(CNN) Finally, the streak is over.
After the first eight races of the 2018-19 Formula E championship produced eight different race winners, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne became the first driver to record a second victory of the season after leading from pole to win the Monaco E-Prix. Vergne, who was also victorious in Sanya in March, held off late pressure from British driver Oliver Rowland having controlled the race from the very start. It means the defending champion moves to the top of the overall standings with four races remaining this season. TeamJEV: Reclaiming the championship lead, #JEV25 dominated a lights to flag victory at the #MonacoEPrix , but Rowland made him race for it ⚡️ #ABBFormulaE #DSTecheetah #DontCrackUnderPressure #ThisisBOSS #RaceAhead #DSAutomobiles pic.twitter.com/IpBroQf1NF
— Jean-Eric Vergne (@JeanEricVergne) May 11, 2019 "I've never won this one before so I'm happy," said the Techeetah driver after the race. "It's been a difficult season, lots of ups and downs but these kind of wins make it all worth it." Read More Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and features The Monaco E-Prix, which has been won by Sebastian Buemi on the two previous occasions, is the shortest track on the all-electric race series calendar, an abridged version of the famous Formula One circuit that runs along the iconic harbor front. While Pascal Wehrlein was the quickest in qualifying, he was forced to drop back three places on the starting grid following a penalty he picked up in Paris two weeks ago. That handed Vergne a race advantage that he never relinquished. READ : Frijns wins action-packed Paris E-Prix It's been a topsy-turvy season for the Frenchman, who had gone three consecutive races without scoring any points before his win in Sanya. Another pointless race in Rome followed, before a 14th place finish in Paris and victory here in Monaco. He was closely tailed by Rowland, Brazilian Felipe Massa, and Wehrlein throughout the race but there was to be no movement at the front in the closing stages. JUST WATCHED Frijns win action-packed Paris ePrix Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH
Frijns win action-packed Paris ePrix 05:23 Rowland finished runner-up for the second time this season, while Massa, who resides in Monaco, secured his first ever Formula E podium after retiring from a storied Formula One career in 2017. Massa never won in Monaco as an F1 driver, but he twice matched the third-place finish he produced here in the all-electric championship. READ : Forget A to B, electric cars can now get you from London to Paris At the top of the championship, which resumes in Berlin two weeks' time, Vergne leads on 87 points ahead of Techeetah teammate Andre Lotterer on 82 and Envision Virgin Racing's Robin Frijns, who started the race at the head of standings after a win in Paris, on 81.
