Portland is the last new addition to Formula E’s calendar, so let’s explore what the city has to offer for motorsports driven fans.
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As Formula E prepares for its sixth visit to the United States, this time at Portland International Raceway in Oregon, we thought we’d take a closer look at the last, but certainly not least addition to the calendar. The upcoming race on the US soil marks a special one for Formula E, as since its inception in 2014, the electric championship has raced in America every season, bringing world-class electric racing to various locations across the country and this time to Oregon. Previously, it had held races in Brooklyn’s Red Hook and Brooklyn Street Circuit in New York City amongst other locations.
The Southwire Portland E-Prix will take place at Portland International Raceway, a well-known venue for American motorsport series like IndyCar. The circuit has a history of delivering intense battles, including a memorable three-way finish in 1997. The track’s origin dates back to the 1970s when it emerged from the ruins of a flood-damaged town, offering roads that were repurposed as a racetrack. After a period of reduced activity, the track regained prominence in recent years, hosting races for IndyCar and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. With a length of 3.190km and 12 turns, the Portland International Raceway offers one of the longest tracks in Formula E history. Teams expect a fast and flowing circuit where slipstreaming will play a significant role, similar to the previous race in Jakarta.
Speaking of Portland, did you know that with more than 350+ miles of bike lanes, the city is considered the most bike-friendly city in the US. Many sports fans will also know another fact about this location: Nike, the well-known sportswear company was founded in Oregon in 1964, and both Nike and Adidas have their American operations headquartered in Portland.
As said by Alberto Longo, the Co-founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E about the championship’s visit to Portland: “We are excited to bring the premier electric motorsport world championship to Portland for the first time in June next year. There is a big, passionate fanbase for professional sports in the city, together with strong ecological credentials which makes Portland a perfect host for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The USA remains an important market for Formula E. We are delighted to maintain that critical presence and engage a new audience in the Pacific Northwest region in all-electric motorsport.”
And just before we strap on and get ready for the race weekend: what happened during the previous E-Prix held in Jakarta? Maximilian Guenther of Maserati MSG Racing demonstrated exceptional performance, securing pole position and finishing third. Guenther continued his success by claiming another pole position and winning the race, making history as the first driver to win from pole in the past 14 races and securing Maserati’s first victory in a world championship single-seater race since 1957. This seems like a significant step for Maserati, a team that struggled this season with the performance of its drivers. Will they be capable of repeating the success in Portland?
In the ongoing battle for the World Championship title, the competition is a five-way race involving three manufacturers, five teams, and as many drivers. Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) leads Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti Porsche 99X Electric GEN3) by a single point. Wehrlein regained the top position with a controlled victory in Round 10, closely followed by Dennis. Nick Cassidy of Envision Racing now holds third place in the Drivers’ World Championship, with the customer Jaguar team ahead of the factory Jaguar TCS Racing of Mitch Evans. Double champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS PENSKE) remains in the title race, sitting fifth with a 37-point gap from the leader. We’re sure that this round in Portland will be as intense as ever, and from now on every point counts in terms of the championship fight. It’s about to get spicy, and oh boy are we excited for it.
Here’s the sessions schedule for this weekend’s Portland E-Prix:
FP1 – 24/06/2023 – 02:00 – 02:45 CET
FP2 – 24/06/2023 – 19:30 – 20:15 CET
Qualifying – 24/06/2023 – 21:40 – 22:55 CET
Race – 25/06/2023 – 02:03 – 03:30 CET
As per usual, you can find the coverage of the WHOLE weekend here at Pitdebrief.com, and don’t forget: enjoy the race, wherever you are! ✨
