At the wheel of the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3, Pascal Wehrlein secured the first win of the season for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team at the first night race in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Contesting his 50th Formula E race, the runner-up of the season-opening race in Mexico swept to victory after an inspired drive from P9 on the grid. On the historic city circuit close to the Riyadh capital, the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 again netted a one-two result. Second place went to the Porsche customer team Avalanche Andretti with Jake Dennis, the winner of the opening round in Mexico City. After the second of 16 races, Pascal Wehrlein ranks second in the drivers’ classification of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with 43 points. António Félix da Costa lies eleventh with six points. In the team rankings, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is second with 49 points.
Pascal Wehrlein headed into round two of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from P9. His teammate António Félix da Costa became entangled in a collision on lap one which forced him back to the pits, and the safety car was deployed on the 2.495-kilometre circuit. At the restart, Wehrlein catapulted to sixth place. Thanks to the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3’s extremely efficient powertrain and a flawless race strategy, he steadily progressed up the order. On the 18th of 39 laps, Wehrlein was on course for the third podium step. Five laps later he was running in second place. In the final stage of the thrilling race with a flurry of overtaking moves, he had the most energy at his disposal – and he used it: on lap 30, he snatched the lead and defended it to the flag. After pitting to replace the front wing, António Félix da Costa rejoined the race at the back of the field and ultimately crossed the finish line in 18th.
