In Qualifying, the Kiwi took on Jaguar’s Sam Bird in the second head-to-head battle of the weekend and capitalised on an error from the British driver to win the duel and progress to the semi-final to take on Wehrlein.
Cassidy played a blinder in his first semi-final appearance of the season, beating Wehrlein and making it into his maiden qualifying final to take on the Mercedes of Stoffel Vandoorne.
Following a thrilling face-off, Cassidy edged out Vandoorne by a whisker to claim his third career pole position, hustling and sliding his Envision Racing Audi e-tron FE07 around the Brooklyn track in style.
Chaos, confusion and rain reigned at the New York E-Prix. Cassidy, following his stunning pole position for the weekend’s first race -dominated proceedings, only for a late rain shower to catch the Kiwi driver and several other competitors out in spectacular fashion.
Cassidy made an absolutely textbook start when the lights went out to start the New York E-Prix. In fact, so did team-mate Frijns who quickly moved up from seventh to fifth as Vergne came to grief.
As the race entered the final 30 minutes Cassidy found himself under relentless pressure from di Grassi. The Envision Racing man was forced to draw on all his multi-discipline motorsport skills and experience to keep the lead.
Cassidy took his second Attack Mode, followed one lap later by di Grassi, with 20 minutes-plus-one-lap remaining. Vandoorne joined in with the fun, making it a three-way scrap for the win. It was battle on.
Entering the final 10 minutes, the rain increased significantly, completely soaking the circuit. The next few seconds were full of confusion and chaos. As a full-course-yellow flag was thrown due to the deteriorating conditions, Frijns emerged from the mist and spray in the lead as Cassidy, Vandoorne, di Grassi, Wehrlein and Buemi all aquaplaned off the circuit at high speed in a scary looking shunt.
Following a lengthy stoppage, with the track described by di Grassi as “undriveable”, the race did not resume, and with the result declared by counting one lap back from the stoppage Cassidy was declared the winner ahead of di Grassi and Frijns - taking his maiden FIA Formula E race victory!
Nick Cassidy
"It is such a rollercoaster of emotions, I was pretty calm after everything happened (but) obviously very disappointed initially. It felt like I did everything right today, felt like it was in the bag with ten to go, then it started raining. I was initially very disappointed considering that, but - and I know I'm biased - I think it is the right decision."
Race two of the New York City E-Prix will take place tomorrow, with Cassidy aiming to double up in 'The Big Apple'.
Press content courtesy of Envision Virgin Racing
