Paris (AFP)

Britain's Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing) on ​​Friday won the first round of Ad Diriyah's double ePrix (Saudi Arabia) in opening of the 2019-2020 season marked by the abandonment of the two-time defending champion Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne.

Bird, ninth in the standings at the end of last season, beat Germany's André Lotterer (Tag Heuer Porsche) and Belgium's Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ), which helped the heavyweights Porsche and Mercedes to make their debut noticed in Formula E.

The two German manufacturers have integrated the competition which, for its sixth edition, has never been so dense. Formula E now has a record 14 races in 12 countries, 24 cars against 22 previously and 10 manufacturers (also with Audi, Nissan, BMW, DS or Jaguar).

Note that the Envision Virgin Racing team made a double blow by also taking the lead in the team standings thanks to the 5th place won by the Dutch Robin Frijns. Mercedes is second in this ranking and Porsche third.

Barely started, the 2019-2020 season, due to end in late July in London, has already been marked by a coup with the abandonment of Vergne, which became last season the first driver to retain his title.

The champion DS Techeetah, eleventh on the grid, had to give up while they remained 17 minutes of racing because of a damaged front wheel.

The season continues on Saturday with the second round of Ad Diriyah's double ePrix.

Ranking of the first round of Ad Diriyah's double ePrix (Saudi Arabia):

1. Sam Bird (GBR / Virgin Racing Envision)

2. André Lotterer (GER / Tag Heuer Porsche) at 1,319 sec

3. Vandoorne Stoffel (BEL / Mercedez-Benz EQ) at 1.672

4. Oliver Rowland (GBR / Nissan e.dams) at 1.944

5. Robin Frijns (NED / Envision Virgin Racing) at 3.983

6. Nyck de Vries (NED / Mercedez-Benz EQ) at 4,560

7. Edoardo Mortara (SUI / Venturi Racing) at 5.122

8. Alexander Sims (GBR / BMW I Andretti Motorsport) at 5.715

9. Jérôme D'Ambrosio (BEL / Mahindra Racing) at 6.628

10. Mitch Evans (AUS / Panasonic Racing Jaguar) at 7.048

...

Uncategorized: Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA / DS Techeetah)

Ranking of the Formula E World Championship after the 1st ePrix of 14:

1. Sam Bird (GBR) 26 points

2. André Lotterer (GER) 18 pts

3. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) 15 pts

4. Oliver Rowland (GBR) 12 pts

5. Robin Frijns (NED) 10 pts

...

© 2019 AFP