Da Costa’s podium, his first since winning in Cape Town in February, came from seventh in the grid, and the Portuguese driver was on course for second place before a last lap overtake by Avalanche Andretti’s Jake Dennis.
Despite the late setback, the Season 6 Formula E champion was delighted with his day in Portland. “I’m thrilled with the podium. It was a great race with a great result,” said da Costa.
“We fought hard but we possibly took the lead a little too early. As a result, it became a bit tight with the energy at the end. Still, we know what we have to improve on for the last four races of the season. We’ll continue to do our utmost to secure the title for Pascal and the team.”
Pascal Wehrlein began race day leading the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, but lost his lead after qualifying when title rival Jake Dennis secured the Julius Baer Pole Position. Werhlein qualified 18th, but battled back to finish 8th in the race, his eleventh points finish in twelve races this season.
“That was a very strange race – so chaotic with so many cars wheel-to-wheel – we’ve never experienced that before this season,” said Wehrlein.
“Everything was very close, especially in the second half of the race, and I kept losing places. I could definitely have done more today but being so far off in qualifying makes the race difficult.”
With four races to go this season, Wehrlein is 16 points behind championship leader Jake Dennis, while da Costa is now sixth in the standings and just four points behind former teammate Jean-Eric Vergne in fifth.
“In Rome, we now have to make sure that we close the gap in the drivers’ standings,” confirmed Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport, with his Porsche team six points ahead of Envision Racing in the battle for best team this season.