Porsche continues its success streak at the Formula E debut in Cape Town: At the Cape Town E-Prix in the South African metropolis, António Félix da Costa won his first race as a Porsche works driver in the Porsche 99X Electric. Thanks to this victory, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team extends its lead in the team classification of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. In the drivers’ standings, Pascal Wehrlein retains his lead despite his early retirement in this race.
With his charge from P11 to first place, António Félix da Costa drove one of the best races in his Formula E career on the picturesque city circuit. At the wheel of his Porsche 99X Electric, he immediately launched his charge up the order and ploughed through the field – especially in the second half of the race: after 21 of the 32 laps he was running third, and in lap 24 he put in a spirited overtaking move to snatch the lead. After pulling clear of his pursuers, he activated his attack mode but had to try a second time and lost his lead. However, the Portuguese racer refused to give up and, with another impressive overtaking manoeuvre on the penultimate lap, brought home the well-deserved victory. A collision in the first lap threw his teammate Pascal Wehrlein out of the race.
That was an incredible race with a fantastic result for Porsche. I’m thrilled that António has won his first race as a Porsche works driver and scored crucial points for the team. It’s a shame about Pascal. His qualifying performance was very strong but he made a mistake in the race. Still, mistakes happen. All the better if your teammate can step up. We have two drivers who can win races. I’m proud of the whole team. That was our third win of the season. Now we have to stay focused.
Meanwhile, Fenestraz had made it by Cassidy to take a potential podium but heartbreakingly, the Nissan driver hit the wall on the final lap to crash out of the race. So near, yet so far for the rookie after another impressive race weekend. Cassidy gratefully accepted the gift for silverware.
René Rast (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team) steered to fourth after a six-place gain, while Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) took the flag in fifth. Dan Ticktum ensured NIO 333 Racing would score strongly again with a sixth-placed finish – two top sixes in succession for the Anglo-Chinese outfit which has started GEN3 well.
Reigning champion Stoffel Vandoorne settled for seventh while his teammate steered to the podium. Norman Nato (Nissan), André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) and Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team) rounded out the top 10 and the points.
Standings leader Pascal Wehrlein in the sister Porsche ran clean into the back of Buemi’s Envision Racing car on Lap 1 resulting in retirement in the Round 5 race of the 16-race ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season.
The poor luck for the Jaguar TCS Racing team didn’t let up. Sam Bird’s damaged car wasn’t fit to make the start after his qualifying shunt, then Mitch Evans was slapped with a drive-through penalty for an overpower violation, dropping him out of a strong fourth spot at the time, early in the race.
Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis had worked his way up to ninth, looking to capitalise on standings leader Wehrlein’s retirement, until receiving a drive-through penalty for under-pressured tyres.
Despite that retirement, Wehrlein still leads the Drivers’ World Championship with 80 points to Jake Dennis’ 62. Vergne jumps to 50 points in third with da Costa now into fourth on 46. Porsche head Envision Racing 126 points to 84 in the Teams’ running.
16 races in eleven metropolitan areas are on the calendar of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship 2022/2023.
Race 1
14 January – Mexico City (Mexico)
Races 2 & 3
27 / 28 January – Diriyah (Saudi-Arabia)
Race 4
11 February – Hyderabad (India)
Race 5
25 February – Cape Town (South Africa)
Race 6
25 March – Sao Paulo (Brasilia)
Races 7 & 8
22 / 23 April – Berlin (Germany)
Race 9
6 May – Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
Races 10 & 11
3 / 4 June – Jakarta (Indonesia)
Race 12
24 June – Portland (USA)
Races 13 & 14
15 / 16 July – Rome (Italy)
Races 15 & 16
29 / 30 July – London (Great Britain)
