Portland E-Prix

Portland E-Prix Weekend Roundup: Record-Breaking Performances and Dramatic Finishes

What happened during the double header in the United States?

Lena Ferle 4 min read

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The 2024 Portland E-Prix weekend delivered thrilling action and dramatic turns, showcasing record-breaking performances and intense battles across both raceday events.

Lucas di Grassi, ABT CUPRA Formula E Team, M9Electro, chases after a pack of cars
Lucas di Grassi, ABT CUPRA Formula E Team, M9Electro, chases after a pack of cars (Image Credit: Simon Galloway via FE Media Centre)
Portland E-Prix: Raceday 1 – Qualifying

Mitch Evans from Jaguar TCS Racing secured pole position in the Portland Formula E qualifying session, setting a new lap record with a time of 1:08.664. Norman Nato initially qualified second but faced a grid penalty, pushing him to start 12th. Key title contenders Nick Cassidy and Pascal Wehrlein faced challenges, complicating their efforts for strong starting positions. Several drivers, including Nato, Sam Bird, and Lucas di Grassi, carried grid penalties from previous races.

In Group A, Sébastien Buemi set the initial pace, but Jake Hughes quickly took the top spot. Despite early struggles, Mitch Evans posted the fastest lap of the group, advancing to the Duels stage alongside Hughes, Sérgio Sette Câmara, and Luke di Grassi. Championship leader Nick Cassidy failed to progress.

Group B saw Robin Frijns start strong, but António Félix da Costa initially set the fastest lap. Dan Ticktum eventually took the top spot with a time faster than Group A’s best. Pascal Wehrlein couldn’t secure a place in the Duels, being edged out by Nato. Ticktum, Da Costa, Frijns, and Nato moved forward to the Duels.

In the Duels, Evans advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Luke di Grassi. Jake Hughes and Robin Frijns also progressed, with Nato completing the semi-final lineup. In the semi-finals, Evans set a new lap record to secure his place in the finals, while Nato advanced despite a close contest with Frijns.

Mitch Evans and Norman Nato faced off in the finals, where Evans claimed pole position with a 1:08.820 lap, crucial for his championship aspirations. Nato’s grid penalty, however, pushed him back to 12th.

Portland E-Prix: Raceday 1 – The Race

António Félix da Costa of TAG Heuer Porsche claimed victory in a dramatic Race 1 of the 2024 Portland E-Prix. The race saw a late upset as Nick Cassidy spun on the final lap, dropping from potential victory to 18th place. Mitch Evans, who started from pole, was handed a five-second penalty for causing a collision, finishing 8th. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns and DS Penske’s Jean-Éric Vergne completed the podium.

Race Start and Early Laps

Evans led initially but was soon overtaken by Jake Hughes. An early collision dropped Hughes down the order, while Evans, despite front wing damage, held on to the lead until Lap 10. The first deployments of Attack Mode began on Lap 3, with Norman Nato and Hughes among the first to utilize it. Evans found himself in P6 by Lap 5.

Mid-Race Developments

By Lap 11, Pascal Wehrlein had yet to use his Attack Mode, running a different strategy. Cassidy surged to P1 from P10, while Sam Bird climbed to P2 from the midfield. A collision penalty for Evans marked a critical point in the race, affecting his championship chances.

Late-Race Battle and Upset

Cassidy appeared set for victory by Lap 20, leading with the most energy remaining. However, a fierce battle with Da Costa ensued, with positions constantly changing. A late spin by Cassidy on the last lap, compounded by Evans’ earlier penalty, allowed Da Costa to take the win. Frijns and Vergne completed the top three, while Evans dropped to 8th.

Da Costa emerged victorious, followed by Frijns and Vergne. Edoardo Mortara of Mahindra Racing finished fourth, with Nico Müller of ABT Cupra in fifth.

Portland E-Prix: Raceday 2 – Qualifying

Jean-Éric Vergne made Formula E history by securing Pole in Qualifying 2 of the 2024 Portland E-Prix. He marked his third pole of the season and the 17th of his career, breaking Sébastien Buemi’s previous record.

TAG Heuer Jaguar’s António Félix da Costa narrowly missed out on P1 by 0.025 seconds, while NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird secured third. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns set the fourth fastest time, and Jake Hughes in the second NEOM McLaren finished fifth.

In Group A, Robin Frijns initially led with a 1:09.665 banker lap, followed by Vergne and Buemi. Cassidy and Hughes also showcased their speed, with Frijns, Vergne, Cassidy, and Hughes advancing to the duels.

Group B saw António Félix da Costa set the pace with a 1:09.726, closely followed by Sam Bird, Nyck de Vries, and Pascal Wehrlein. After a fiercely contested session, these four drivers progressed to the duels.

Portland E-Prix: Raceday 2 – The Race

In Race 2 of the Portland E-Prix António Félix da Costa, in the TAG Heuer Porsche, clinched his third win in four races. He was led by Robin Frijns of Envision Racing and Mitch Evans of TCS Jaguar.
Jean-Éric Vergne, starting from pole, initially led but was soon overtaken by Da Costa. Frijns held third, while Sam Bird and Jake Hughes in the NEOM McLarens made significant early moves.

Early Race Dynamics

Vergne regained the lead using attack mode, with Bird falling back through the pack. A series of lead changes saw De Vries, Buemi, and Vergne taking turns at the front before Da Costa and Buemi asserted their positions.

Mid-Race Incidents

Several incidents marked the mid-race phase. Wehrlein’s front wing damaged Bird’s car, forcing Bird into the pits. Mortara’s contact with Da Costa led to a puncture, while Buemi’s technical infringement dropped him to 21st.

Safety Car Intervention

A safety car was deployed on Lap 19 due to debris on the track, which caused the field to bunch up. Robin Frijns led from Da Costa and Wehrlein during this period, with Vergne in fourth.

Upon the restart, Da Costa reclaimed the lead from Frijns, who faced pressure from Mitch Evans. Evans used his attack mode to climb into second, overtaking Frijns and closing in on Da Costa.

Final Laps

Da Costa maintained his lead in the closing stages despite Frijns’ pressure. Mitch Evans secured third after a strategic use of attack mode. Despite Buemi’s recovery from 21st to 10th, it was Da Costa who crossed the line first, marking his third victory in as many races.

Da Costa’s consistent performance and strategic prowess have strengthened his championship position, with his victory in Portland highlighting his formidable presence in the 2024 Formula E season.

Feature Image Credit: Sam Bagnall via FE Media Centre

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