After a dramatic race for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, António Félix da Costa finished second in the season opener of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in São Paulo. The Portuguese had started from fifth place and fought for victory for long stretches. The last of two race interruptions was followed by a final sprint of four laps. In the end, da Costa had to admit defeat.

The current world champion Pascal Wehrlein secured pole position and thus collected three valuable world championship points. The São Paulo E-Prix was the first race outing of the new Porsche 99X Electric. The number 1 car did not finish – a violent accident ended Wehrlein's race in a promising position. To rule out any injuries, the German was examined in a nearby hospital as a precaution.

Dan Ticktum scored world championship points for eighth place in the Porsche 99X Electric WCG3 of the Porsche customer team Cupra Kiro. Ticktum's teammate David Beckmann retired after damage to his car.

Andretti Formula E, the second Porsche customer team in the field, recorded a double retirement – an accident through no fault of their own and a technical defect slowed down the US racing team. Former world champion Jake Dennis had been on course for the podium in the meantime.

A chronology of the race can be found in this article on the X-Kanal @PorscheFormulaE.

Comments on the São Paulo E-Prix, Race 1
Florian Modlinger, Director Formula E: "That was a very turbulent first race in São Paulo. The most important news is that Pascal is doing well. António took the first podium of the season with P2, and after a great qualifying, a top position was possible for both cars. The pace of all Porsche cars was very strong. Dan Ticktum scored four points for Cupra Kiro with eighth place. Now we have to work hard to get Pascal's car ready for Mexico. We want to repeat our performance there and get the points we deserve."

António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): "First of all, I'm relieved to hear that Pascal is doing well. That was a nasty accident. I'm happy that our cars are safe and I wish him a speedy recovery. As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy with the result and with starting the season with a podium. In the past, we have struggled to start a season strongly. So that was my goal this time – to go home with a good handful of points in my luggage."

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – Points standings after 1 of 16 races
Drivers' standings
1st Mitch Evans (NZL), 25 points
2nd António Félix da Costa (POR), 19 points
3rd Taylor Barnard (GBR), 15 points
8th Dan Ticktum (GBR), 4 points
9th Pascal Wehrlein (GER), 3 points

team standings
1st NEOM McLaren Formula E Team (GBR), 27 points
2. Jaguar TCS Racing (GBR), 25 points
3. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team (GER), 22 points
6. CUPRA KIRO (USA), 4 points

manufacturers' standings
1st Jaguar, 31 points
2nd Nissan, 27 points
3rd Porsche, 22 points

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

What's next
The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, Andretti Formula E and Cupra Kiro will compete in Mexico on January 11, 2025 for the Mexico City E-Prix (race 2 of the season).

Porsche in Formula E
In 2024/2025, Porsche will contest its sixth Formula E season. In addition to the factory-owned TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, the US customer team Andretti Formula E will compete with the latest-generation Porsche 99X Electric GEN3 Evo. The concept of the innovative electric racing car was developed on the balance sheet CO2-neutral location in Weissach. Cupra Kiro is the first Porsche customer team to take part, relying on 99X technology from the previous generation GEN3. By participating in the World Championship, Porsche is demonstrating its claim to play a leading role among traditional car manufacturers in the areas of electrification, sustainability and technology. In Formula E, the brand gains valuable insights for its production sports cars.