di Grassi stretches clear with Paris ePrix win
Click here for full race results of the Paris ePrix
Lucas di Grassi has stretched his lead in the FIA Formula E Championship standings after cruising to a dominant win in a safety-car concluded inaugural Paris ePrix.
The ABT Schaeffler Audi driver got the better start off the front row to snatch the lead into turn one from pole sitter Sam Bird and was never challenged thereafter as he managed a comfortable lead under racing conditions throughout the 45 lap encounter.
His only panic came in the final four laps when the safety car, deployed after newcomer Ma Qing Hua crashed into the wall, wiped out his advantage and threatened to create a dramatic sprint to the finish line. However, with Ma's Aguri car proving tricky to move, the race would simply conclude behind the safety car.
A third win of the season for the Brazilian, with closest rival Sebastien Buemi finishing in a hard fought third position from eighth on the grid, di Grassi is now 11 points clear of the Swiss driver with three rounds and four races of the Formula E season remaining.
Also getting the better of Bird at the start, despite some heavy contact with his DS Virgin team-mate, Jean-Eric Vergne held onto second with some robust defence, the Frenchman coming to blows again with the frustrated Briton just before the pit-stop but holding firm.
Having put ex-F1 driver Vergne under intense pressure during the first half of the race, Bird appeared to have more problems handling his second car during the second half, allowing Buemi onto his tail. Though it appeared the title contender couldn't find a way through around the tight and twisty Paris circuit, Bird would eventually succumb when he out-braked himself into turn eight with seven laps to go and took to the escape road.
Despite a slick 'donut' to turn the DS Virgin car around, Bird would slip to sixth place behind Buemi, Nicolas Prost and Stephane Sarrazin.
Despite some boisterous racing at the start, Robin Frijns and Antonio Felix da Costa kept it out of the wall for seventh and eighth, with Bruno Senna and Daniel Abt completing the points' scoring positions in the top ten.
