FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN

20 February 2023

Jaguar TCS Racing will take to the streets of Cape Town this weekend as round five of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship gets underway in South Africa.

  • Jaguar TCS Racing will race in Cape Town as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship debuts in South Africa this weekend
  • Cape Town E‑Prix set to be one of the fastest races of the season
  • With a podium, Pole position, fastest lap and points all under their belt, the team are ready for a strong performance in round five of the championship
  • With Table Mountain as a backdrop, lights go green at 16:00 SAST on Saturday 25 February 2023

Cape Town is the first sub‑Saharan African city to host an E‑Prix and one of four new race locations in the 2023 season. With the iconic Table Mountain forming an impressive backdrop, the fifth round of the championship will be played out on a street circuit through the Green Point area of the famous South African city. Spectacular views surround the 2.8km track, which is set to be among the fastest used by Formula E.  

The race will be an opportunity for the team to bounce back following a dramatic race result in Hyderabad which saw both Jaguar TCS Racing cars retire. All four Jaguar‑powered cars demonstrated impressive pace and efficiency while on the track and Kiwi Mitch Evans took his first pole position in the Gen3 era, adding three valuable points to his championship campaign. Sam Bird will be looking to build on his two top four finishes this season with another positive points haul. 

Jaguar TCS Racing remain fifth in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams’ standings.    

FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN
FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN
FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN
FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN
FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN
FORMULA E HEADS TO CAPE TOWN AS JAGUAR TCS RACING AIM FOR STRONG RETURN

As a team, we took another step forward in terms of performance in Hyderabad and demonstrated that, with the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6, we have a fast and highly competitive car. Our goal coming into this weekend in Cape Town is to put ourselves into a position to race for points and podiums. Having grown up in South Africa and watched the last World Championship race there in 1993 at Kyalami, it is a proud moment for myself and the other South African members of the team to be part of the return of top tier racing to this passionate motorsport country. The track is fast and challenging and will be a test for the teams, drivers and cars, and played out with the backdrop of Table Mountain, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

I’m really looking forward to taking on the race in Cape Town. My car has so much potential, it’s got the pace and efficiency needed to succeed, and we learn more from it each time we race, so we will take that positivity and apply it to the Cape Town E‑Prix. Qualifying will be particularly important for me as I’m aiming for front of the grid again after getting my first Pole position of the season in Hyderabad.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9

As Formula E racing drivers, we are incredibly lucky to travel to new destinations and Cape Town is one that I’m particularly excited about. We’ve focussed on getting to grips with the new track, our second so far this season, and being as prepared as possible. I’m confident that our team and the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 have the performance available to achieve points and podiums in Cape Town.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #10

This season’s Formula E race calendar features some exciting tracks and next up we have an absolute cracker. A fast‑paced track with several bumpy braking areas, a super tight chicane in T4,5, 6 and a high‑speed needle‑threading section T8,9,10: The Cape Town E‑Prix promises to be an absolute nailbiter.

Phil Charles
Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager

Jaguar TCS Racing will compete in round five of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Cape Town on 25 February at 16:00 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.