Formula E world champion Jake Dennis has made his love for the Mother City vocal, going so far as to say that he would love for the sport to return to Cape Town.
The Andretti star first visited Cape Town in 2019 when he was in the country for a race and thanks to some inside tips from South African drivers Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde along with Jordan Pepper, he was soon ‘up to speed with the city’s offerings’.
Also read: Van der Linde brothers shine bright at Formula E in Berlin
When Formula E announced that the all-electric series would be racing in South Africa for the first time, Dennis was ready to return to what he described as ‘his favourite ever place he has visited while racing’.
‘When Formula E announced that they were racing there, I knew it would be a good trip. I knew all the locations to go to, such as Camps Bay being the spot to be in,’ said Dennis.
‘So I made a bit of an effort to stay out after the race for about a week and it didn’t disappoint. It was an amazing trip,’ he added.
The City perfectly fits the criteria of what Dennis looks for when choosing a holiday destination, and while he enjoys being on the beach and spending time outdoors, Dennis has always wanted to be close to the sights and sounds of a city.
‘I love the sea and love the beach, but then I think you can become a bit bored quite quickly. So, I always try and make sure I’m not too far away from somewhere where there is a lot going on and many things to do,’ said Dennis
‘I want to have things lined up and be able to go out and just walk into restaurants and coffee places,’ he added.
A standout for Dennis has been the culinary offerings he described as ‘absolutely incredible’, with ‘life-changing’ butterfish leading the way as the best dish he has tasted in South Africa.
‘I got introduced to a fish called butterfish when I was in Cape Town, which is not an expensive fish at all. But it literally changed my life. Wherever I am, if I see butterfish on the menu now, it is the first thing I will order,’ said Dennis.
The outdoors of the Cape has also struck a chord with Dennis with ‘places like Lions Head and Table Mountain’ being the ideal locations to hike, keeping him active, according to Dennis.
‘These locations are pretty spectacular when you get to the top and getting there is obviously also a good workout,’ said Dennis.
While Dennis has visited multiple locations on his Formula E calendar, including Sydney, Australia, Cape Town has remained ‘near the top of his list’.
While Dennis had a ‘terrible race’ during the 2023 Cape Town E-Prix, he still believed that the race was ‘great’.
‘The fight for the lead was pretty spectacular and the track itself was very fast flowing. It was a high-risk, high-reward circuit and one that the drivers really enjoyed, so hopefully we come back and fingers crossed that we can make it happen,’ said Dennis.
If Cape Town does potentially return to the Formula E calendar, Dennis thinks a lot of the drivers will make an effort to stay on in the Mother City after the race, to familiarise themselves with the City.
‘I don’t think there is a driver on the grid that doesn’t want to go back, especially the guys who have never been. In 2023 most of the drivers flew back immediately because they didn’t really know what it was like,’ said Dennis.
‘Whereas, a few of us knew Cape Town was quite good, so we stayed out there. But I think there are a lot of guys who wish that they had stayed and that Formula E would come back to Cape Town,’ he added.
Also read:
Picture: Supplied