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JAGUAR I-PACE eTROPHY CHAMPION, SIMON EVANS, JOINS SHELDON VAN DER LINDE IN JAGUAR TCS RACING’S ROOKIE TEST LINE-UP
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JAGUAR I-PACE eTROPHY CHAMPION, SIMON EVANS, JOINS SHELDON VAN DER LINDE IN JAGUAR TCS RACING’S ROOKIE TEST LINE-UP

18 April 2023

Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Champion, Simon Evans, joins Sheldon Van Der Linde, in Jaguar TCS Racing’s rookie test line-up. Formula E’s official rookie test will be held for the first time since 2020 in Berlin following the E-Prix double-header.

  • Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Champion, Simon Evans, joins Sheldon Van Der Linde, in Jaguar TCS Racing’s line-up for the official Formula E rookie test
  • Simon, Mitch Evans’ brother, last competed in an international race series in Berlin 2020, where he lifted the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY championship trophy
  • South African, Sheldon, will also follow in his brother’s footsteps, driving a Formula E car – the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 – for the first time
  • Both drivers will take to the Tempelhof circuit for a full day of testing on Monday 24 April

Simon Evans, elder brother of Mitch Evans, will return to the iconic Tempelhof Circuit, where he was crowned Champion of the 2020 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY race series, three years after an epic ‘lockdown showdown’ finale.

The 32-year-old Kiwi will step into the cockpit of the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 as part of his long-awaited prize for winning the all-electric production-based race series.

South African, Sheldon Van Der Linde, will join Simon in his Gen3 test debut. The BMW factory driver has raced in DTM for the last four years and is the current 2022 DTM Champion. The 23-year-old started karting at the age of six, gained a wealth of experience and won multiple national titles before moving into cars in 2014. Since then, Sheldon has continued his impressive career and seen success in the ADAC Total 24 hours of Nürburgring.

JAGUAR TCS RACING 2023 ROOKIE TEST DRIVER

The rookie test is an important day for both teams and drivers and I’m very pleased that we have Simon and Sheldon driving the Jaguar I-TYPE 6. It’s an opportunity to give new and upcoming talent an opportunity and assessment in the Gen3 race car and for us as a team to continue to build valuable data and insight into this new car. Simon has been a stand-out member of the Jaguar family, racing in the Jaguar I-TYPE eTROPHY for two seasons and ultimately becoming Champion in a very competitive season. Mitch is also very proud to see his brother have this opportunity. Sheldon’s résumé is without question and we are very pleased to have this very talented young driver in one of our cars. We're looking forward to seeing how he approaches his time with us and his feedback.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

I’m incredibly excited to be taking part in the official rookie test for Jaguar TCS Racing. The Jaguar family has always meant a lot to me, and I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. It’s the first time I will have been back to Berlin since I won the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY at the Tempelhof circuit. It’s definitely going to bring back some great memories. I know the track very well but it’s been a long time since I’ve driven a single-seater. I’m going to enjoy myself, while hopefully getting some valuable data for the team.

Simon Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing Rookie driver
JAGUAR I-PACE eTROPHY CHAMPION, SIMON EVANS, JOINS SHELDON VAN DER LINDE IN JAGUAR TCS RACING’S ROOKIE TEST LINE-UP

I'm very proud to be joining Jaguar TCS Racing for my first rookie test in the Jaguar I-TYPE 6. The rookie test is a really great opportunity for young and upcoming drivers to try new motorsport categories and I’m really looking forward to driving the Gen3 race car for the first time. I’ve visited the team in Grove and have been working closely with the engineers to familiarise myself with the simulator, systems and procedures to be best prepared for what's ahead in Berlin. From what I’ve heard, Formula E is particularly challenging if you’re a rookie, so it will be great to get some valuable experience in the all-electric racing series.

Sheldon Van Der Linde
Jaguar TCS Racing Rookie driver

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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