SHELDON VAN DER LINDE AND SIMON EVANS COMPLETE 2023 ROOKIE TEST FOR JAGUAR TCS RACING IN BERLIN

25 April 2023

  • Sheldon Van Der Linde and Jaguar TCS Racing top session one times at the ABB FIA Formula E rookie test with a 1.05.814
  • Jaguar I‑PACE eTROPHY Champion, Simon Evans, completed his first rookie test in his brother, Mitch Evans’, Jaguar I‑TYPE 6
  • The rookie test took place at the Tempelhof Circuit in Berlin on Monday 24 April after a double‑header race weekend which saw Jaguar TCS Racing make history and take their first 1‑2 finish in Formula E

That’s a wrap of the Rookie test here in Berlin, a really fantastic day for me. I haven’t driven a single seater for 14 years, so it was a great learning experience being in a car like this again. We tried lots of different setups with the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 and we got lots of valuable data for the team, so I really hope they can use that moving forward and carry on this great momentum they’ve got going at the moment. A big thanks to Jaguar TCS Racing for inviting me along, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to see how they go for the rest of the year.

Simon Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing Rookie test driver

My first day with the Jaguar TCS Racing team has been a very exciting one. Topping the session times this morning was definitely the highlight of the day. I’ve really enjoyed the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6, they’ve given me a quick car and I’ve been getting to grips with it session by session. The engineers really guided me through every run which was very helpful throughout the day so thanks to them for taking me onboard. Unfortunately we had an issue in the afternoon session which cut the running slightly short. I would have liked to have done a few more laps in the afternoon but that’s how it goes sometimes. I’m still very happy with the day and a big thanks to the team for having me here.

Sheldon Van Der Linde
Jaguar TCS Racing Rookie test 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.