A new venue, a four-way title fight and one driver searching for redemption, the Portland E-Prix looks set to be a thriller.
Following a three-week break since the Jakarta double-header, the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is back this weekend for the inaugural Portland E-Prix. With just five races remaining, it’s very much crunch time in both championships as the season approaches its climax.
Formula E heads to the United States this weekend for its annual trip across The Atlantic, with the Portland International Raceway the destination for what is set to be a very different E-Prix. The track is swapping IndyCar for Formula E on Saturday, as the all-electric series prepares itself to race on an actual circuit.
No street track will be in sight, meaning all 22 drivers will be able to push beyond the limit and most importantly, get away with it. It’s expected that the circuit in Portland is going to be the fastest of the season, with a titanic energy battle being predicted.
Expect action, overtaking, and most likely drama, as just six points separate the top three in the Drivers’ Championship. With so much to look forward to, which four drivers are in need of a big performance in Portland?
Our home for this weekend ❤️@Southwire #PortlandEPrix pic.twitter.com/xBHz2jiPWi
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 20, 2023
Nick Cassidy
Starting off with Nick Cassidy, who lost the lead of the Drivers’ Championship following a Jakarta double-header to forget. The Envision Racing driver worked so hard to gain the lead of the standings by winning in Monaco, with that performance having represented his fifth podium from six races.
Cassidy headed to South East Asia with momentum, confidence and a 20-point lead, something he threw away. The recent double-header was by far his worst performance of the season, given that he finished seventh in the first race and 18th in the second.
Cassidy claimed P18 as a result of colliding with new championship leader Pascal Wehrlein, following an audacious dive by the New Zealander. It was a move Cassidy didn’t need to risk but has felt the full consequences of, as he heads to the Portland E-Prix in third and six points behind Wehrlein.
Portland is his chance to bounce back and demonstrate the sort of consistency he often boasts, whilst it’s also an opportunity to reclaim the championship lead. What he can’t afford to do is panic, as another finish outside the points could spell the end of his title chances.
Pascal Wehrlein
Pascal Wehrlein is the second driver who could do with a very good Portland E-Prix, having reclaimed the championship lead in Jakarta. The German lost the lead of the standings in Monaco following a four-month spell without a rostrum, the type of form which doesn’t win titles.
Wehrlein certainly returned with a bang in Indonesia though, as he stormed to victory in the first of two races. It marked his first win since Diriyah at the end of January, whilst it also proved that he is still a “force to be reckoned with”. He left Jakarta back at the top of the standings; albeit, by just a single point over Jake Dennis.
Having reclaimed the lead, Wehrlein can’t afford to return to his complacent mid-season ways, which caused him to lose the lead in the first place. If he can qualify well in Portland, then he will be a favourite for the win, with energy management set to be critical.
Porsche have shown great energy management all year, meaning if Wehrlein plays his cards right, he could extend his lead ahead of Rome.
Sam Bird
Whilst Sam Bird is certainly not in the title picture this season, he does require a big performance at the Portland E-Prix. Jakarta was a weekend to very quickly forget for Bird, as he took out team-mate Mitch Evans for the second time this season.
Jaguar struggled for pace in Indonesia and were simply targeting to score as many points as possible. In the first race of the double-header Bird and Evans found themselves in the points, before Bird ploughed into the back of the Kiwi. The incident occurred in the closing stages and resulted with Evans in the barrier.
It was another moment to forget for Bird, as he was left to apologise to the entire team once again. His Jakarta experience failed to improve in the second race, as he failed to start due to a technical fault with his Jaguar I-TYPE 6.
As he’s very much out of the title fight, Bird will now need to play the second driver role and support Evans, who is clinging on to the championship leaders. What Bird can’t do is make another huge error, given that it’d also destroy Jaguar TCS Racing’s hopes in the Constructors’.
Being as experienced as he is, the British driver will know exactly what he has to do in Portland and will presumably look to bounce back in style.
Jake Dennis
The fourth driver needing to deliver at the Portland E-Prix is Jake Dennis, as the Briton is Avalanche Andretti Formula E’s best hope of a home victory. This weekend’s trip to the US represents a visit home for Andretti, putting extra pressure on Dennis to deliver.
To add to the pressure of it being the team’s home race, Andretti Autosport owner Michael Andretti will also be in attendance. Thankfully for Dennis, he enters the weekend in mesmeric form, having finished second in both Jakarta races. He is right in the title fight and sits a point behind Wehrlein, who he’ll be hoping to beat on Saturday.
Dennis heads to Oregon as Formula E’s most in-form driver, thanks to being on a run of four consecutive podiums. A fifth podium in a row would see his season tally hit eight from twelve races, demonstrating his incredible speed this season.
Victory has eluded him though since the Mexico City season-opener. A win in the team’s backyard would certainly please Mr. Andretti himself!
