeling, it’s been an epic day,” Cassidy said. “Last year, we were 1-2 as well so it’s pretty cool actually that it’s the other way around. I’m really happy for him. We can be really proud of our effort today and it’s a great result for Jaguar TCS Racing.”

Away from the on-track action, British boxing champion Anthony Joshua also stole the show, engaging with drivers and dropping hints about his upcoming fight. Amid the buzz of the pre-race media activities, Joshua revealed the date for his next match at Wembley Stadium in London.

Sharing insights from his illustrious career, Joshua drew parallels between boxing and motorsport, emphasizing the importance of teamwork for success. As the crowd eagerly awaited news of his next opponent, Joshua tantalized with names like Filip Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, and Deontay Wilder, hinting at a potential showdown with Tyson Fury.

With royalty in attendance, including Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco, the event culminated in the presentation of trophies to the podium-sitters, marking yet another thrilling chapter in Monaco’s motorsport history.

The next race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the 2024 Berlin E-Prix double-header on Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12.


Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi records historic Dakar Rally triumph

Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi records historic Dakar Rally triumph
Updated 17 January 2025
Follow

Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi records historic Dakar Rally triumph

Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi records historic Dakar Rally triumph
  • Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

SHUBAYTAH: Yazeed Al-Rajhi made history on Friday becoming the first driver from host nation Saudi Arabia to win the Dakar Rally.
The Overdrive pilot held onto his overnight lead to beat South Africa’s Henk Lategan in a Toyota by 3min 57sec with Mattias Ekstrom of Sweden third in his Ford, 20min 21sec adrift.
Saudi Arabia have hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020, when it moved from South America.

There was also a first win in the world’s most famous endurance rally for Australia’s KTM rider Daniel Sanders in the motorbike category.
Sanders, 30, dominated from the moment he won the prologue and finished a comfortable 8min 50sec faster than Spanish runner-up Tosha Schareina on his Honda.
Sanders is the second Australian to prevail in the motorbike category, Toby Price emerging victorious in 2016 and 2019.
“It was a tough race,” said Sanders.
“The last three days couldn’t come quick enough. It was really, really exciting to see the finish line when we came over one dune.
“You see the whole bivouac, I just smiled and had chills go through my whole body. Super special, won’t forget that moment.”


Teams owners Tom Brady, Will Smith and Didier Drogba prepare for E1 Jeddah Grand Prix

Teams owners Tom Brady, Will Smith and Didier Drogba prepare for E1 Jeddah Grand Prix
Updated 16 January 2025
Follow

Teams owners Tom Brady, Will Smith and Didier Drogba prepare for E1 Jeddah Grand Prix

Teams owners Tom Brady, Will Smith and Didier Drogba prepare for E1 Jeddah Grand Prix
  • The UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s only all-electric racing boat championship, starts its second season Jan. 24-25
  • 2024 winner Team Brady prepare to defend crown against Team Drogba, Team Rafa and Racing Team Aoki

JEDDAH: Just under a week remains for Tom Brady, Will Smith, Didier Drogba, Virat Kohli and a host of other celebrity owners to prepare their teams for this season’s UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, which begins with the Jeddah GP.

The all-electric RaceBird boats took to the Red Sea waters off Jeddah for the E1 Championship’s global debut in February 2024, and the season concluded with Team Brady crowned the 2024 Champions of the Water.

Qualifying for the 2025 E1 Jeddah GP takes place on Friday, Jan. 24, and is followed on Saturday by the main race, presented in partnership with the Kingdom’s Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation.

Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman, president of the SWSDF, said: “For owners, pilots, organizers and fans, the countdown is on for the start of what will be a fascinating UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF at the Jeddah GP.

“This is where relentless innovation, marine preservation, and exhilarating races all come together, unveiling a new season for the Championship.

“In such a spectacular setting, this popular event highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to pioneering sustainable sports and furthering its reputation as a global hub for innovation and eco-tourism.”

The teams, each featuring male and female pilots sharing driving duties, are owned by celebrities from the world of sports and entertainment.

