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HYDERABAD E-PRIX - 2023 ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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POLE POSITION AND HEARTBREAK AT HOME HYDERABAD E-PRIX FOR JAGUAR TCS RACING

11 February 2023

Mitch Evans took Pole position in the inaugural Hyderabad E‑Prix for Jaguar TCS Racing, adding three valuable points to his championship campaign. The Kiwi topped qualifying group A before defeating Sébastien Buemi and Jean‑Éric Vergne in the quarter and semi‑finals of the Duels to take his first Pole of the Gen3 era.

Sam Bird finished P3 in the group stage and made it through to the semi‑finals of the Duels but was disqualified for exceeding track limits, along with two other drivers. Sam lined up in P6 on the grid.

Mitch led the Greenko Hyderabad E‑Prix – a second home race for the team – for the first seven laps of the 32‑lap race after both drivers held their position off the start line. On lap, Mitch took ATTACK MODE and lost three places as part of a strategic move to recoup energy. The Kiwi overtook the Sacha Fenestraz’s Nissan to move up to third place while Sam battled in fifth. On lap 13, Sam made a mistake which resulted in him tapping Fenestraz and crashing into teammate Mitch Evans, ultimately retiring both Jaguars from the race.

Customer‑team Envision Racing showcased the speed and efficiency of the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 with a second‑place finish for Nick Cassidy ‑ the first podium for the partnership.

Sam Bird is sixth in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship drivers’ standings, while Mitch Evans is twelfth.

Heading into the fifth round of the World Championship, Jaguar TCS Racing remain fifth in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams’ standings.  

There are lots of positives to take from today. Mitch got Pole position here at our second home race in India and we know we have a very competitive Jaguar I‑TYPE 6. The team performed incredibly well this weekend but unfortunately sometimes mistakes happen and that’s what happened today. Sam has apologised to Mitch and the team and we put it behind us. If you look what we achieved today, we have a very fast race car and our customer team Envision were fighting at the front for the full race. I’d like to thank all of the fans and support we’ve had here in India. As a team we are staying positive and now shifting our focus onto Cape Town in two weeks’ time.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

I held the lead from Pole position and the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 felt really good behind the wheel. We opted to go for an early ATTACK MODE to get the tow from the other cars. I was recovering well and up on energy from the cars ahead of me but then Sam made a mistake and it took me out of the race. It wasn’t intentional but it is very frustrating. My season so far has been challenging but I’m looking forward to Cape Town.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9

I’m incredibly sorry to all of the team, Mitch and the other people’s races that I ruined today. We have a really strong car and I made a mistake which cost everybody. I know how hard everyone has worked and I hope I can make it up to everyone in Cape Town.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #10

The fifth round of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place in Cape Town, South Africa for the first time on Saturday 25 February.

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 237 406

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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