This time last year, Jake Dennis was on the verge of becoming yet another British World Champion. Fast forward 12 months and he is still in with an outside chance of retaining his FIA Formula E title, but the Andretti ace is very much the rank outsider of the seven drivers still in the frame as the all-electric single-seater series reaches its season finale this weekend at ExCel in London. 

Dennis is a graduate of the Motorsport UK Academy, a programme that equips the most promising young drivers and co-drivers with the knowledge, skills and attitude needed to maximise their performance. George Russell, Lando Norris and Elfyn Evans are also Team UK alumni. 

While a sizable 45 points adrift of series leader Nick Cassidy with only 58 points still on the table, the 29-year-old defending champ should not be underestimated as he has an amazing record of success in London.  

The Midlander has managed at least one podium result on every visit to ExCel during his time in Formula E. In Season 7, his debut year, he managed an immediate win and was victorious again the following season when he secured both first and second place finishes across the two days.  

Last year, as he fought for his inaugural title, Dennis posted two podiums across the double-header on his way to becoming the Britain’s first Formula E World Champion. (Click here for Jake’s memories of that awesome day, and the story of how he made it all the way from karting aged eight to being a full-fledged World Champion).   

“Last year was something I’ll never forget – you couldn’t have written it any better,” recollected Dennis, whose form has not been quite as dominant in 2024.  

“Regardless of how this season has turned out so far, being in London to race is always going to be a special event for me in front of my family, friends and all the British fans. We’ve had a great deal of success in London over the years and we’ll be aiming to continue that heading into the weekend.” 

Oliver Rowland, another notable beneficiary of the Team UK initiative, is Britain’s best hope of back-to-back titles. Despite being forced to miss the two previous rounds in the USA with illness, the Nissan driver is fifth in the standings, 36 points adrift of Cassidy.  

While Dennis and Rowland are the only two British drivers with any mathematical hopes of being a World Champion on Sunday evening, they are by no means the only home-grown talent targeting success at ExCel. 

Sam Bird and Jake Hughes (the third Team UK graduate on the 2024 Formula E grid) team up in papaya at NEON McLaren while Dan Ticktum lines up for Silverstone based ERT.  

The action gets underway on Friday 19 July with Free Practice 1 at 16:55 local time. Then it’s straight into the first race day of the double-header on Saturday 20 July as Free Practice 2 kicks off the day at 09:55, followed by qualifying at 12:20 with lights out on Round 15 at 17:00. For Round 16, the same schedule applies: Free Practice 3 starts at 09:55 on Sunday 21 July, followed by qualifying at 12:20 and the race at 17:00.  

Whatever the outcome, you can be certain the racing will be nothing less than electrifying!