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JAGUAR TCS RACING PULL BACK POINTS IN PORTLAND IN DRAMATIC CLIMB
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JAGUAR TCS RACING PULL BACK POINTS IN PORTLAND IN DRAMATIC CLIMB

25 June 2023

Mitch Evans pulled back crucial points and the fastest lap in an intense Portland E‑Prix, following a tough qualifying in Round 12 of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

  • Mitch Evans secured strong fourth place finish, demonstrating an almighty comeback having started at back of grid at the Southwire Portland E‑Prix debut
  • The Kiwi achieved the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap, showcasing the pace of the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6
  • Teammate Sam Bird took the chequered flag in seventh, but a post‑race time penalty pushed Sam out of the points
  • Jaguar TCS Racing drivers climbed a whopping 24 places combined in a strong fight for points
  • Jaguar TCS Racing are currently third in the teams’ standings
  • The 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will continue in Rome for another double‑header on 15 and 16 May

Kiwi Mitch Evans, while also celebrating his 29th birthday, finished the Portland debut in fourth place, after an almighty 16‑place climb from the back of the grid. Mitch and the team’s decisive performance in Formula E’s most strategic “peloton‑style” race to date saw the Jaguar driver move from 17th to second place within the space of three laps.

Mitch also showcased the pace of the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6, delivering an impressive time of 1:11:26 on Lap 27 and taking home the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap title. This additional point meant Mitch gained 13 points today, reaffirming his position in the fight for the championship title.

British driver Sam Bird also drove a clever race with strong pace when it mattered and crossed the finish line in seventh. Unfortunately, Sam received a post‑race time penalty following contact with Maserati MSG Racing driver Maximilian Günther. As a result, he finished the Portland E‑Prix in 17th place and lost out on his well‑earned points.

Earlier in the day, both drivers competed in Group B of qualifying, which saw Sam line up in 15th on the grid. Mitch was unfortunately unable to participate in qualifying due to a battery issue with his Jaguar I‑TYPE 6, and as a result, lined up P20 ahead of the race.

Customer team, Envision Racing, put on a strong display, with Nick Cassidy clinching the top spot and teammate Sébastien Buemi finishing in fifth.

Mitch Evans remains fourth in the drivers’ standings, with Sam Bird in ninth.

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

JAGUAR TCS RACING PULL BACK POINTS IN PORTLAND IN DRAMATIC CLIMB
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JAGUAR TCS RACING PULL BACK POINTS IN PORTLAND IN DRAMATIC CLIMB
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A challenging day that ended well, with both cars in the top ten as the chequered flag fell. The team has been brilliant today, managing a circuit power cut this morning and then a battery failure on Mitch’s car put us on the back foot. To therefore come back with Mitch from 20th to finish fourth, just missing out on the podium, and securing fastest lap was a great achievement. Sam had an excellent race and his subsequent penalty, which we thought was a racing incident only, has cost us important championship points. The performance of all Jaguars in the race is a positive sign but it’s clear that it’s becoming incredibly close at this point in the season – so we need to keep pushing.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

It’s been an interesting day ‑ it doesn’t feel like my birthday! We had a problem after FP2, so it was a massive race to get the car ready again and the team did a great job. Even after all the hard work, I unfortunately still wasn’t able to qualify which meant I started at the back. When we got into the race, the team and I executed our plan pretty well. I found myself in second at one stage with good energy and thought I might be able to secure a podium. To finish fourth is still good so I’m glad we’ve salvaged something from today. We’re at that part of the championship where you need to perfectly execute races, but I’m up for it and can’t wait to get to Rome.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9

I genuinely believe I could have fought for a podium today. The Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 was quick, we were very efficient but it’s one of those days where things haven’t gone my way. My race itself was quite good and I climbed eight places to cross the line in seventh but the penalty has pushed me back out of the points and I feel like I can’t catch a break. Now I’ll be looking ahead to Rome and the final four races of the season.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #10

Jaguar TCS Racing head to Rome, Italy for the penultimate double‑header of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on 15 and 16 July 2023.

Further information

For further information about Jaguar TCS Racing, please contact:  

Rose Jackson, Senior PR and Communications Officer, Jaguar TCS Racing  

Tel: (+44) 7384 244 015

Email: rjackso9@jaguarlandrover.com 

 

Emily Hogg, Global PR and Communications Manager, Jaguar TCS Racing 

Tel: +44 (0) 7384 532 605 

Email: ehogg2@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 JLR 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 JLR 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 JLR 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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