They include Smith (Westbrook Racing), Marc Anthony (Team Miami powered by Magnus), Steve Aoki (Racing Team Aoki), Brady (Team Brady), Kohli (Team Blue Rising), Drogba (Team Drogba), Rafael Nadal (Team Rafa) and Marcelo Claure (Team Brazil by Claure).

In its first season, E1 races took place in Venice, Monaco, Puerto Banus and Lake Como.


Dakar Rally comes down to a duel in the sand between Lategan and Al-Rajhi

Dakar Rally comes down to a duel in the sand between Lategan and Al-Rajhi
Updated 15 January 2025
Follow

Dakar Rally comes down to a duel in the sand between Lategan and Al-Rajhi

Dakar Rally comes down to a duel in the sand between Lategan and Al-Rajhi
  • The South African Lategan leads his Saudi rival by 2 1/2 minutes going into the 11th and penultimate stage in the Empty Quarter dunes
  • Friday’s last stage is a ceremonial drive to the finish in Shubaytah

SHUBAYTAH: Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al-Rajhi will duel in the Saudi sand for their first Dakar Rally title after swapping the lead for a second straight day Wednesday.
The South African Lategan leads his Saudi rival by 2 1/2 minutes going into the 11th and penultimate stage in the Empty Quarter dunes. Friday’s last stage is a ceremonial drive to the finish in Shubaytah.
Al-Rajhi led by seven minutes before the 10th stage, a tricky 120-kilometer loop south of Shubaytah on Wednesday. But he got stuck and relinquished the overall lead back to Lategan.
“We got stuck because we were taking it easy,” Al-Rajhi said. “Everything is going good, that’s the most important (thing). I have a good position, I hope.”
Lategan also took it easy but without finding any trouble, and was 10th on the stage, making up minutes on all of his nearest pursuers.
“It wasn’t the plan to go quickly today,” Lategan said.
On Thursday, he will start 10th and Al-Rajhi 27th and they can push harder by taking advantage of the tracks of those in front.
’Most disappointing day of my life’


Third-placed Mattias Ekström fell two minutes further back to 27 minutes, and five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah lost five minutes to drop back to 30.
Al-Attiyah, the only former champion with an outside title shot, got lost about nine kilometers in.
“I’m very disappointed, but what can you do?” Al-Attiyah said. “We had a good pace but we lost a lot of time. This is the most disappointing day of my life.”
Spain’s Nani Roma, one of only three men to win the Dakar in a car (2014) and motorbike (2004), won his first stage in nine years by 18 seconds from Lucas Moraes of Brazil. Brian Baragwanath of South Africa was third.
Sanders on the brink
Australian rider Daniel Sanders was on the brink of his first Dakar title in a motorbike race he’s dominated from stage one.
Sanders was fourth on the 116-kilometer stage but ahead of his nearest rivals, extending his overall lead by about two minutes against Spain’s Tosha Schareina and France’s Adrien van Beveren.
The advantage over Schareina was 16 1/2 minutes, the biggest in the race so far.
“It’s pretty much survival tomorrow and just getting through,” Sanders said. “I think we’ll be all right. I felt really good in the navigation and I was opening a little bit and then, yeah, it felt nice. So yeah, ready for tomorrow.”
Portugal’s Rui Gonçalves won his maiden stage in his fifth Dakar by nearly four minutes from Slovakia’s Stefan Svitko. American Skyler Howes was third.


Al Rajhi takes over Dakar Rally lead after miserable stage for Lategan

Al Rajhi takes over Dakar Rally lead after miserable stage for Lategan
Updated 14 January 2025
Follow

Al Rajhi takes over Dakar Rally lead after miserable stage for Lategan

Al Rajhi takes over Dakar Rally lead after miserable stage for Lategan
  • Lategan led the Dakar for the past week
  • Al Rajhi, like Lategan, has never won the Dakar

HARADH: Local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi took advantage of a miserable stage by South Africa’s Henk Lategan to grab the Dakar Rally lead in the Saudi Arabia desert on Tuesday.
Lategan led the Dakar for the past week, but errors and bad luck on the 357-kilometer ninth stage from Riyadh south-east to Haradh turned his overall lead of more than five minutes over Al Rajhi into a potentially decisive seven-minute deficit.
The rally has effectively two days and 400 kilometers remaining in the dunes of the Empty Quarter. The last day, Friday, is a ceremonial drive to the finish line in Shubaytah.
Al Rajhi, like Lategan, has never won the Dakar. This is the Saudi’s 11th attempt with a best finish of third in 2022. He’d been lying second since last Wednesday. The title race appears to be between only them.
Third-placed Mattias Ekström of Sweden and five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar were about 25 minutes behind.

