Maserati MSG Racing squandered the chance for a double-point-scoring finish during the Portland ePrix on Saturday as Nick Cassidy took the chequered flag in an exciting race in Oregon.

The Monégasque brand have experienced something of a return to form in the second half of the ninth Formula E season. Both cars looked set for good points-scoring finishes, but contact between Max Günther and Edoardo Mortara late in the race put pay to ambitions of making advancements in the constructors’ standings.

Late puncture leads to Mortara DNF

At one point, Günther, who has won MSG Racing’s only race of the season so far, in Jakarta, was at one point in third place. However, dropped down to fourth late in the race, he was then squeezed off the track by Sam Bird, demoting him down to ninth.

Mortara was in seventh, but as Günther made his way back through the field, he made contact with his Swiss teammate. In the incident, Mortara, who last season fought for the championship title, suffered a puncture, forcing his retirement. Günther finished six, but the race promised so much more for MSG, who once again showed good pace.

The race to take the chequered flag went down to the final corner. Monaco ePrix winner Nick Cassidy looked to be struggling for power going into the final corner, but just clung onto the victory ahead of pole-sitter Jake Dennis, who overtook Felix Da Costa on the final lap.

“We leave Portland with mixed emotions.”

Dennis, the leader in the drivers’ standings, is just one point ahead of Cassidy with just four races remaining in the season.

Post-race, MSG team principal James Rossiter reflected on the race weekend. “Unfortunately, we leave Portland with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it was good to bring home another good haul of points, but on the other, deeply frustrating to miss out on what could have been a strong result for both of our cars. Max made contact with Edo’s right-rear tyre to cause a puncture during the final laps – a small mistake with points implications,” said the Englishman.

The grid heads to Rome in mid-July for two races before a double header in London at the end of next month to conclude the season.

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Photo source: Maserati MSG Racing