In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Nick Cassidy of Envision Racing claimed victory at the ePrix in Portland, Oregon. The twelfth race of the Formula E season saw Cassidy start from tenth on the grid and make an incredible ascent to the top, leaving his rivals in his wake. Jake Dennis of Andretti-Porsche secured second place, followed closely by Antonio Felix da Costa of Porsche, completing the podium.
This year’s US Formula E race took a departure from its traditional location in New York City and found its home in Portland for the first time. Instead of the customary street circuit, the event was held at the Portland International Raceway, a permanent track usually utilized by the US Indycar racing series. The change in venue brought about a distinct challenge, as the track featured wider stretches and high-speed sections, demanding astute energy management from the drivers.
Demonstrating his prowess, Nick Cassidy maneuvered the Envision Racing Jaguar flawlessly around the circuit. This victory marked his third win of the season, following triumphs in Berlin and Monaco. Despite starting from a disadvantaged position, Cassidy showcased his overtaking prowess, leaving a trail of competitors in his wake.
The Portland race highlighted the superior performance of Jaguar and Porsche, as they showcased the best powertrains for the debut season featuring Gen3 race cars. Jake Dennis of Andretti-Porsche claimed pole position in qualifying, showcasing the impressive capabilities of the team. Despite his strong performance, Dennis ultimately finished second, with Antonio Felix da Costa securing third place for Porsche.
WHAT. A. RACE. 🤩@Southwire #PortlandEPrix
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For a significant portion of the race, it appeared that Jake Dennis was the frontrunner among the leading trio. Cassidy, Dennis, and da Costa managed to create a considerable gap between themselves and the rest of the field following a safety car period caused by Nico Müller’s accident. However, Cassidy executed several daring overtakes and emerged as the leader in the closing stages. In the final lap, Dennis was unable to mount a significant challenge against Cassidy, who had more energy remaining in his battery. Instead, Dennis had to fiercely defend his position against da Costa’s advances.
Jake Dennis reaped the rewards of his strong performance, securing second place and the additional points for pole position. With a total of 154 points, Dennis now leads the drivers’ standings, albeit by a slim margin. Meanwhile, Nick Cassidy’s victory propelled him to a close second place with 153 points. Porsche works driver Pascal Wehrlein, who had previously held the championship lead, could only manage eighth place in Portland, leaving him in third position with 138 points.
Antonio Felix da Costa’s podium finish proved crucial for the Porsche works team, as they maintained their advantage over Envision Racing in the team standings. With 231 points, Porsche holds the top spot, closely followed by Envision Racing with 225 points. The Jaguar works team occupies third place with 184 points, while Andretti-Porsche sits in fourth with 177 points. DS Penske, currently in fifth position, failed to secure any points in Portland due to an infringement involving the installation of forbidden RFID sensors in the pit lane. Consequently, both Jean-Eric Vergne and reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne started the race from the pit lane, but their valiant efforts to recover were in vain as they finished outside the points in eleventh and twelfth places, respectively.
With the conclusion of the Portland ePrix, the Formula E season marches forward to Rome for two races on July 15 and 16. Subsequently, the thrilling season finale awaits in London with two races scheduled for July 29 and 30. The captivating battle for the championship promises to provide electrifying action and intense competition, as the drivers and teams vie for ultimate glory on the Formula E stage.
