SIMON EVANS RETURNS, ABBIE EATON AND MARIO HÁBERFELD COMPLETE THE JAGUAR I-PACE eTROPHY GRID FOR THE DOUBLE HEADER OPENING WEEKEND IN DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA

18 November 2019

  • Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY – the world’s first all‑electric touring car race series returns for season two
  • Jagaur I‑PACE eTROPHY season two starts with a double header on 22 and 23 November 2019 in Diriyah
  • Reema Juffali and Abbie Eaton join the series as VIP drivers for Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
  • Abbie Eaton – well known as the official racing driver for the Amazon Prime ‘The Grand Tour’ TV show
  • After winning the inaugural race of the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY in Diriyah in season one, Simon Evans returns to challenge aiming for the title
  • Mario Hάberfeld stands in for Cacá Bueno for Jaguar Brazil Racing

18 November 2019, Whitley, UK: Reema Juffali, F4 British Championship driver and Abbie Eaton, the official racing driver for Amazon Prime’s ‘The Grand Tour’ join the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY race series as VIP drivers for Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on 22 and 23 November 2019.

Abbie, the professional racing driver and coach has over 17 years of experience in racing having completed in Blancpain Endurance, British GT, GT Cup and other national championships in the United Kingdom.

After being crowned 2017 Champion in the Blancpain Endurance Series Ferrari 488 GT3 she successfully went on to compete in the GT Cup Ferrari 488 Challenge in which she secured four race wins.

Abbie has most recently been competing in the Australian Super2 Series and was recently announced as part of the line‑up for the 2020 W Series.

Season 2, Diriyah VIP Driver, Abbie Eaton

I am excited to be racing in the first round of the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY in Saudi. The Riyadh track looks challenging and technical and I’ve heard fantastic things about the Jaguar I‑PACE too! It’ll be a first for me racing a fully electric racing car so thank you to Jaguar Racing for the opportunity.

Abbie Eaton
Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY VIP Driver

Abbie joins local Saudi, Reema Juffali as fellow VIP Driver for the double header opening weekend.

Reema Juffali will create history this week as the first Saudi Arabian woman to compete in an international racing series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Reema made her competitive racing debut – only months after her home country lifted the ban on females driving – at the F4 British Championship certified by FIA at Brands Hatch in April 2019, participating in the single‑seater motorsport series for the Double R Racing team, who are based in the United Kingdom.

Season 2, Diriyah VIP Driver, Reema Juffali

Following a fourth place finish last season, Simon Evans returns for Team Asia New Zealand. After winning the first ever Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY race in Diriyah last year, Simon, the older brother of Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Formula E driver Mitch Evans, achieved four further podium finishes across the season in Sanya, Rome, Berlin and New York.

I’m proud to be back representing Team Asia New Zealand for season two. I learnt a lot last season and I can use that heading into the first round. Team Brazil who were the benchmark at the second half of season one are back and they will be fast no doubt. The ATTACK MODE is a great addition to the series where strategy will be key. I will be 100% ready come lights out in Saudi.

Simon Evans
Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY Driver
Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Team Asia New Zealand driver, Simon Evans
Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Cars

Mario Hάberfeld will be driving for Jaguar Brazil Racing alongside Sérgio Jimenez as Cacá Bueno has other commitments.

After winning the British Formula 3 Championship in 1998, the Brazilian drove in Formula 3000 from 1999 until 2002. In 2003 he moved to the Champ Car World Series driving for Mi‑Jack Conquest Racing. 

It’s an honour to compete in Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY, the first touring electric cars series. When I got the invitation from the Brazilian Team, to replace Cacá Bueno it was quite a surprise as I haven’t raced for over 10 years, but I’m sure it will be a really fun weekend. I’m inquisitive to drive the I‑PACE, as this will be my first time competing in an electric car. I’ve talked to Cacá, in order to get some tips about the car, and I hope I will do two good races in Saudi Arabia. It will be an honour to race for the Team Brazil and be back to represent my country.

Mario Hάberfeld
Guest Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY Driver
Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Car

We want to welcome Simon back to the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY series and we’re looking forward to seeing him battle for the title again this year. Mario completes the grid and is going to provide an exciting upcoming first two rounds with his extensive experience in motorsport. We’d also like to extend a welcome to Abbie as she joins the series as the second VIP driver in Saudi Arabia. She joins a talented field and we look forward to seeing her in action shortly. We’re particularly proud to have three strong women on the grid for Diriyah, including Alice Powell and local driver Reema Juffali.

Mark Turner
Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY Series Manager

Cacá Bueno will return for Round Three in Mexico City.

After a thrilling inaugural season, the championship returns for season two with a double header on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November at 13:05 local time as the official support race to the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

Further information

For further information about Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY, please contact:

Emma White, Media Officer, Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY

Tel: + 44 (0) 7384 438 643

Email: emma.white@jaguarracing.com

 

Emily Hogg, Global Brand and Partnerships Officer, Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY

Tel: + 44 (0) 7384 532 605

Email: ehogg2@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

ABOUT JAGUAR I‑PACE eTROPHY

After becoming the first premium manufacturer to enter the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in 2016, Jaguar created the world’s first all‑electric touring car race series for a production car – the Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY.

Exclusively featuring Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY racecars, the all‑electric series gives drivers of the future and established racers a chance to showcase their talent, competing on the world stage in zero‑emissions motorsport. After making history in the inaugural season, the groundbreaking series will see up to 20 identical Jaguar I‑PACE battery electric racecars on the grid in 10 races, across eight global cities.

New for season two is the introduction of ATTACK MODE providing an extra 20% in torque and power for a specified duration (defined at race) providing increased race strategy and additional overtaking opportunities.

The series supports the launch of the Jaguar I‑PACE, Jaguar’s first battery electric vehicle, and reinforces Jaguar Land Rover’s future electrification strategy, commitment to electric street racing and the team’s mission of ‘Fearless Progress’.

Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY partners include official tyre supplier Michelin, official charging partner ABB, technical partner Sabelt, official clothing supplier One All Sports, official racewear supplier Alpine Stars and official logistics partner DHL.