Pascal Wehrlein emerged victorious in the second Misano E-Prix, becoming the first driver in Season 10 to secure a second race win.
Starting third on the grid, the German executed his strategy flawlessly, taking advantage of Oliver Rowland’s lack of energy on the final lap. This gave Wehrlein the win and propelled him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
Jake Dennis secured his second podium of the weekend, further solidifying his position in the championship. Meanwhile, Nick Cassidy clinched the final spot on the ABT Cupra podium late in the race, denying the German team a significant result after an impressive performance.
Although pole-sitter Jake Hughes couldn’t maintain his lead, he managed to finish a commendable fifth. This was a well-deserved reward for his mature and quick performance throughout the weekend. Nissan found some consolation with Sacha Fenestraz securing his first points of the season in sixth. Additionally, Sergio Sette Cámara surprised with a seventh-place finish for ERT.
Jean-Eric Vergne couldn’t challenge for the win and settled for eighth. Max Günther finished ninth, while Jehan Daruvala, Maserati MSG Racing teammate, secured his first points of the season in tenth.
After a disappointing Saturday for Wehrlein and Cassidy, the two title contenders can now breathe a sigh of relief as their championship aspirations are back on track.
HOW THE RACE UNFOLDED
Hughes took the lead from pole position, causing some bunching up behind him. Müller, starting in fourth, showed aggression early on and remained in contention. Meanwhile, da Costa quickly gained three positions, eager to prove himself after his disqualification on Saturday. Günther also stayed in the mix in eighth place, while Cassidy held on to fourth until Sam Bird overtook him, seeking redemption after missing an opportunity in the first race.
On the fifth lap, Wehrlein took the lead, with Rowland in tenth and Vergne dropping to sixth. The chaotic nature of the extreme pack-style racing seen on Saturday was toned down, resulting in a strategically calmer race.
However, the halfway point of the race still provided some drama. The first victim was Robin Frijns, who got stuck between da Costa and Bird in the final sector, causing him to slide into the gravel. The Safety Car was deployed, slowing down the pack more than usual. Fortunately, the Envision Racing car was removed without the need for additional laps. After a brief period, the Safety Car returned to the pits and the race resumed.
Both Andretti drivers, Norman Nato and Jake Dennis, showed impressive pace, overtaking Bird in quick succession. Hughes regained the lead and immediately activated Attack Mode, handing the lead to Cassidy. However, on the 15th lap, Hughes went off track during a battle, costing him valuable time.
Da Costa’s terrible weekend continued with a puncture after making contact with Vergne’s Penske in the first corner of the 12th lap.
Nato had a setback, hindering his fantastic progress and leaving the responsibility solely on Dennis’ shoulders.
Evans stopped on track on lap 17, but managed to continue. However, his race was effectively over. Buemi retired on the same lap, completing a miserable day for Envision.
On lap 18, Wehrlein and Rowland fought for position, with the German managing to advance in his Porsche. Three laps later, Rowland regained the lead. In the final stages of the race, both drivers pulled away from Dennis, and it was clear that one of them would emerge victorious. Rowland was leading with 10% battery remaining, but Wehrlein had 14%. As Rowland pulled away, it seemed like he had miscalculated his strategy.
And on the last lap, it happened.
Rowland’s battery ran out, causing the Nissan to slow down and allowing Wehrlein to take the lead. With a comfortable advantage over the chasing cars, the German crossed the finish line for the win, becoming the first driver in 2024 to win more than one race and reclaiming the championship lead.
All attention quickly turned to Dennis, Müller, and Cassidy, who fought intensely until the end. Dennis showed smart defensive driving and secured second place. Cassidy narrowly beat Müller by just five thousandths of a second, leaving the ABT garage disappointed.
While Rowland may feel lucky for his late victory on Saturday night, he will also feel disappointed that a double victory slipped away, potentially strengthening his championship lead.
For Wehrlein, the win brought joy to Porsche after the disbelief caused by da Costa’s disqualification. It also reaffirmed his credentials as a contender for the World Championship.
© 2024
Portugal wins the Euro 2024 final in an exciting match against Spain
The Portuguese national football team won the Euro 2024 title in an electrifying match against Spain. The game, which took place at the National Stadium in Lisbon, was marked by a lot of emotion and twists.
In the first half, Spain opened the scoring with a beautiful goal from their star striker. However, Portugal did not falter and managed to equalize before halftime, with a header goal from their top scorer.
In the second half, both teams showed high-level football, with goal-scoring opportunities for both sides. With just a few minutes left in the match, Portugal managed to score the winning goal, with a precise shot from outside the box.
The Portuguese fans went wild with the goal and could not contain their emotions as they saw their national team win the European title. After the final whistle, the players celebrated on the field, while the fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with them.
The Portuguese national team coach highlighted the determination and fighting spirit of his players. He emphasized that the Euro 2024 victory is the result of hard work and well-executed planning.
With this victory, Portugal solidifies its position as one of the main powers in European football. The Portuguese team had already won the Euro 2016 and now adds another important title to its history.
The next competition for the Portuguese national team will be the 2026 World Cup, where they will seek to repeat the success achieved in Euro 2024. Portuguese fans are confident that their team can go far and compete for the world title.
Portugal is in celebration and the whole country is celebrating this important football achievement. The players are considered national heroes and will receive a warm reception when they return home.
The Euro 2024 will be remembered by the Portuguese as a moment of glory and unity. The Portuguese national team once again proved its strength and talent, leaving an indelible mark on European football.
