JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein sealed a perfectly-executed victory in his 100th E-Prix Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Wehrlein timed his Pit Boost and Attack Mode just right to head home Mahindra Racing’s Edoardo Mortara and Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans.
Wehrlein had started the race third and went later than those around him with his 50kW, all-wheel drive Attack Mode boost coming after his Pit Boost stop.
The overlap allowed the Season 10 World Champion to pull some eight seconds on those behind heading into the closing stages of the race.
From there, he was able to manage the gap to Mortara – the Mahindra driver recovering from a wheel-spinning start which saw him slip from pole to fifth by the end of Lap 1.
Mortara made his way up the order with a late Attack Mode charge through the field to second spot – though he and the team felt the win had been on, barring that poor getaway.
Those who activated Attack late seemed best place as the race reached its climax. Evans was next to prove as much as he sliced his way through the top 10 to an eventual third at the checkered flag and back-to-back podiums.
Nico Mueller (Porsche) rounded fourth ahead of the second Jaguar of Antonio Felix da Costa and Citroen Racing’s Nick Cassidy — another of the late chargers — who rounded out the top six having qualified only 13th.
Wehrlein’s win and fastest lap yeilded a 26-point haul and propelled the Porsche driver to the top of the Drivers’ standings – 64 points to Cassidy’s 48. Porsche head the Teams’ 109 plays Mahindra’s 59 points. The Stuttgart marque sits top of the Manufacturers’ on 125 points to Jaguar’s 81.