 


“It’s a bit of disaster to be honest,” Lategan said. “About 13 kilometers in we got lost. We thought we missed the waypoint but we actually had it. When we got lost we got one puncture and then toward the end we got another one and the wheel is actually flat. So, it was a messy, messy, messy day for us but it’s not the end of the world, we’re still in it.”
Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings were 11th on the stage and Al Rajhi and Timo Gottschalk third.
“We did a great job like we planned to,” Al Rajhi said. “We pushed well. We enjoyed it, that’s the most important. I hope everything goes well the next two or three days to win the Dakar ... I will fight to win. It won’t be easy.”
Al-Attiyah won the stage ahead of Belgium’s Guillaume de Mévius in under three hours to rise to one minute off third place overall.
His 49th car stage win, and first in the Dakar for Romanian manufacturer Dacia, lifted him to only one behind the record jointly held by Finland’s Ari Vatanen and France’s Stephane Peterhansel.
Sanders cushions motorbike lead
Australian rider Daniel Sanders bolstered his motorbike lead to nearly 15 minutes when closest challenger, Spain’s Tosha Schareina, crashed early.
The back wheel of Schareina’s Honda hit a rock and sent him flying only 20 kilometers in. He resumed racing but the nearly four minutes he finished behind Sanders dropped him in the general standings.
Schareina’s teammate Adrien van Beveren of France remained third, more than 20 minutes behind, while Sanders’ KTM teammate Luciano Benavides of Argentina strengthened his position in fourth place by winning his second successive stage.
Benavides, thanks to collecting time bonuses of nearly five minutes by opening the way, beat Van Beveren by nearly two minutes, and repeated his win into Haradh two years ago. Sanders was third after leading until about 70 kilometers from the end.
“I only got lost a couple of times ... and lost a little bit of time,” Sanders said. “I could have pushed and made some more (time) but it’s not too bad.”

 


FIA president commends Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing Dakar Rally

FIA president commends Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing Dakar Rally
Updated 10 January 2025
Follow

FIA president commends Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing Dakar Rally

FIA president commends Saudi Arabia’s efforts in organizing Dakar Rally
  • Mohammed Ben Sulayem speaks of Kingdom’s commitment to delivering top-notch experience for participants
  • Rally resumes on Saturday with 7 stages remaining

Ha’il: The International Automobile Federation’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem commended the Kingdom’s efforts in organizing the Dakar Rally during his visit to Saudi Arabia’s rally bivouac on Friday.
Ben Sulayem also praised the Kingdom’s commitment to delivering a top-notch experience for participants and highlighted the warm hospitality and generosity that embody the spirit of the Saudi people.
The FIA president highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s success in hosting global sporting events, such as the Dakar Rally, has set a benchmark and become a source of pride. He also acknowledged the hard work and teamwork of all rally participants, noting their role in strengthening the Kingdom’s reputation as a world-class motorsport hub.
The participants have taken a well-deserved rest after enduring several days of tough desert challenges. Meanwhile, support teams have continued their vital work, ensuring vehicles are maintained and ready for the next stages to help competitors perform at their best.
After covering about 2,579 km of special stages, 299 vehicles arrived at the bivouac camp in Ha’il. Vehicles included 118 bikes, 58 cars, two stock vehicles, 45 challengers, 33 SSVs, and 43 trucks.
The rally resumes on Saturday with seven stages remaining. Participants will head to Al-Dawadmi, covering 829 km, including 605 km of timed special stages.
The journey will then take them through a circular stage in Al-Dawadmi, followed by Riyadh, Haradh, and finally Al-Shubayta.
The rally concludes with two final stages in Al-Shubayta on Jan. 16 and 17, marking the end of this year’s Dakar Rally.