Da Costa overjoyed after winning in Cape Town

Antonio Felix Da Costa was almost speechless after securing his first win with Porsche at the Cape Town E-Prix.

The Portuguese driver had started a relatively lowly 11^th place on the grid but he fought his way through the field, pulling off a stunning overtake on Jean-Eric Vergne for the win.

Da Costa was still in a daze post-race saying, “For the first time I don’t have a lot to say!

“There was a lot of weight on my shoulders – thanks for the ones who have stuck with me and helped me get here. It has been a journey, it feels nice.”

Motorsport can be like a high-speed game of chess at times as various strategies play out throughout a race.

This was no exception, and Da Costa knew this was going to be the case, adding, “I knew it was going to be a strategic one, I’ve done this race before where you have to give that lead away and really plan a late move in the race because the energy was playing a big part, and so following was a bit of an advantage.

“So I wanted to be behind him [Vergne] for a few laps to build that energy advantage and use it, but I know leaving it late is always a risk and JEV is a very hard guy to overtake.

“I thought I was gone for a moment there in T9! But it’s good to race him on a day like this.

“I was [prepared to give it all], there was a moment there in the race when I thought if I missed the Attack Mode it was gone and I would have to finish second, but when I dropped behind him I could see the energy coming back and I said lets go for it! It’s the only way I like to do it.

“What a journey.”

The win for Da Costa sees him move up to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, with his teammate Pascal Wehrlein still leading the standings despite his DNF today.