Race 5
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.”
Next up
The next outing for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and Andretti Formula E is rounds 6 and 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on 13 and 14 April at the first-ever Misano E-Prix.
Preview
The first-ever race in Tokyo is just the beginning. After the event in the capital of Japan, two new venues follow on the 2024 Formula E calendar: two double-header events will be contested on 13 and 14 April in Misano, Italy and in the Chinese economic metropolis of Shanghai on 25 and 26 May.
A total of four Porsche 99X Electric will contest the Formula E premiere in the Land of the Rising Sun. The fully electric racing cars were developed at the net-carbon-neutral Weissach facility. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team fields two Porsche 99X Electric for drivers Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa. The Porsche customer team Andretti Formula E will also tackle the race with two Porsche 99X Electric. The drivers for US motorsport legend Michael Andretti’s racing team are world champion Jake Dennis and Norman Nato.
Thanks to his second pole position this season and fourth place at the São Paulo race two weeks ago, Pascal Wehrlein is on the verge of taking the lead in the drivers’ classification of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The Porsche works driver, who finished in the points in Brazil for the 15th consecutive time, ranks second overall with 53 points, only four points behind the leader Nick Cassidy (NZL). Jake Dennis lies fifth with 38 points with Norman Nato following in 13th place with nine points. António Félix da Costa ranks 15th with eight points. In the team classification, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team has advanced to second place with 61 points behind Jaguar (96 points). Andretti Formula E is fifth with 47 points.
Comments on the Tokyo E-Prix
Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: “Despite Pascal’s pole position and our good points haul in São Paulo, we weren’t able to do everything that would’ve been possible. We want to do better in Tokyo so that we can advance even further with both vehicles – and on a completely different circuit and at much lower temperatures. Competing in Tokyo will be a highlight for Formula E. Motor racing fans in Japan are particularly enthusiastic. With so many of them rooting for us, we definitely want to repay their incredible support with a strong performance.”
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94): “The race in Tokyo promises to be a real highlight. We’re all excited about visiting the country and the city – and of course, seeing the absolutely brilliant Japanese racing fans. After the long break, São Paulo was a positive start to the season for us. We earned critical points for pole position and fourth place, which is very motivating for the busy weeks ahead. It means we spend a lot of time in the car and do a lot of racing – and that’s great.”
António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): “At the race in São Paulo, it was good to see that we could match the pace of the front-runners. We now want to take this momentum with us to Tokyo. It’s always great to get to know new cities and circuits. Tokyo is certainly one of the coolest cities in the world. We look forward to bringing the excitement of Formula E to Japanese fans.”
The racetrack
The new 2.582-kilometre street circuit runs along the Tokyo waterfront. Featuring 20 turns, the track leads around the Big Sight Convention Centre, with the Tokyo Gate Bridge in the background. It is a typical Formula E street circuit with 90-degree corners and several long straights. It’ll be driven in an anti-clockwise direction.
Live TV and Internet coverage
The worldwide broadcasting schedule of the Formula E events is available at https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/ways-to-watch Race 5 in Tokyo will get underway on 30 March at 3:03 pm local time (7:03 am CET), with the qualifying starting at 10:20 am local time (2:20 am CET).
The Media Service
The first photos from Tokyo will be available on the Porsche press database on 29 March. The race report follows on 30 March (race 5). All information about the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will be posted live on the X-channel (formerly Twitter) @PorscheFormulaE. All relevant information about the team, the drivers and the racing series can be found here. The content will be regularly updated throughout the season and expanded with additional interactive material.
Porsche in Formula E
The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team tackles its fifth Formula E season with the Porsche 99X Electric, which was developed at the Weissach facility, which operates on a net carbon-neutral basis. Thanks to four victories courtesy of Pascal Wehrlein (3) and António Félix da Costa (1), 2023 was the most successful year since the sports car manufacturer entered the all-electric racing series. For the first time last season, Porsche supported a customer team, Andretti Formula E. The squad promptly won the world championship title with the Porsche 99X Electric and Jake Dennis. With the all-electric Taycan Turbo S, Porsche again supplies the official safety car in 2024, thus underlining the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport.
