JAGUAR TCS RACING READY TO TAKE TO THE TRACK IN MEXICO CITY FOR A NEW ERA OF FORMULA E

9 January 2023

Jaguar TCS Racing will begin their campaign for the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Saturday 14 January, as the season opener and first race of the Gen3 era takes place in Mexico City.

  • Jaguar TCS Racing to race in Mexico City on 14 January for the first round of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  • 22 drivers across 11 teams will battle it out at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
  • All-new Jaguar I-TYPE 6 to debut in its first official race, driven by returning drivers Mitch Evans and Sam Bird
  • Iconic race highlights include high-speed Peraltada corner and Foro Sol Stadium, packed with tight turns and roaring fans
  • Following the official test in Valencia last month, the team are race-ready ahead of 16 races in seven months across five continents

Lights go green at 14:00 local time at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which will see the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 make its race debut as the all-electric race series enters the Gen3 era, encompassing new technical, sporting and financial regulations. Jaguar’s new race car is the fastest, lightest and most efficient to date.

Putting the new car through its paces and competing against 20 other drivers will be Jaguar TCS Racing’s experienced duo, New Zealander Mitch Evans and Briton Sam Bird. The drivers are no strangers to the racetrack, with Mitch Evans victorious in 2020, and Sam Bird achieving a podium and significant points hauls in previous visits. This year, the drivers will need to execute their skills across the long straights, challenging corners and the new chicane section through the now famous Foro Sol stadium.

Following the new race format, drivers will battle it out over 36 laps of the racetrack, as opposed to last season which saw the race determined by a set amount of time.

Located in the heart of Mexico City, this legendary circuit is one of the most thrilling race locations for the 2023 season, with last year’s E-Prix bringing in a record-breaking crowd of over 40,000.

Season 9 will see the team take on the Mexico City track for the sixth time, with sights firmly set on regular points and podiums.

We had a very positive year in 2022 with some real highlights but we did just miss out on the top spot. This has given the team even more motivation to be in a position to fight for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Team and Driver titles this season. With our experienced team, Mitch, Sam and the all-new Gen3 Jaguar I-TYPE 6, we’ve certainly got an exciting season ahead against world class opposition. With so much to learn about the new Gen3 cars, new race format and Hankook tyres, this first race in Mexico will be about trying to be as prepared as we can be and ready to adapt.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal
JAGUAR TCS RACING READY TO TAKE TO THE TRACK IN MEXICO CITY FOR A NEW ERA OF FORMULA E
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JAGUAR TCS RACING READY TO TAKE TO THE TRACK IN MEXICO CITY FOR A NEW ERA OF FORMULA E
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JAGUAR TCS RACING READY TO TAKE TO THE TRACK IN MEXICO CITY FOR A NEW ERA OF FORMULA E
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Last season was my most successful in Formula E, so I’m using that momentum to kick start this season and focus on achieving a positive result in the first round. I have fond memories of winning in Mexico City in 2020, so I’m feeling ready for a strong start to the season.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9

I can’t wait to get back onto the track in Mexico City, especially as we know we can look forward to an incredible crowd. I remember hearing the cheers of the crowd through my helmet, there’s no feeling like it. I’m ready to put on a show and get the season off to the best possible start.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #10

It’s always a pleasure to be racing in Mexico’s capital city. The spectators are always on good form and the atmosphere in the stadium section is really special. We are also excited within the team to see the Gen3 cars in race action for the first time. Having said that, we know this track is a challenge; while ambient temperatures aren’t forecast as particularly high for this visit, the addition of the chicane on the back straight means the tyres don’t get much time to cool down around the lap. The final corner is also one of the trickiest high-speed corners we encounter through the season. So, setups, systems and drivers need to be fully in sync if you want to do well in Mexico City.

Phil Charles
Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager

Further information

For further information about Jaguar TCS Racing, please contact:

Emily Hogg, Senior Media Officer, Jaguar TCS Racing

Tel: +44 (0) 7384 532 605

Email: ehogg2@jaguarlandrover.com

 

Adrian Atkinson, Head of Motorsport PR & Communications, Jaguar TCS Racing

Tel: +44 (0) 7979 554005

Email: aatkin14@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first luxury manufacturer to join the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship street racing series. In season eight, Mitch Evans finished as runner-up in the drivers’ standings – his most successful result in Jaguar TCS Racing’s Formula E campaign.

Formula E is a real-world test bed for Jaguar with its journey to becoming an all-electric luxury brand from 2025. Jaguar TCS Racing’s goal is to ‘Reimagine Racing’ and together the team will test, develop, learn and collaborate, sharing insights across Jaguar Land Rover which will benefit future road car development. Specifically, learnings and technology transfer from Formula E will help ‘Reimagine” the Jaguar brand coinciding with the company’s commitment to the Gen3 era of Formula E.

2023 is the first year for the teams to be racing with the Gen3 car, the world’s first net zero race car.

As an official manufacturer team in Formula E, Jaguar TCS Racing designs its own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter, and rear suspension. Jaguar, via its long-term Formula E technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, will supply Envision Racing with its powertrain for the Gen3 era.

To control costs, the carbon fibre chassis and battery are common components and the same for all eleven teams. This allows the focus to be on developing efficient and lightweight electric vehicle powertrains which will improve the performance and range of future Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles.

Teams have two race cars, one per driver, which will be used for the full race distance.

Beyond its all-electric concept, Formula E is unique in the world of motorsport for its choice of venues. The 2023 championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world’s major cities including Mexico City, Diriyah and Rome, with new locations including Hyderabad, Cape Town, and São Paulo. The season finale plays out across a double-header race weekend in London.

In 2022, Jaguar TCS Racing finished fourth in the teams' standings with seven podiums, four wins, one pole position, one fastest lap and 231 points scored – the team’s biggest points haul to date. New Zealander, Mitch Evans finished last season as runner-up with Sam Bird finishing thirteenth overall in the drivers’ standings.

Formula E remains a key priority for Jaguar Land Rover and the company’s Reimagine strategy. As the premier all-electric world championship, Formula E allows us to test and develop new electric vehicle technologies in a high-performance environment. It continues to be the test bed for our Race to Innovate mission that will see Race to Road and Road to Race learnings that will help shape our electric future – a future that Jaguar is passionate about, and dedicated to for the benefit of our society, the changing landscape of mobility, sustainability and our clients.

Through our Race to Inspire mission, Jaguar TCS Racing are committed to inspiring the future generation by using the race programme to create a positive impact on our planet and the communities in which we race. From competing in the world’s first net carbon race car to supporting and training the next generation of engineers and motorsport professionals.

For more information, visit www.jaguar.com

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

TCS is an IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization that has been digitally transforming many of the world's largest businesses for over 50 years. A long-standing strategic technology partner of Jaguar Land Rover, TCS is committed to leveraging innovative digital technology to help the race team accelerate their electrification journey, win races, and create a more sustainable future. TCS believes that global sports sponsorships with purpose can spark change and positively impact our communities. A part of the Tata Group, TCS has more than 616,000 consultants in 55 countries.