Formula E in Rome: Mitch Evans & Jaguar set new track record in second free practice session

Mitch Evans has decided the second Free Practice of Formula E in Rome in his favor. With his last attempt, the Jaguar driver not only set the fastest lap time of the session, but also a new track record on the street circuit in Italy. Behind him followed three Porsche-powered drivers: Jake Dennis, Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein.

Already at the start of the second free practice at 8:10 am (CEST), temperatures of 26 degrees prevailed in the EUR quarter. Except for the two McLaren drivers, all participants took to the track - including ABT duo of Nico Müller and Robin Frijns, who had not completed a single timed lap in FP1. After the first five minutes, both Nio 333s skidded straight into the run-off zone of turn 7 and made a spectacular synchronized turn. Mitch Evans also misjudged his braking.

Turn 7 causing CHAOS in Free Practice here in Rome.... both NIO's off together! ?@Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/4oUD2tWvvy

- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2023

After the first ten minutes, the Envision duo of Nick Cassidy and Sebastien Buemi led. Also up front were FP1 winner Pascal Wehrlein, Stoffel Vandoorne, Max Günther and the two factory Jaguars. Towards the halfway point, Buemi snatched first place. At this point, the Swiss was ahead of Rene Rast, Mitch Evans and the second McLaren of Jake Hughes, who also had to turn around once in the run-off zone. Jake Dennis, whose car still had to have its brakes replaced on Friday, fought his way towards the front step by step.

Evans in a league of his own

With about ten minutes to go, the times gradually approached the track record of 2022 (Mitch Evans). The closest at this point was the New Zealander himself. He was followed by his direct World Championship rivals Dennis and Wehrlein. Robin Frijns spun in turn 13 and was transverse on the track for just under a minute before he was able to get his ABT Cupra back on track.

? Just @JeanEricVergne FLYING around the track...@Hankook_Sport #RomeEPrix pic.twitter.com/EL7evVz8mb

- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) July 15, 2023

As time expired, several drivers tried again running at full power. Evans went ahead and knocked another four-tenths of a second off his own best time - a new track record (1:37.881 minutes)! At the same time, his lap meant the session win in the second Free Practice with a lead of more than six tenths of a second. Dennis remained second after a lock-up in turn 7, ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa as well as Wehrlein in the second Porsche.

Qualifying for the first race of the Hankook Rome E-Prix will take place on Saturday morning at 10:40 (CEST). We are on site for you and accompany the session as usual with our extensive reporting.

Results & times

Championship standings (drivers & teams)