Vergne stretches Formula E lead with victory in Uruguay

[March 19, 2018]    (Reuters) - French driver Jean-Eric Vergne won Uruguay's Formula E round in Punta del Este from pole position on Saturday to stretch his overall lead in the all-electric series to 30 points.

The victory in the coastal resort was the Techeetah driver's second of the season and he now has 109 points with closest rival Felix Rosenqvist, the Swede who races for India's Mahindra, second on 79 after six of 12 races.

Reigning champion Lucas di Grassi of Brazil, who had scored only three points prior to Saturday, was second for the Audi-backed Team Abt after failing to find a way past Vergne in a race-long battle.

Britain's Sam Bird completed the podium for DS Virgin Racing.

Di Grassi had originally secured pole position but was demoted to second when the top four in qualifying were handed penalties just before the race following a stewards' investigation for cutting a chicane.

"We had the fastest car but really it was going to be a crash or we stay as we are," said the Brazilian of his efforts to pass Vergne.

Jaguar Racing's New Zealand driver Mitch Evans finished fourth after being sent to the back of the grid for weight distribution discrepancies.

The next round is in Rome on April 14.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ed Osmond)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.