– Race report: Tokyo E-Prix, Round 5 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
– Pascal Wehrlein (GER) from the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team achieves fifth place and moves to the top of the drivers’ standings.
– His teammate António Félix da Costa (POR) narrowly misses out on his first 2024 podium and scores fourth place after his best performance of the season.
– Jake Dennis (GBR) from the Porsche customer team Andretti Formula E takes the flag in third place.
– Successful Formula E debut in Japan with capacity grandstands filled with avid fans and four Porsche 99X Electric finishing in the top six.
– The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads for the first time to Misano, Italy, for rounds 6 and 7 on the 13th and 14th of April.
In his Porsche 99X Electric, Pascal Wehrlein has moved into the lead of the ABB FIA Formula E drivers’ world championship. At the Formula E premiere in Tokyo, the Porsche works driver crossed the finish line in fifth place. His teammate António Félix da Costa narrowly missed his first podium finish of the season in fourth place. Four Porsche 99X Electric made it into the top 6.
Formula E’s first event in Japan was a resounding success. The fans in the packed grandstands gave the innovative electric racing series an enthusiastic reception. The race on the demanding 2.582-kilometre street circuit at Tokyo Bay was relentless and fierce right up to the chequered flag. The duel for the last podium spot went down to the wire when Jake Dennis from the Porsche customer team Andretti Formula E overtook Antònio Félix da Costa shortly before the flag. With fourth place in Tokyo, the Portuguese racer continued his strong form and achieved his best result of the season so far. Pascal Wehrlein crossed the finish line one place behind. A damaged front wing after contact in the leading pack hampered his charge. Andretti driver Norman Nato (FRA) took the flag in 6th place.
In addition to its strong team performance, Porsche and TAG Heuer added another highlight to the first Formula E outing in Japan: Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa’s Porsche 99X Electric race cars were decked out in an exclusive one-off look. The special pink-coloured livery paid a visual homage to Tokyo with its world-famous neon signs at night and to Japanese street art and car culture.
With the fifth of 16 races complete, Pascal Wehrlein has moved into the lead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship drivers’ standings with 63 points. Nick Cassidy (NZL) ranks second with 61 points followed by Oliver Rowland (GBR/54). Jake Dennis is sitting in fourth place with 53 points. António Félix da Costa (20) lies eleventh with Norman Nato (17) in 14th. Following a strong team performance in Tokyo, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team has solidified its second position in the teams’ standings and, with 83 points, is now only 17 points shy of the leader Jaguar. Andretti Formula E is third with 70 points.
Comment on the Tokyo E-Prix, Race 5
Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Racing Formula E: « That was a successful Formula E debut race in Japan. The devoted fans there were extremely receptive to this exceptionally organised event. We’re very eager to race here again in the future. With fourth and fifth place for António and Pascal, we delivered a good overall result and scored important points in all classifications. We could’ve done even better but Pascal lost places after some on-track contact and had to fight his way back up the order. António’s attempt to clinch second place in the final phase didn’t work out. Nevertheless, we’re satisfied. That’s a great basis for the double-header in Misano in a fortnight. Porsche can be proud to have placed four cars in the top 6. »
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94): « Despite taking over the lead of the drivers’ standings, I’m not entirely happy with my race. I lost positions due to a few incidents. Otherwise, a podium result would’ve been on the cards today. Our qualifying wasn’t quite as strong and that made it difficult to progress further in the race. Still, we earned vital points. »
António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): « To lose a podium finish so close to the chequered flag is obviously disappointing. When I tried to go for second place, I was forced into the barrier. Overall, it was a great race. We implemented a strong strategy. At the end of the day, we’re still bringing important points home from Tokyo. »
Yannick Bitzer,