The Formula E weekend in Jeddah

Reigning Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein began Friday’s inaugural Jeddah E-Prix from the front row of the grid after finishing second in qualifying, narrowly missing out on a third consecutive pole position. 

Incident-packed opening laps saw both TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team cars sustain damage through rear-end collisions. Former points leader António Félix da Costa claimed 9th place to add two world championship points after having started from 13th. Following an early puncture, Wehrlein finished in 15th position.

First-ever Pit Boost race: rapid charging with 600 kW

The Formula E cars recharged during a race for the first time. In the mandatory 34-second so-called Pit Boost pit stop, the highly efficient Porsche 99X Electric rapid-charged 3.85 kWh of energy with a charging power of 600 kW. For reference, Formula E’s safety car, the high-end, road-going Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, charges with up to 320 kW. Both cars share the CCS charging system (Combined Charging System), symbolising technology transfer from race cars to production cars. CCS charging enables gentler charging at home in addition to powerful rapid charging on the road.

2nd race on Saturday

Pascal Wehrlein raced his Porsche 99X Electric from 13^th on the grid to finish 8th in the second Jeddah E-Prix of the weekend on Saturday. His TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E teammate António Félix da Costa started 4^th but was taken out of the race by a competitor in a first-lap collision. The highest placed Porsche 99X Electric was that of Andretti Formula E’s Jake Dennis, who finished in 4^th place after having led the race briefly. Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum (Porsche 99X Electric WCG3) finished 9^th to make it three Porsche in the top ten. The points of former World Champion Dennis in the customer car as well as those of reigning World Champion Wehrlein count towards the manufacturers’ standings as they were the two best-placed Porsche finishers.

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – standings after 4 of 16 race

Drivers’ classification
1. Oliver Rowland (GBR), 68 points
2. Taylor Barnard (GBR), 51 points
3. António Félix da Costa (POR), 39 points
8. Pascal Wehrlein (GER), 25 points
9. Jake Dennis (GBR), 25 points
16. Dan Ticktum (GBR), 6 points
17. Nico Müller (SUI), 2 points
21. David Beckmann (GER), 0 points

Teams’ classification
1. Nissan Formula E Team (JPN), 68 points
2. NEOM McLaren Formula E Team (GBR), 67 points
3. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team (GER), 64 points
8. Andretti Formula E (USA), 27 points
10. CUPRA KIRO (USA), 6 points

Manufacturers’ classification
1. Nissan, 130 points
2. Stellantis, 83 points
3. Porsche, 80 points

The official points’ standings can be found on the Formula E website.

_{Edited Porsche Factory Press Release
Pictures & Video courtesy Porsche AG}