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JAGUAR TCS RACING REGROUP FOR DIRIYAH DOUBLE-HEADER
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JAGUAR TCS RACING REGROUP FOR DIRIYAH DOUBLE-HEADER

23 January 2023

Jaguar TCS Racing will continue their campaign for the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January, as the first double-header of Season 9 gets underway in Saudi Arabia. 

  • Jaguar TCS Racing to race under the lights in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on 27 and 28 January 2023
  • Diriyah E-Prix is the first of five double-headers in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  • It follows the season-opener in Mexico City which positioned Jaguar TCS Racing in sixth place in the teams’ standings
  • The night races will be an opportunity for Mitch Evans to build on points scored in round one
  • Having won twice and secured fastest lap at the Diriyah E-Prix in previous years, Sam Bird will be aiming to celebrate his 100th race in Formula E

The Diriyah E-Prix holds positive memories for driver Sam Bird, who secured wins in 2019 and 2021, plus the fastest lap in 2022, while Mitch Evans has also claimed a podium finish at this circuit. The duo are aiming to make the most of their Jaguar I-TYPE 6 race cars and build on the team’s performance in Mexico City, the debut race of the season, which took place less than two weeks ago. 

Bringing together old and new, the historic city of Diriyah, a UNESCO Heritage Site, will play host to the most advanced electric street racing, with the high-speed action kicking off at 20:00 local time on Friday night. With the city flooded in darkness, the 2.49km track circuit will be illuminated using the LED technology powered by renewable sources, showcasing Formula E as the first net zero carbon sport since inception.  

While drivers raced on an established racetrack in Mexico City, the Saudi Arabian rounds rely on teams to navigate a challenging street circuit with 21 tricky turns and unpredictable grip levels across the 39 laps.

The first Diriyah E-Prix marks the 100th Formula E race for Sam Bird who has competed in every season of Formula E and has only missed two races across the nine seasons. He will be looking to get his season off to a positive start after retiring from the first race in Mexico City.  

JAGUAR TCS RACING REGROUP FOR DIRIYAH DOUBLE-HEADER
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JAGUAR TCS RACING REGROUP FOR DIRIYAH DOUBLE-HEADER
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JAGUAR TCS RACING REGROUP FOR DIRIYAH DOUBLE-HEADER
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We are looking forward to getting back out on track for two exciting night races in Diriyah this Friday and Saturday. This is a formidable street circuit, a real test for driver and car and made even more memorable as we race at night. The opening race in Mexico City has shown us just how competitive the new Gen3 era of Formula E is. With three Jaguars, including our customer Envision Racing, in the top ten we have seen some positive signs of the potential for the season ahead. We are aiming to build on this potential and will be doing all that we can to extract the best performance possible from our Jaguar I-TYPE 6.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

Following my eighth-place position in the opening round of the season, I’m feeling motivated to finish higher and score even more points. I know the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 has plenty of pace and efficiency and I’ve worked closely with the team to prepare for the challenges that Diriyah will bring.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9

I've got fond memories of competing in the Diriyah E-Prix as I’ve won the race twice before and I currently hold the record for the fastest lap which I secured last year. While the result in Mexico City was disappointing, we have learnt from the data and I am positive about the next two rounds. It is my 100th race in Formula E which I can’t quite believe and I want to mark that with a decent result.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #10

Diriyah is a brilliant circuit and one that we are familiar with, as this will be our fifth-year racing in this historic location. The lap begins with a series of challenging twists and turns in the first two sectors of the lap. The last sector is characterised by longer straights with big braking events. Having a car that changes direction and can be positioned well in those flowing early corners is an advantage. The drivers need to take account of lots of changing conditions as we move between day and night and we go into the event expecting high track evolution as the racing line cleans up. The team is ready to take on the challenges to deliver the best results possible around the street circuit.

Phil Charles
Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager

Jaguar TCS Racing will compete in rounds two and three of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Diriyah on 27 and 28 January 2023 at 20:00 local time. 

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) 7387 237406 

Email: aatkin14@jaguarlandrover.com  

Notes to Editors

ABOUT JAGUAR TCS RACING 

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. 

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