JAGUAR RACING ‘CLONES’ TAKEOVER ICONIC LONDON UNDERGROUND AHEAD OF HEINEKEN LONDON E-PRIX.

The Jaguar Racing Formula E team took to the iconic London tube to mark the final countdown to the Heineken London E-Prix on 25 July at the London ExCeL. The team are marking their return to racing in Britain, Jaguar’s first race on ‘home-soil’ in 17 years, and 60th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Taking to the iconic Westminster Underground with a group of Jaguar Racing drivers, the ‘clones’ greeted London commuters in full race suits and helmets on their morning journeys.

With driver Sam Bird topping the drivers’ championship and Jaguar Racing only five points away from top spot in the teams’ championship, the Heineken London E-Prix is a historic weekend for the team.

James Barclay, Team Director Jaguar Racing: “We have waited 17 years for this moment and it is one to savour. Racing is in Jaguar’s DNA and to be able to once again race on ‘home-soil’ in front of British fans is something we’ve been counting down to. We joined the world championship when there was no London E-Prix on the calendar and this weekend is our first opportunity to really put on a good show.

“There is huge motivation within the team to make our home E-Prix and sixtieth Formula E race a weekend to remember. We have a fantastic team, a highly competitive Jaguar I-TYPE 5 and a formidable driver line-up. We’re currently only five points from leading the teams’ championship, Sam Bird is leading the drivers’ championship and Mitch Evans is only 22 points behind him. We know racing - especially Formula E - is unpredictable but we are focussed on bringing points and podiums back home this weekend.”

Sam Bird, Jaguar Racing driver #10: “It’s been over five years since I’ve raced on British soil in Formula E. The return to London can’t come soon enough. To race on the streets where you grew up and in front of your home crowd is an experience like no other. I also can’t forget this is the first time I’ll be racing as a Brit with Jaguar Racing - the iconic British manufacturer. We’re about to race for the first time in 17 years for Jaguar on home soil and doing this during the weekend of our sixtieth E-Prix. I’m extremely proud to be a part of this historic moment and my attention is firmly on putting the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 in a podium position for the team and extending my lead in the drivers’ championship.”

Mitch Evans, Jaguar Racing driver #20: “This weekend in London is incredibly important for the team. Having been a part of Jaguar Racing since we joined the championship back in 2016, I know exactly what this means to everyone involved. 17 years have passed since the team last raced in the United Kingdom and I am determined to make this weekend a success on-track. I’ve dropped out of group one in qualifying and I’ll be using this to fuel my hunger to score points and podiums for the team."

This weekend marks the sixtieth E-Prix for Jaguar Racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the first race for the British manufacturer on home-soil in 17 years. Watch the lights go green with the second race on Sunday 25 July at 13:00 GMT.

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EDITORS’ NOTES

ABOUT JAGUAR RACING

Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first premium manufacturer to join the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship street racing series. In 2019 the team won the Rome E-Prix – Jaguar’s first international motorsport victory since 1991.

Formula E is a real-world test bed for Jaguar with its Race To Innovate mission in the future of electrification.

As an official manufacturer team in Formula E, Jaguar Racing designs its own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter and rear suspension.

To control costs the carbon fibre chassis and battery are common components and the same for all twelve teams. This allows the focus to be on developing electric vehicle powertrains which are efficient and lightweight which will improve the performance and range of future Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles.

The 2020/21 Formula E season is the first as the all-electric series has been granted full world championship status by the FIA – the sport’s governing body. It will be the third year for the teams to be racing with the futuristic Gen2 race cars.

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 championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world’s major cities including Santiago, Diriyah, Rome, Paris, Monaco, New York and ending in a double-header race weekend in London.  

Mitch Evans finished season six seventh in the Drivers' Championship and Jaguar Racing finished seventh in the Teams' Standings with a win in Mexico City, a podium in Santiago and one pole position. He is joined for season seven by British driver Sam Bird, who has won a race in every season of Formula E.

In season seven the championship is official recognised as a world championship by the governing body the FIA. It will be known as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Race to Innovate

Formula E remains a key priority for Jaguar Land Rover and the company’s Reimagine journey. As the only 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 customers.