Formula E: Nico Prost ‘strolls’ to Battersea Park win | CNN

Formula E: Nico Prost ‘strolls’ to victory in Battersea Park

By Matthew Knight, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 3:05 PM EDT, Sat July 2, 2016
Nico Prost (left) and Bruno Senna clutching their trophies after the first ePrix of the weekend.
Nico Prost (left) and Bruno Senna clutching their trophies after the first ePrix of the weekend.
Stef Blendis/CNN
Prost cruised to victory in the first of two Formula E races being staged in London this weekend.
Prost cruised to victory in the first of two Formula E races being staged in London this weekend.
Getty Images Latam/Getty Images South America
One of Battersea Power Station's famous chimney's pokes up above the trees in London's Battersea Park. The iconic building has been derelict for years but is now undergoing redevelopment.
One of Battersea Power Station's famous chimney's pokes up above the trees in London's Battersea Park. The iconic building has been derelict for years but is now undergoing redevelopment.
Matt Knight/CNN
Battersea Park's leafy lanes have been transformed for the Formula E finale.
Battersea Park's leafy lanes have been transformed for the Formula E finale.
Matt Knight/CNN
Sebastien Buemi on the grid before the race. The Swiss driver started in 14th but clawed his way back to fifth overall.
Sebastien Buemi on the grid before the race. The Swiss driver started in 14th but clawed his way back to fifth overall.
Matt Knight/CNN
Buemi's Renault e.Dams car has shown brilliant pace all season. The Swiss driver went into the final race weekend of the Formula E season trailing championship leader Lucas di Grassi by one point.
Buemi's Renault e.Dams car has shown brilliant pace all season. The Swiss driver went into the final race weekend of the Formula E season trailing championship leader Lucas di Grassi by one point.
Matt Knight/CNN
A close up of the cockpit of a DS Virgin Racing car.
A close up of the cockpit of a DS Virgin Racing car.
Matt Knight/CNN
The DS Virgin Racing team watch the action unfold on TV screens in the pit garage.
The DS Virgin Racing team watch the action unfold on TV screens in the pit garage.
Matt Knight/CNN
The pit lane is quiet for most of the race...
The pit lane is quiet for most of the race...
Matt Knight/CNN
At the halfway point of the race, the pit lane comes alive as drivers rush in to change cars.
At the halfway point of the race, the pit lane comes alive as drivers rush in to change cars.
Matt Knight/CNN
Four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti (left) in conversation before Saturday's race. Franchitti works as TV co-commentator on the all electric race series.
Four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti (left) in conversation before Saturday's race. Franchitti works as TV co-commentator on the all electric race series.
Matt Knight/CNN
CNN Supercharged presenter Nicki Shields hard at work.
CNN Supercharged presenter Nicki Shields hard at work.
Matt Knight/CNN
A drone keeps track of the action in the skies above the circuit.
A drone keeps track of the action in the skies above the circuit.
Matt Knight/CNN
London ePrix: Battle in Battersea Park

Story highlights

Nico Prost wins Saturday's London ePrix

Title rivals Di Grassi and Buemi finish fourth and fifth

Season finale takes place on Sunday

London CNN  — 

It’s a long time since the names of Prost and Senna have graced the same motorsport podium but in London on Saturday history repeated itself.

The penultimate race of the Formula E season saw drivers battle the elements as well as a narrow track with Nico Prost, son of four-time Formula One world champion and Renault e.Dams co-founder Alain, taking the checkered flag.

The Frenchman dominated the race, leading from start to finish around the 2.92-kilometer Battersea Park circuit with Bruno Senna a distant second and DS Virgin Racing’s Jean-Eric Vergne placing third.

“For me it was a stroll in the park – the car today was just amazing!” said Prost who hadn’t been atop the podium since the 2015 Miami ePrix.

For Senna, the nephew of the late three-time F1 world champion Ayrton, a podium also marked an upturn in fortunes – the result was his and Mahindra Racing’s best result in the all-electric race series.

“I’m so happy the car was working really well today,” Senna said. “It’s nice to see Nico on the podium.”

Prost’s emphatic win comes at the end of a frustrating season which has seen him play second fiddle to his Renault e.Dams teammate Sebastien Buemi.

Buemi, who is vying for the drivers’ title with Lucas di Grassi, could only manage fifth after struggling to 14th in a rain-hit qualifying session earlier in the day.

All the talk before the weekend had centered on the battle for the drivers’ title between Buemi and ABT Schaeffler driver di Grassi – the pair have won three races each this season and were separated by a single point before today’s ePrix.

Di Grassi – who qualified 11th – finished one place above Buemi in fourth, and now has a three-point lead – 153 points to 150 – heading into tomorrow’s title-deciding race.

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Despite losing part of his front wing in a collision with Vergne on lap 26 of the 33-lap race, di Grassi managed to hold off Buemi, repelling several attacks around the twists and turns of the temporary park circuit.

“It’s clear that the Renault has a much better car, so I think we did a really good job to keep him behind,” di Grassi said.

With one more race to go on Sunday, the second season of Formula E is heading for a thrilling climax with tomorrow’s final ePrix result as unpredictable as the English weather.