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Portland's Formula e 2023

Formula E under the spell of spygate; Cassidy wins Portland ePrix

25 June 2023 at 02:04
Last update 25 June 2023 at 08:31
  • Ludo van Denderen

Formula E is having a spygate. Prior to the ePrix of Portland (United States), won by Nick Cassidy, the DS Penske team received the heaviest penalty ever handed out in FE because the team had placed a Radio Frequency Identification scanning device at the beginning of the pit lane. This RFI allowed DS Penske to collect live data from all the cars in the field.

Initially, the FIA reported that data from the tyres was being collected, later that statement was retracted. In any case, DS Penske received a record penalty: $25,000 fine, and drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean Eric Vergne had to start the ePrix from the pit lane.

Exciting at the front


With the two former champions waiting in the pitlane, it was polesitter Jake Dennis who got off perfectly of the line. In the first laps of the race at Portland's IndyCar circuit - which hosted Formula E for the first time - it was a constant tussle at the front.

The race was soon held because of a huge crash by Nico Müller. On a part of the track where the cars were going full throttle, the Swiss suddenly lost his brakes. Müller went into the wall at full speed, with the ABT Cupra driver having to deal with 27G. Miraculously, Robin Frijns' teammate got out unscathed.



After a lengthy safety car period - as in Berlin and Sao Paulo - nobody wanted to drive at the front for a long time, as this consumed more energy than the competition did. Dennis, Norman Nato, Nick Cassidy, Antonio Felix da Costa, and Maximilian Günther, therefore changed positions a lot in the first half of the race at the front of the field.


Third win for Cassidy

In the end, the entire field stayed very close together for a long time, helped of course by the two safety cars (also for the stalled Merhi it came onto the track). In the closing stages, Porsche driver Da Costa was the first to have had enough of saving energy, and the Portuguese were able to create a gap towards his pursuers. He did not manage to put a definitive distance between them, and Cassidy - who is vying for the title - passed him.

After exciting closing laps, the New Zealander won the first ePrix of Portland (his third race of the season), ahead of Dennis and Da Costa. Cassidy also took enough points to settle next to Jake Dennis on the first place of the championship. Both drivers have the same amount of points.

Results ePrix of Portland