Kiwi Formula-E drivers double up in Berlin

Nick Davidson, Envision Racing.
Photo: Supplied

It was a win-win weekend for New Zealand drivers at the Formula E championship in Berlin.

Nick Davidson driving for Envision Racing has won the second grand prix of the weekend after starting from eighth on the grid, after fellow New Zeland driver Mitch Evans in a Jaguar won the opening race yesterday.

“Ive had been in the fight in all five races (this season). Yesterday we had a great opportunity as well and I made a mistake and I really put my hand up for that but today we made it count.”

Davidson is now four points off the championship lead in second spot after his first win of the season.

“I’ve had an opportunity to win nearly every weekend and as a driver that is a dream. I’ve had some good luck and I am sure some bad luck or bad weekends are coming our way but until them I’m just enjoying the ride.”

Evans is fifth on the championship ladder.

Mitch Evans won the first grand prix of the weekend in Berlin.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019

Climate change activists delayed the start of the race at Berlin’s Tempelhof airport circuit after they climbed fences and sat in front of cars lined up on the starting grid.

Letzte Generation (Last Generation) posted video on Twitter of white T-shirted supporters scaling the wire fence before being carried away by security.

“It’s time to slow down. Because we’re on the highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator,” the group said on Twitter.

A Formula E spokesperson said the protest was “unrelated to the event”.

“Security services quickly and safely contained the disruption,” the spokesperson added.

“The event was able to proceed as planned.”

City-based Formula E is the only FIA-sanctioned zero-emission all-electric world championship and takes pride in being the first sport in the world to be certified net zero carbon from the inception.

Car manufacturers Porsche, DS, Nio, Maserati, Jaguar, Nissan, McLaren and Mahindra are among the teams competing in the series.

The incident was the latest in a series targeting prominent sports events.

A Just Stop Oil protestor halted the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield last week after climbing on to a table and scattering a bag of orange powder paint over the playing surface.

Britain’s Grand National horse race was delayed by animal rights protesters, with 118 people arrested.

Twenty five people were also arrested at Saturday’s Scottish Grand National.

Activists ran onto the track after an opening lap crash at last July’s British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone.

-RNZ/Reuters