Vergne extends Formula E points lead with Punta del Este win

©FormulaE

Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne clinched his second Formula E win of the season after beating to the wire Lucas di Grassi in Punta del Este's ePrix.

The Frenchman lined up on pole following di Grassi's demotion for cutting a chicane during the Super Pole session, and tore off the grid when the lights went green with his Audi Abt rival in tow.

The pair ran nose to tail until their coordinated pit stop on lap 19, only slowing briefly during a mounting an attack at the final chicane a few laps later, only for the unassailable Vergne to fend him off.

Behind, DS Virgin's succeeded in reeling in the dueling duo which continued its thrilling scrap. Contact ensued between the leaders at the final corner, just three laps from the end but Vergne held his own until the checkered flag, taking his second win of the season and extending his championship lead over Mahindra's Felix Rosenqvist to 30 points.

The Swede managed to salvage P5 after a low-key performance in qualifying, finishing just behind Jaguar Racing's fourth-placed Mitch Evans.

Alex Lynn, Oliver Turvey, Jose Maria Lopez, Jérôme d'Ambrosio and Mario Engel rounded off the top ten, while Vergne's Techeetah team mate André Lotterer was a disappointing 12th.

Both Sebastian Beumi and Nelson Piquet Jr were early casualties and failed to see the finish.

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