Oliver Rowland has kept his bid to defend his Formula E title very much alive after a solid weekend in Tokyo that saw the Penistone racer secure a seventh and a fourth place in the championship’s first night races at the Nissan-backed venue.
Moving up the standings
The results mean Rowland has slipped to fourth in the drivers’ table but remains close to the summit — trailing the leader by 14 points as the championship heads to its concluding double-header in London on 15–16 August. With only two rounds left, the championship remains contested among several drivers.
Rowland said team adjustments made between races were decisive in improving his weekend performance:
“The changes the team made overnight definitely paid off. Both Norman (Nato, his team-mate) and I reached the Duels and we were able to put ourselves in a much stronger position for the race. We got the maximum we realistically could from the weekend given how it unfolded, and being only 14 points from the championship lead heading into London gives us plenty to fight for. It won’t be easy with several drivers still in contention, but we’ll keep pushing right until the final race.”
What happened in Tokyo
The Tokyo rounds formed a significant test for both drivers and teams, staged under lights at the home track associated with Rowland’s manufacturer. The Barnsley driver produced two consistent outings — finishing 7th in the first race and 4th in the second — which yielded a useful haul of points and helped tighten the title race.
- Race 1 (Tokyo): Rowland finished 7th.
- Race 2 (Tokyo): Rowland finished 4th.
- Championship position after Tokyo: 4th, 14 points off the lead.
Looking ahead to London
With the finale set for a London double-header in mid-August, Rowland and his team will be assessing set-up and strategy to extract further gains on a street circuit that has been decisive in past seasons. The remaining rounds offer limited but critical opportunities for drivers in contention to overturn small margins.
| Event | Result for Rowland |
|---|---|
| Tokyo Race 1 | 7th |
| Tokyo Race 2 | 4th |
| Championship status | 4th, 14 points behind leader |
For local supporters in Barnsley and Penistone, the penultimate weekend of the series will be watched closely: Rowland remains within striking distance and has signalled the team will push until the end of the season.
Further updates will follow as the championship moves to London and results become available.
