Credit: LAT Images courtesy of FIA Formula E
Porsche are set to “go for gold” this weekend in London at the season finale of the 2023 Formula E Championship, with the side being in the fight for the Constructors’ crown.
TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team head to the London E-Prix double-header just 14 points behind current leaders Envision Racing, in what looks set to be a nail-biting showdown.
It’s not just the German manufacturer and Envision in the title fight though, as Jaguar TCS Racing sit just 11 points further adrift. Even Porsche’s customer team, Avalanche Andretti, have an outside chance, with the Americans being 35 points behind in fourth.
Whilst Jake Dennis is the clear favourite to clinch the Drivers’ Championship, the Constructors’ is impossible to predict. Porsche have been the most consistent team this season based on the standings, as the Stuttgart-based outfit have been no lower than second in the championship all year.
The title will likely be decided by the finest of margins at the ExCeL Centre, where Porsche Team Principal Florian Modlinger knows that the winning side will be whoever “makes no mistakes”.
“We’ve prepared well and are looking forward to a fantastic conclusion to the season. Anything is possible,” insists Modlinger.
“The top three teams are within 25 points of each other. One of these teams will become the world champion. We are 14 points behind Envision Racing, which means we have to work hard. Whoever has a strong car in London and makes no mistakes will be the winner. That’s our goal.”
Whilst Porsche are right behind Envision, this weekend’s venue is seemingly more favoured for the Jaguar customer team. The Jaguar powertrain has performed well all campaign in qualifying, whereas Porsche have tended to miss out on the duels.
Dennis has regularly been the only Porsche-powered driver to reach the duels, something which has seen Pascal Wehrlein slip away from the top of the Drivers’ Standings.
Overtaking will be unbelievably difficult in London, perhaps even more challenging than it was just over a week ago in Rome. As a result, qualifying towards the front will be crucial to a good result in both races, something the German outfit failed to do in the Italian capital.
“The problem in Rome was our pace in qualifying,” Modlinger assessed.
“Overtaking is particularly difficult in Rome, so that hit us hard. Pascal started from 15th and still managed to clinch seventh. If we’d started from further up the grid, we could’ve done much better.
The lowest a driver has ever won at the ExCeL Centre from is third on the grid, something which doesn’t bode well for the factory Porsche team given that they’ve only started in the top three twice all season.
To be as prepared as possible for London, Porsche have been using their simulator to “adapt the setup” of their car to suit the unique indoor/outdoor circuit, before they attempt to “go for gold” on Saturday and Sunday.
“In preparation for London, we used the simulator to adapt the setup of our Porsche 99X Electric to the track characteristics,” revealed Modlinger.
“We’ll use the free practice sessions to put the final touches and then go for gold in the qualifying and race.”
Keyword: Porsche to ‘go for gold’ in pursuit of championship glory