Jean-Éric Vergne made Formula E history, securing Pole in Qualifying 2 of the 2024 Portland E-Prix. The DS Penske clinched another Pole position – the third of his 2024 season and the 17th of his career, breaking the record previously held by Sébastien Buemi.
TAG Heuer Jaguar’s António Félix da Costa missed out on P1 by 0.025s, and NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird finished in P3. Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns set the fourth fastest time, with the second NEOM McLaren of Jake Hughes sitting in P5.
Group A
Out on track for Group A were: Sébastien Buemi, Robin Frijns, Jehan Daruvala, Lucas Di Grassi, Nico Müller, Jake Hughes, Jean-Éric Vergne, Maximilian Günther, Dan Ticktum, Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy.
Frijns was first to take the lead for a substantial amount of time, posting a 1:09.665 banker lap. With seven minutes to go, Vergne posted a P2-worthy lap O.197s behind. Buemi was in P3, 0.253s from Pole. Following their laps, the top three went into pits.
Cassidy was up into P4, a few hundredths from Müller in P5. He would have bank a much better lap if he wanted to get into the Duels. Jake Hughes was over the kerb at Chicanes 10 and 11 – he would have to be more careful if he was to progress.
Half Way Through Group Stage A
Half way through, Frijns led with a 1:09.665, followed by Vergne 0.197 behind and Buemi in P3. Evans, Cassidy and Frijns were out early on another lap, the first to begin their final few runs as the clock hit three minutes to go. Cassidy posted a P2 worthy time, 0.117 behind Frijns. The Dutch driver was on another lap in an attempt to better his own time, but was forced to abort it. Vergne sat in P3, followed by Evans. In the closing stages, Buemi knocked out Evans out of the top four – a shock for yesterday’s polesitter. Buemi sat in P4, 0.224s off the Pole.
Daruvala was into P3 with less than a minute to go, with Cassidy ahead of him in P2. Evans was once again posted the fourth fastest time, before things went from tense to critical for the Brit. Vergne was into second, knocking him out of the Duels for the second race. Through to the Duels from Group A was Frijns, Verne, Cassidy and Hughes, knocking Daruvala out after a valiant effort by the Indian driver.
Group B
Out on track in Group B were: Pascal Wehrlein, Jake Dennis, António Félix da Costa, Stoffel Vandoorne, Sam Bird, Norman Nato, Sacha Fenestraz, Edoardo Mortara, Sérgio Sette Câmara, Nyck de Vries and Caio Collet.
The two porches lead the two Andrettis out of the pits for the start of the Group B session. The first flying lap was set by yesterday’s winner Da Costa with a 1:10.20, followed by Wehrlein. Collet was next, before being bettered by his teammate Fenestraz. Vandoorne stormed up the times into P3.
Nato was off the track at Turns 10 and 11, with Collet following him off. Both of their laps were ruined, forcing them to embark on another lap before the midway point in the session.
Just over six minutes remained when Vandoorne improved to a 1:09.90, followed by Dennis 0.078s behind. Meanwhile, the rest of the drivers were in the pits preparing for the crucial second half of the session. The track was silent by the five minute mark. All cars were in the pits. Sette Câmara was first back out 30 seconds later, followed by the rest of the drivers apart from the top two.
Final Minutes of Group Stage B
The clock hit the three minutes of the Qualifying 2 session of the 2024 Portland E-Prix and all cars of the group were back on track. Fenestraz was able to improve his final sector, but not improving his overall lap time. Final lap times began to come in with one minute on the clock. Many drivers were struggling to better their logged times, but De Vries was up to P3 and Dennis in P4.
However, Dennis was off the track Turn 10 and 11, throwing away his lap. The mistake also compromised the laps of all drivers behind as it set off a brief yellow flag. Da Costa was victorious in the session with a 1:09.726 and Bird hot on his heels, 0.059 in P2. De Vries was next through to the duels 0.08 behind and Wehrlein in a last ditch attempt secured the final spot in the Duels, 0.127 behind Pole.
Duels
Quarter Final 1
Cassidy and Vergne were first out on track for their one flying lap in the first Duel.
Cassidy was out at the first green light ahead of yesterday’s P3 finisher Vergne. Cassidy had a blinding first sector, before a less than ideal middle sector, missing the apex at some of the corners. However, he was able to recover, posting a 1:09.01.
Vergne was out on his lap, posting a 1:08.88. He was through to the semi-finals following a crucial mistake from Cassidy in that middle Sector.
Quarter Final 2
Hughes and Frijns were next on track, both on risky laps. Hughes managed a respectable 1:08.83. However, it was Frijns who emerged victorious by 0.0014s with a 1:08.81.
Quarter Final 3
De Vries 1:09.33 Bird 1:09.13
De Vries suffered a terrible first sector. While he was able to pull it back and run faster in the second sector, it was not enough and Bird was victorious with a 1:09.13.
Quarter Final 4
Wehrlein 1:09.12 Da Costa 1:08.75
Wehrlein had a ropey first part of his flying lap in his semi final. While he was able to post a respectable 1:09.20, it was Da Costa’s lightning-quick lap that would be victorious Da Costa posted a 1:08.75, 3.5 tenths clear. The quickest overall Duel lap ultimately went to Da Costa.
Semi Final 1
It was Vergne and yesterday’s P2 finisher Frijns who were to battle it out in the first semi final of the session. Vergne was on the limit, but kept it together for a 1:08.86. Frijns, taking a different line, compromised his run as he missed crucial apexes. The Dutchman could only manage a 1:09.08, sending Vergne through to the finals.
Semi Final 2
Rounding out the semi finals were Bird and Da Costa. It was so close but so far for Bird, who missed out on the finals by a tenth of a second. A wiggle in turn 10 cost him in the end as he posted an1:08.99 to Da Costa’s 1:08.85. Da Costa was through despite telling his engineer that he had oversteer.
Final
Both Vergne and Da Costa were focused on the Pole as they embarked on their final laps of the session. It was neck and neck as both drivers posted neat and tidy laps. Vergne was first to post a time with a 1:08.77. Da Costa was unable to better it, missing Pole by the skin of his teeth with a 1.08.80. Vergne made history with his 17th career pole, completing the feat on home soil for the DS Penske team.
Speaking after Qualifying 2 at the Formula E 2024 Portland E-Prix, Vergne says it’s all to play for tomorrow in the second race of the double-header;
“I mean, I hope I can stay in front. Let’s see. You know, the race is completely different, as I’ve shown yesterday, starting from the back. It’s not a big problem. And same goes the other way around. Starting from the front doesn’t mean that you’re going to end up there.So it’s all to play for. We’re going to have to work hard. But, you know, at least those are three points and it’s important.”
Photo credit: Simon Galloway | Formula E
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