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At the first double-header of the season, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will experience two premieres: Formula E will make its first appearance in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah. In addition, the pit boost will see a new strategic element make its debut in Friday’s race at the Jeddah E-Prix.
After the double podium at the Mexico City E-Prix, championship leader António Félix da Costa and current world champion Pascal Wehrlein also have the opportunity to bring home a top 3 finish for the works team for the 10th race in a row.
Thomas Preining to make brief appearance in practice session
Thomas Preining will also take the wheel of the highly-efficient Porsche 99X Electric. The Austrian Porsche works driver and 2023 DTM champion will take part in the official Formula E rookie test on Thursday evening, an additional 40-minute practice session for drivers yet to contest a Formula E race. Preining had an opportunity to test the 99X Electric in the pre-season – at the one-day rookie test in Berlin.
Porsche’s current record in Saudi Arabia
A Porsche 99X Electric has enjoyed three victories in Saudi Arabia to date. Two of these were in Season 9, when Wehrlein won both Diriyah E-Prix races. Last season, Jake Dennis triumphed with customer team Andretti Formula E, also in Diriyah. Which is the same place in which Porsche made its debut in the all-electric race series: André Lotterer finished in second place at the Season 6 opener in 2019, giving Porsche a podium in the team’s first ever race.
Modified variant of Formula 1 track
Jeddah is set to host a Formula E race for the first time. The drivers will race on a 3.001-kilometre variant of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The street circuit is next to the Red Sea. Formula 1 has also been held here since 2021. Compared to the Grand Prix layout, the drivers will have to master four additional chicanes. This is to allow the GEN3 Evo cars to recuperate energy more frequently.
Pit Boost: Rapid charging with 600 kW
Friday’s race will see the Formula E cars recharge during a race for the first time: In the 34-seconds Pit Boost pit stop, 3.85 kWh of power will flow into the batteries – innovative rapid charging with 600 kW of power. By way of comparison: The Formula E safety car, the sports car for the road – the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT, charges with up to 320 kW. The CCS (Combined Charging System) charging system symbolises the transfer of technology to series production: The sockets and plugs of the 99X racing car and the electric Porsche sports car for the road are similar. The CCS combines the option of alternating current charging with the option of direct current charging, thus enabling gentler charging at home, for example, with powerful rapid charging on the road.
ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – standings after 2 of 16 races
Drivers’ classification
1. António Félix da Costa (POR), 37 points
2. Oliver Rowland (GBR), 25 points
3. Mitch Evans (NZL), 25 points
4. Pascal Wehrlein (GER), 21 points
6. Jake Dennis (GBR), 13 points
14. Dan Ticktum (GBR), 4 points
15. Nico Müller (SUI), 2 points
22. David Beckmann (GER), 0 points
Teams’ classification
1. TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team (GER), 58 points
2. NEOM McLaren Formula E Team (GBR), 27 points
3. Jaguar TCS Racing (GBR), 25 points
7. Andretti Formula E (USA), 15 points
10. CUPRA KIRO (USA), 4 points
Manufacturers’ classification
1. Porsche, 55 points
2. Nissan, 54 points
3. Jaguar, 41 points
Formula E Live on TV and online
Races 3 and 4 of the season get underway at 20:05 local time (18:05 CET) on 14 and 15 February respectively, qualifying starts at 15:20 local time (13:20 CET) on both days.
The worldwide broadcasting schedule of the Formula E events is available at fiaformulae.com/en/ways-to-watch.
Comments on the Jeddah E-Prix
Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: “One race with Pit Boost and one without means differing race strategies are to be expected. This should make things very interesting. In terms of energy management, Friday’s race could be similar to the race in Mexico. Then the field might come closer together again on Saturday. The track layout is a bit of a mix of Mexico and São Paulo, which makes us confident that our package will be a good fit once again. An important factor will be how the asphalt impacts on the tyres. This was a key focus of our preparations.”
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#1): “I managed to make a strong comeback In Mexico after São Paulo, which was important to me. Pole position was also a highlight. In Jeddah we, as a team, have the opportunity to finish on the podium for the tenth time in a row. We have already set a record with nine successive podiums. We will all be doing our best to keep our good run going.”
António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13): “I’m looking forward to being back at the racetrack. We had a good start to the season as a team – everyone is highly motivated to continue in the same way. In the simulator at least, the new track has a nice flow, which could make for some good racing. I’m particularly excited for the Pit Boost.”
Porsche in Formula E
2024/2025 sees Porsche contest its sixth Formula E season. In addition to the works TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, American customer team Andretti Formula E is entering the Porsche 99X Electric of the latest GEN3 Evo generation. With the addition of Cupra Kiro, this season will be the first time that a second Porsche customer team has entered the series; they will be using 99X technology of the previous GEN3 generation. Formula E gives the brand valuable insights for its production sports cars.