Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy Wins First-Ever Southwire Portland E-Prix
Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy emerged victorious in the first-ever Southwire Portland E-Prix on Saturday, propelling him to the top of the world championship standings. Cassidy started from P10 on the grid and measured his race to perfection, leading the way several times and ultimately getting the better of TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa on Lap 28 with a decisive move. Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team driver Jake Dennis finished second, just ahead of da Costa in third. The race saw Formula E’s unique balancing act between energy efficiency and outright pace on full display, resulting in 403 passes during the 32-lap race.
Strategic Battle for Top Spot
The strategic battle for top spot was clear from the opening lap as positions and race leaders changed corner by corner in groups five and six wide at points. Jake Dennis started in Julius Baer Pole Position and led the opening stages but couldn’t time his late-race charge as precisely as Cassidy. Going into the race, Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) was leading the Drivers’ standings by just one point ahead of Dennis. The German was fortunate to escape contact and come home in ninth, just inside the points at the checkered flag. Wehrlein sits in third on 136 points, trailing the leading pair of Dennis and Cassidy on 154 and 153 points respectively.
More Than 20,000 Attend Sold-Out Debut Race
More than 20,000 attended the sold-out debut race for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Portland. Cheerleaders from the local NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers, entertained fans, while first-year forward for the Trail Blazers Jabari Walker also enjoyed the race. Olympic champion skier Lindsey Vonn was embedded with the Jaguar TCS Racing team and experienced a high-speed electric lap of the track. Cassidy said, “It’s cool. I’ve had a good run in America the last couple of years. I love racing here. That race was fun. Look, it’s close. The guys we’re racing are top. Jake did an amazing job in (qualification). I think he was unlucky to be starting on pole. Today wasn’t the race to be doing that. And Antonio in these races is always fantastic as well. It’s close, it’s fun, it’s Formula E … Credit to Jaguar and credit to Envision Racing. What a car, what a powertrain.”
Formula E’s Unique Balancing Act
The Southwire Portland E-Prix was the first time the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has raced at the famed Portland International Raceway, and Formula E’s unique balancing act between energy efficiency and outright pace was evident. The race saw just seven seconds split the first 17 cars at the flag, highlighting the importance of managing energy consumption while maintaining competitive speed. The race also saw 403 passes during the 32-lap race, showcasing the strategic battle for top spot as positions and race leaders changed corner by corner in groups five and six wide at points.
Conclusion
Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy emerged victorious in the first-ever Southwire Portland E-Prix on Saturday, propelling him to the top of the world championship standings. The race showcased Formula E’s unique balancing act between energy efficiency and outright pace, with just seven seconds splitting the first 17 cars at the flag and 403 passes during the 32-lap race. The strategic battle for top spot was clear from the opening lap as positions and race leaders changed corner by corner in groups five and six wide at points. More than 20,000 attended the sold-out debut race for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Portland, with cheerleaders from the local NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers, entertaining fans.