ANTÓNIO FÉLIX DA COSTA TRIUMPHS AT HANKOOK PORTLAND E-PRIX ROUND 13 AMIDST PENULTIMATE-LAP DRAMA

António Félix da Costa demonstrated remarkable composure and skill to secure a victory at the frenetic Hankook Portland E-Prix – Round 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Saturday night. A late unforced error by current World Championship leader Nick Cassidy saw the Jaguar TCS Racing driver slip from the lead in the penultimate lap, dramatically altering the race outcome.

Initially, Cassidy and Jaguar appeared poised for a decisive win at the Portland International Raceway. The New Zealander took the lead on Lap 23, with four laps remaining and seemed set for victory. His teammate, Mitch Evans, despite a five-second penalty for an early collision, played the perfect supporting role. Evans overtook da Costa – Cassidy’s nearest challenger – to secure what seemed like a sure one-two finish for Jaguar.

Cassidy maintained control, pulling half-a-second ahead of Evans and da Costa. However, once again, the race was further proof that nothing in Formula E is certain until the chequered flag is waved. In an out-of-character moment, Cassidy misjudged Turn 11, taking too much kerb, which sent his I-TYPE 6 off the asphalt and across the grass, dropping him to 19th place.

This error handed the victory to da Costa, who now boasts three wins from the last four races and back-to-back victories. The race, the fastest in Formula E history with an average speed of 152.041 km/h (94.474 mph), cements da Costa’s position as the current man to beat. His stellar performance highlights a dramatic turnaround from a challenging start to the season.

Jean-Éric Vergne of DS PENSKE finished third, followed by Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara in fourth – a season-best result for both the team and the driver. Nico Müller (ABT CUPRA) impressed with a fifth-place finish after a race-long battle at the front, ahead of reigning World Champion Jake Dennis, who finished sixth on home soil for Andretti Formula E. 

Sam Bird made a remarkable recovery from 19th to finish seventh, while Evans, after serving his penalty, crossed the line in eighth. DS PENSKE’s Stoffel Vandoorne and TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein rounded out the top ten. Cassidy’s late error allowed Wehrlein to reduce Cassidy’s lead in the standings to 24 points, with Evans trailing by an additional three points in third place.

Round 14 of Season 10 is set to continue at Portland International Raceway on Sunday night.

António Félix da Costa, No. 13, Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E, said: “I’m super happy obviously. We knew the type of racing we were going to get, and everybody is getting super good at it. The race was never flat out, because everybody was pushing so hard to be at the front that it’s hard to build up buffer to be flat out eventually. I’ve been on the other side of the of the coin on this one so yeah, just a great momentum to be honest. I’m just really happy with how it’s going.”

AMERICAN ACTORS BRIE LARSON AND SUNG KANG EXPERIENCE THE THRILLS OF THE HANKOOK PORTLAND E-PRIX

American actor and filmmaker Brie Larson made a notable appearance at Round 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship during the Hankook Portland E-Prix. During her time, Brie experienced the drama of the E-Prix first-hand from the Nissan Formula E Team garage, where she watched the intense qualifying session.

Adding to the excitement, Brie had the opportunity to take an exhilarating lap in the Nissan Leaf Mismo RC, offering her a thrilling perspective on the high-speed action and cutting-edge technology of Formula E racing. The highlight of her visit was proudly waving the chequered flag to mark the race’s end.

Additionally, a friendly face returned to the paddock as American actor Sung Kang joined the excitement of the double-header as a spectator, having enjoyed his time at the Tokyo E-Prix. The Fast and Furious star brought an extra touch of excitement to the event, warmly reconnecting with old friends and fans alike, while immersing himself in the atmosphere of the racing series. Sung will return for Round 14 on Sunday, 30th June for another unforgettable day at the track.

Last Updated on 6 months by News Desk 2