British race team, Jaguar Racing, have their focus firmly on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the season this weekend. Season-seven of the electric street racing series will start with two-night races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The first race kicks off on 26 February at 20:00 (AET), with the second the following day.
Each season Formula E brings some of the most cutting-edge electric car design and technology. This is always good to see with such developments and efficiencies that often become filter down technology on the road in years to come.
Jaguar Racing has one of the strongest teams on the Formula E racing grid with Sam Bird and Mitch Evans, who will drive the new Jaguar I-TYPE 5 race car. This is New Zealander Evans’ fifth season with Jaguar Racing. Bird, who is from the UK, has won races in every Formula E season and is new to the team this season. Both drivers have previous form on the Saudi Arabian street track with Evans securing points last year, while Bird was victorious in the 2019 season opener in Diriyah.
Since the last race in August 2020, development of the season-seven Jaguar I-TYPE 5 race car has centred around an all-new in-house powertrain, suspension and state-of-the-art inverter which features 24-carat gold.
James Barclay, Jaguar Racing team director, said: “There is huge motivation and excitement to get our fifth season underway and it is particularly special as the first ABB FIA Formula E season as a World Championship. We are starting the season with a focus and determination to achieve points, podiums and wins and with our new driver pairing our potential is better than ever.
“We have spent months developing the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 and we are now looking forward to taking to the track in Diriyah for the double-header season opener and first-ever Formula E night races. We have enjoyed the racing and learned a lot from our past races in Diriyah and look forward to a great start to this World Championship season.”
Sam Bird, Jaguar Racing driver, said: “Formula E is a familiar racing environment to me but having recently joined Jaguar, I am very motivated to get the best on-track results possible and to start season seven with positive momentum. I’ve spent a lot of time with my engineers over the last few months and it’s been great to get in the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 for some pre-season testing.
“With a new team comes a refreshed vigour to perform on the track. I am excited to take on the double-header in Diriyah and push for my first points with Jaguar Racing. I’ve won there not so long ago so can’t wait to get going.”
Mitch Evans, Jaguar Racing driver, said: “Over the last five seasons we’ve really grown as a team, achieving multiple podiums with our most recent win being Mexico City in 2020. With these memories comes a gritty determination to continue to build on that success in season seven.
“I’m really looking forward to starting the season in Diriyah having set the fastest lap in the first race last time out, before I sadly missed out on a podium spot in the second race. I’m hungry for success, and as a team, we’re determined to start season-seven in the strongest possible position.”
