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.
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.
