Coronation in the principality Cassidy wins the Monaco E-Prix on the Hankook iON Race

- Nick Cassidy wins the Monaco E-Prix, mastering the narrow circuit of the Hankook iON Race
- The racers agree and are impressed by the satisfactory performance of the Hankook iON Race
- The Hankook iON Race, with its colorful tread grooves, proved to be a real eye-catcher in Monaco

Seoul, Korea, 08 May 2023 – New Zealand’s Nick Cassidy from the Envision Racing team won probably the most glamorous Formula E race of Season 9. The 28-year-old took full advantage of the impressive performance of the standard Formula E tire – the Hankook iON Race – on the 3.337-kilometer track in the principality of Monaco. Cassidy made up eight positions before taking the checkered flag after 29 laps of racing. This was the third win of the Jaguar driver’s career in the fully-electric series. “The Hankook tire was really very consistent and did not wear much at all,” said Cassidy, who also triumphed in the Sunday race last time out in Berlin.

Second place went to his compatriot Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing), followed by Britain’s Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) in third. Cassidy also moved to the top of the overall standings with 121 points, courtesy of his latest triumph in Monaco. His closest rivals are Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) in second place, who trails the New Zealander by 20 points, and Dennis in third with 96 points to his name.

The Hankook iON Race mastered the narrow circuit in Monaco without any problems. Hankook Formula E race engineer Thomas Baltes said that “19 corners, new asphalt in places, uphill and downhill sections, and extreme banking in the tunnel really put our tire through its paces. However, as at all the circuits so far, the Hankook iON Race did a great job and provided the necessary grip. And it did so although the cloud cover made it significantly cooler on the track during the race.” Hankook Motorsport Director Manfred Sandbichler was very satisfied: “The race in Monaco was another highlight in our first season in Formula E. So far, the tire has shown no weaknesses and has impressed everywhere, on diverse track surfaces and in a wide range of conditions.”

20,000 spectators, including big-name guests like Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev, Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg (both from Germany) and former football internationals Carlton Cole (England) and Patrice Evra (France), provided a magnificent backdrop for the ninth round of the Formula E season in the city state on the French Mediterranean coast.

Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) taking the second place mentioned that “The tires work exactly as we expect – very well, and we are happy with the performance. We are getting a better understanding all the time of how to get the tire into the optimal working window. With any new tire, it is only normal to have to learn how to deal with it at first.”

Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Formula E) in third place stated that “I am really surprised how consistent the tire is. There was practically no wear. And consistency is very important in Formula E. We may still be a little unsure of exactly how to get the tire into its optimal working window, but we are learning and improving all the time.”

Special venue, special design: the Hankook iON Race, with its colorful tread grooves in Hankook Orange and iON Blue, proved to be a real eye-catcher in Monaco. “Developed specially for the three races with title sponsorship – the Hankook Mexico E-Prix, the Hankook Rome E-Prix and the finale, the Hankook London E-Prix – the design proved to be so popular that it was also used in the principality. We are pleased that the tire has been so well received with its colorful accents, and we are already planning for the coming season,” revealed Hankook Communications Director, Felix Kinzer.

The goal for all Formula E teams is to get the Hankook iON Race into the optimal working window in every race. This is because Hankook’s premium product performs best at the right tire temperature and with the ideal air pressure. Thanks to new sensor technology from Hankook and its partner Texys Group, it has been possible since Season 9 to measure and view live the current air pressure and temperatures of the tires and rims, as well as humidity. “The data is measured using infrared and is available immediately. However, it is not just about the perfect working window for the Hankook iON Race, but also safety. The wrong air pressure can cause punctures and consequently crashes. It is for this reason that race control monitors the tire pressure on all cars,” explains Hankook’s Formula E race engineer Thomas Baltes.

Formula E is introducing a new classification: in the second half of Season 9, one driver per race will be named the “ABB Driver of Progress”. The basis for this competition is the number of positions gained in the race. Formula E has used the results of previous races to create a retrospective ranking. Positions lost or a driver’s failure to finish were not taken into consideration when creating this table.

The official soundtrack of the fully-electric series is the perfect remedy for anyone who finds the time between races in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship too long. The album or individual titles like “Race Day” and “All Or Nothing” can be heard on Spotify. The next round of Formula E takes place from 2nd to 4th June in Indonesia.