Rowland “would have found it hard to win” Mexico City E-Prix without late safety car

Oliver Rowland believes he “would have discovered it onerous to win” the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix had been it not for a late security automotive adopted by passing three vehicles in a single lap for the lead.

The Nissan driver took his first System E victory of the season and his first on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit on Saturday, regardless of solely main the ultimate six laps in a race dominated by Porsche drivers Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein.

The Briton was solely fourth and a number of other seconds behind da Costa and Wehrlein when he activated his closing six minutes of Assault Mode simply moments earlier than a security automotive was known as for David Beckmann’s stranded Cupra Kiro.

A fast restoration meant Rowland nonetheless had simply over a minute out there when racing resumed with six laps remaining, and with these forward having already used each Assault Modes, he dispatched Andretti’s Jake Dennis, Wehrlein and da Costa inside a lap to take an sudden victory.

“I believe by way of the protection automotive there was a component of luck however I additionally misplaced practically six minutes of Assault Mode,” mentioned Rowland.

“However I do truthfully assume I might have discovered it onerous to win with out that security automotive as a result of I used to be struggling slightly bit to be environment friendly after type of 10 laps.

“We had been there within the race to select up the items with slightly little bit of luck.”

Podium: Race winner Oliver Rowland, Nissan System E Crew, second place Antonio Felix da Costa, TAG Heuer Porsche System E Crew, third place Pascal Wehrlein, TAG Heuer Porsche System E Crew

Picture by: Andreas Beil

When requested what would have been doable if the primary of two security vehicles had not occurred, Rowland admitted {that a} podium was most likely the utmost.

“I believe it is onerous to say. I haven’t got the precise numbers on vitality,” he added.

“I believe I might have gotten again to them [the top three], however I believe had I handed them [with Attack mode] I might have consumed an excessive amount of and struggled to take care of the lead is my intestine feeling.

“I believe my technique at that time would have most likely been to get to those guys after which consolidate a podium however then once I obtained the possibility to go for it, I simply went for it.”

Porsche locked out the entrance row for the primary time in its System E historical past in Mexico, as reigning champion Wehrlein headed da Costa within the opening phases.

The pair led 26 of the 36 laps between themselves, with da Costa main Wehrlein approaching lap 28 and the pivotal security automotive interval.

On the restart, the Portuguese driver defended from Rowland into the Flip 9/10 chicane and moved over to cowl the within into Flip 12 however was unable to stop Rowland transferring forward with all-wheel-drive.

Antonio Felix da Costa TAG Heuer Porsche System E Crew Porsche 99X Electrical Gen3

Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photographs

“Oliver was very decisive. I defended onerous and I believe there wasn’t a lot house left and it is all the time good to race him when it is onerous and honest like that,” mentioned da Costa, who leads the championship standings for the primary time since his title-winning marketing campaign in 2019-20.

“I believed we had a 1-2 as we speak for the workforce after which that security automotive, I nonetheless have to return and take a look at it.

“Perhaps Oliver would have had sufficient to come back again to the entrance or not, I suppose we’ll by no means know, however it ruined our celebration slightly bit.”