• This was the third time that Riyadh has held a Formula E event, and the second time that it has been the season-opening race

Ali Khaled

DIRIYAH, Saudi Arabia: Nyck de Vries of Mercedes-Benz won the first leg of a historic Diriyah E-Prix double-header to become the first driver to ever win a Formula E race taking place at night.

This was the third time that Riyadh has held a Formula E event, and the second time that it has been the season-opening race.

After receiving his winner’s trophy on the podium, a delighted de Vries was congratulated by Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Faisal, the president of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation.

Edoardo Mortara of ROKiT Venturi Racing finished second while Mitch Evans of Jaguar Racing was third. Rene Rast of Audi Sport ABT Schaeffier was fourth.

For the first time in its history, Formula E, which was awarded championship status by the FIA ahead of its seventh season, saw a street circuit race take place at night, and under a new revolutionary LED lighting never before used in motorsport.

De Vries of Mercedes-Benz EQ had started in pole position on the grid and after an excellent start maintained his position for the rest of the race despite twice having his progress halted by the introduction of the safety car.

First, Sam Bird of Jaguar and Alex Lynn of Mahindra Racing, collided on lap 17, and then Maximilian Günther of BMW i Andretti Motorsport slid off and slammed into the barriers.

But each time the race restarted, de Vries kept this cool and his lead and eventually raced to his first ever win in Formula E with some comfort.

The reigning champion Antonio Felix de Costa of DS Techeetah, who also claimed the 2019-20 Team Championship, finished in 11th position.

The second race of the season will once again take place at night on the Diriyah track on Saturday.