Kiwi Mitch Evans fifth in Berlin

Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans remains a firm contender for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title after a fifth in Berlin.

Evans used energy management in the early stages to leave more power for attacking nearer the finish, the first double-header won by Venturi driver Edoardo Mortara with Mercedes-EQ’s Nyck de Vries winning the second race.

Meanwhile, McLaren will race in Formula E next year, adding to its electric racing portfolio with Kiwi rally driver Emma Gilmour in the team for the Extreme E off-road event.

Gilmour was rallying in New Zealand but heads back overseas on May 16 to the revised Extreme E series which now sees a double-header round in Sardinia on July 6-7 and July 9-10.

“Unfortunately, the new Extreme E dates mean that I won’t be able to return to New Zealand to drive my Vantage Windows & Doors Suzuki Swift AP4 at the NZRC’s third round in South Canterbury in mid-June,” she says.

“It’s been a long break since our first Extreme E round in Saudi Arabia in February, so I can’t wait to be back with my McLaren team again and working towards a great result in Sardinia.”

The weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei saw mechanical problems prevent Gilmour from competing properly after she just missed a podium finish in the Otago Rally.

McLaren enters Formula E after purchasing the Mercedes team and will announce drivers and the cars’ powertrain supplier later.