Jean-Eric Vergne becomes first two-time Formula E champion to retain his crown in New York

JEAN-ERIC VERGNE became Formula E’s first two-time world champion in New York.

The Frenchman’s seventh place finish was enough in the season finale after he overcame a difficult double-header to retain his crown.

Formula E

Lucas Di Grassi was Vergne’s direct rival and had to win to have any chance of clinching the title but in seventh place he crashed out on the final lap.

Virgin’s Robin Frijns won his second ePrix of the season with Brit Alex Sims and Sebastien Buemi finishing second and third respectively.

After making history, Vergne said: “It was very stressful.

“Yesterday did not go to plan and today, starting in the middle of the pack, i had to be very aggressive at the start and take some risks and it paid off.

“So many emotions running in my body running in my body right now but i am very proud to be in this team and they have been fantastic for me this year.”

Vergne’s point-scoring finish also meant Techeetah edged Audi to the constructor’s championship title.

Virgin’s Frijns pulled off two terrific overtakes to win the race – as he passed Buemi for second place midway through the race before outwitting Sims for the lead under breaking at turn one.

To add insult to injury for Di Grassi, the crash on the last lap meant he was poached of second place in the driver’s standings by Buemi.

Di Grassi’s race derailed when he came together with Jaguar’s Mitch Evans which resulted in his Audi also clipping the wall before losing steering and driving into the barriers.

The incident resulted in a ten-second time penalty for Evans.