Video: Rain in Spain and other factors hit Formula E

An incident-marred first day of racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Valencia saw almost half the field fail to finish.

The first e-prix on the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in the competition’s fifth round had five safety car episodes which resulted in the FIA taking energy away from each electric car to prevent them having a surplus at the end, but which left many racers without sufficient power to finish, especially as the race was lengthened too.

About 10 did not finishes (DNFs) were recorded – including Kiwi driver Mitch Evans in the Jaguar Racing team – and two disqualifications.

Fellow Jaguar Racing driver Sam Bird took ninth and Kiwi Nick Cassidy driving for Envision Virgin Racing was fourth.

It could have been a repeat the next day in round six, although drier, but for some conservative driving to reduce the laps – Cassidy 13^th, Bird 14^th and Evans 15^th.

That leaves Bird in third overall after six races behind Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E team members leader Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandorne.

Racing returns to the streets on May 8 for the Monaco e-Prix with the series wrapping up in Berlin on August 14 and 15.