Vandoorne beats Rowland to Formula E pole in second London E-Prix

The ExCeL London exhibition centre plays host to this afternoon’s race in London with half of the circuit indoors, with the other half outside. As it was on Saturday, rain threatened throughout qualifying making a lottery to who would benefit. 

Vandoorne was the only driver to progress from group two as the rain started to spit. The Belgian stormed to the top of the timesheets in Superpole, less than a tenth clear of Rowland.

Yesterday’s pole-sitter Alex Lynn topped group qualifying but a poor final sector on his Superpole lap meant he had to settle for third, within a tenth of Vandoorne at the top. Nyck de Vries was the only driver from group one to make it into Superpole - the third time he has done so this season.

De Vries is well clear of his championship rivals so it could be a crucial day in terms of his own title ambitions before the finale in Berlin. Mitch Evans qualified fifth having made a major mistake into Turn 1 on his Superpole lap.

After starting last in the first London E-Prix, Maximilian Gunther will start sixth in the lead BMW Andretti. Pascal Wehrlein was seventh ahead of Robin Frijns, the second-best of the group one participants.

Sergio Sette Camara was the best of the group four runners, while Audi’s Lucas di Grassi rounded out the top ten. Group one wasn’t favourable for championship leader Sam Bird, who will start from 21st. 

Antonio Felix da Costa, Jean-Eric Vergne and Oliver Turvey complete the back of the grid. Gunther, di Grassi, Frijns, de Vries, Rene Rast, Edoardo Mortara and Joel Eriksson were all fined €1000 for all going too slow on their in-laps.

With rain forecast for this afternoon’s race, it could be another class in the all-electric series.

Click here for the full FIA Formula E qualifying results from the second London E-Prix.