champ bites back
Formula E: Jean-Eric Vergne is back in title contention after first win of the season in Sanya ePrix
Defending champion is third in the Drivers' championship, on level points with Brit Sam Bird
DEFENDING champion Jean-Eric Vergne won his first race of the season in Sanya.
The Frenchman overtook pole-sitter Oliver Rowland with a crisp move after the Brit’s aggressive defending.
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Rowland finished second as the Nissan star celebrated on the podium for the first win in Formula E after also securing his maiden pole in China.
Vergne had gone five races without a win after sealing his first victory since last season's finale in New York.
He said: "I was never gone, I guess I had a bit of bad luck lately, but I have always had the same motivation.
"I guess talent doesn't go away in a few months, so that is the thing I told myself, not to lose the confidence or the hope.
"The moment you lose hope you lose everything, you need to trust your team and especially yourself."
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Vergne also dedicated his victory to Charlie Whiting after the former Formula One race director tragically passed away earlier this month.
Vergne added: ";He (Charlie Whiting) was a great man, more than just a race director.
"Losing him was a massive loss to the whole of motorsport."
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Vergne is now level on points with Sam Bird in the drivers championship as they sit third in the standings behind Jerome D'Ambrosio in second.
Bird did not finish the race after former F1 star Stoffel Vandoorne drove into the back of the Brit as the field slowed down for a full course yellow.
Antonio Felix Da Costa is now leading the championship after finishing third.
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It was a tense final ten minutes to the race after the restart following a red flag, which was called as stewards cleared Alex Sims’ car.
Sims’ rear-right tyre hit the wall as he ran out of road as he raced alongside fellow Brit Rowland, which left his car immobile on the track.
But Vergne recovered his comfortable lead with a fast restart while a pack of five cars battled for a place on the podium in the final stages.
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The Techeetah driver was under investigation for his restart after the safety car - but has since been reprimanded.
There was a big collision between Sebastien Buemi, Robin Frijns and Lucas Di Grassi in closing moments which meant the race finished on a full course yellow.
Buemi bumped into the back of Frijns who then hit Di Grassi who spun out of the race.
Formula E's next stop is Rome as the championship embarks on the European leg of the season before the season finale in New York.
Bird will to replicate last season's victory in Rome as the Championship hots up, after having six different winners from as many races.
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