Vergne new Formula E champion | St.Galler Tagblatt

Jean-Eric Vergne started his car race in Zurich a month ago (Image: KEYSTONE / PPR / SEBASTIAN SCHNEIDER)

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Off from pole position Sebastien Buemi, who stayed behind, was third behind Brazilian Lucas di Grassi and his German teammate Daniel Abt.

Buemi is assured the best starting position in a superior manner. The second fastest in qualifying final, New Zealander Mitch Evans, lagged him by more than half a second.

Buemi entered a new territory in New York. Last year he had missed both races of the "Big Apple" because of a collision with appointments. Instead of New York, he competed in the long distance world championship at the Nürburgring six-hour race.

Vergne had also made a lot of noise in qualifying. Because he had exceeded the engine power allowed, he was sanctioned by the race director and he had to attack the race from the second last place on the grid. The former Formula 1 driver has achieved no less than 13 positions in his impressive catch-up race. The 10 points for rank 5 were enough to secure the championship prematurely, especially since his last opponent, the Englishman Sam Bird, was no more than number 9.

Vergne leads the overall standings before the last test Sunday with 31 points in advance. Each race has a maximum of 29 points to win, 25 for the victory, 3 for pole position, 1 for the best lap of the race.

Vergne succeeds Di Grassi as the champion of the fourth season of Formula E on. The first of the championship had decided for his own compatriot Nelson Piquet of Di Grassis, the following year, Buemi had obtained the title.