Paddock Perspectives: Formula What?! Formula E Comes to Portland

It was an abnormally hot day in Portland, Oregon. The intense sun beat me down as I peeked through the viewfinder and tightly gripped my camera. My lens slightly protruded through the links of the tall, protective fence, deeply grounded by old tires and cement. The sound of a helicopter whirled through the air as the low churning of the propellers created a furious breeze all around me. I attempted to ignore the sound as I continued to look through my viewfinder, sweat slowly saturating my hat that provided me with a small amount of appreciated shade. 

The sound of the helicopter dissipated through the trees and echoed from the other side of the track. As the helicopter’s engine returned loudly, I anxiously waited for the giant roars of engines, but it never came. Instead, an intense whirling like a swarm of killer bees reverberated from the safety walls as a fleet of cars approached at a heart-stopping 150mph. I compressed my camera’s shutter as each car rushed past, leaving me in a daze of wind just as great as the helicopter’s rotor wash, feeling the thrill and intensity of the race. 

The cars rode closer than I had ever seen before, practically colliding with one another with each slight movement in the steering wheel. The pack of cars disappeared around the turn just as quickly as they came into sight, leaving me anxiously waiting for their next lap.

This race was not Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, or IMSA; it was Formula E, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) only electric racing world championship. A lesser-known gem in the United States, Formula E is in its tenth season, concluding on July 20th and 21st in London. Rounds 13 and 14 were hosted at Portland International Raceway during the Hankook Tire Portland E-Prix, the series’ only stop in the United States.

The racing series’ setup loosely follows Formula 1’s, with a practice round, a qualifying round, and the actual race. However, what sets Formula E apart is its commitment to sustainability. The primary race, a thrilling twenty-seven laps of pure speed, showcases the power of these electric vehicles. These cars, which do not recharge or perform tire changes during the race, are as impressive as Formula 1 cars. They can accelerate from 0-60 in as little as 2.6 seconds and reach top speeds of up to 200mph. Unlike F1, all teams utilize the same chassis and are left to develop their own drive trains, adding an element of innovation and competition to the series.

Formula E cars are lighter and use regenerative braking to aid in the recharging of the batteries throughout the race. With no recharges available on the track, the drivers’ tactics vary immensely as they decide to overtake. This does not mean there is no overtaking; one is bound to see numerous passes as drivers use “Attack Mode,” a temporary boost in energy to help gain speed in the vehicle. For this reason, the Formula E season constantly sees varied podiums, always keeping the racing exciting. 

Rounds 13 and 14 were conducted over two days at the end of June as the PNW heatwave soared above with perfectly clear, sunny skies. The paddock was filled with twenty-two drivers from eleven teams, most of which have familiar names like Porsche, Maserati, Mclaren, Nissan, and Andretti. Porsche Motorsport’s Antonio Félix Da Costa (13) secured first-place podiums on both days, leading to three consecutive wins for Da Costa overall. Da Costa’s performance and his teammate Pascal Wehrlein’s (94) excellent driving have placed Porsche in second place overall for the season. 

Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns (4) also secured double podiums, placing them in seventh place for the season. DS Penske’s Jean-Éric Vergne (25) clinched third place during Round 13, putting the team in third for the season. Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans (9) brought home a third-place podium in Round 14, maintaining their first-place position.

Jaguar currently holds a healthy thirty-three-point lead over Porsche going into the season’s final two rounds, with 322 points for Jaguar and 289 for Porsche. DS Penske, currently in third place, is 105 points behind Porsche, with 184 season points. Jaguar Porsche currently holds a healthy lead over the rest of the competition, but poor performance by either team can potentially switch the first two places in London. The third-place season podium is bound to be a fight between DS Penske (184 points), Andretti (168 points), and Nissan (157 points). Due to the dynamic nature of this sport, it is difficult to predict the season’s outcomes as each team prepares for the season’s closing days. 

Erick Huertas

Erick Huertas is originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and was introduced to the social aspect of cigars during his schooling in San Antonio, Texas. Around this time, he also developed a growing interest in writing and photography, using his phone camera and notepad to capture the world around him.

Erick solidified his passion for photography and adventure when he completed the Trans-American Trail in the summer of 2021 with his Land Rover Discovery 3. Since his 2021 expedition, he has been interviewed on several podcasts and has written extensively about the open road.

In 2023, Erick became involved in Grassroots motorsports by covering local Rallycross through the Northwest Rally Association, local autocross, and other events. In late 2023, he debuted as a photographer in the American Rally Association and has since covered events with Pan American Superbike and Formula E.

When not traveling, Erick can be found on Whidbey Island, Washington. You can contact Erick via email at [email protected], on Instagram at @_ebhphoto, or on his website: www.erickhuertas.smugmug.com