Discover more
Jakarta could barely have been a better return to form for the Trident. A maiden Formula E win followed a maiden pole, both at the hands of a resurgent Maximilian Guenther. That was the Italian marque's first top tier single seater success since 1957 - thanks to the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio.
WATCH: Don't miss a minute of Round 12 from Portland
The time for celebration has been and gone though, and since Indonesia, all eyes are on making sure it wasn't a flash in the pan. The Portland International Circuit is set to be a real difficult one for teams to get their heads around, says Team Principal James Rossiter.
“After an incredible race weekend in Jakarta, our full attention is now on Portland, which is shaping up to be one of the most challenging races of the season," says Rossiter.
"Not only is the track a new addition for Season 9, but it is a purpose-built venue which means that the layout is unlike anything else we have seen in Formula E.
"It has a high number of fast, sweeping corners, but very few braking zones, which will likely make for a highly strategic race with a reliance on slipstreaming. Although we won Formula E’s most recent race, we can’t rely on our past results. We need to stay focused on the process and approach this weekend in the same way we always do.”
The high-speed, high momentum race track could suit the team after their showing on similar ground in Jakarta. The Stellantis and Porsche-powered cars returned to the fore after a spell of dominance for Jaguar's I-TYPE 6. Slipstreaming will be as key as it was last time out, and in Berlin.
“The weekend in Jakarta was truly special and the victory on Sunday meant a lot to me," says Guenther. "I took a little time to enjoy, but then it was back to business. Portland looks very fast, and the flowing track layout will shape the race strategy and the style of racing heavily. I expect to see a similar level of slipstreaming to races like Berlin, but that challenge is something that I enjoy, so I’m excited to try and execute another competitive weekend.”
“As a driver, I always look forward to racing in a new location and experiencing something different," adds Edoardo Mortara. "Looking at the circuit characteristics, it should bring a new element to the style of racing we have seen so far this season. As always, we need to keep it clean and take it session by session and from there, we’ll see what we can do.”
“We are thrilled to be back on track after a successful weekend in Jakarta, where we won our first Formula E race and gained significant points," says Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse. "Portland is an important round: Formula E is set to race for the first time here and North America is a key market for Maserati. It’s always exciting to race on a new track and meet new racing enthusiasts, especially when there is a strong racing culture like there is here. The city, known for its ecological attitude, is also the ideal place for the electric series, and there is always a good feeling when approaching a debut race on the calendar. We are focused on our performance and building on our current momentum.”