LONDON CALLING: JAGUAR RETURN TO RACE ON HOME SOIL AT THE HEINEKEN LONDON E-PRIX FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 17 YEARS

20 July 2021

  • Jaguar Racing Formula E team countdown the days until the first race on ‘home soil’ in 17 years at ExCeL London
  • Roehampton‑born British Jaguar Racing driver, Sam Bird, currently leads the drivers’ standings and is pushing to increase his points lead in front of a home crowd
  • A historic weekend for the team who sit third in the teams' championship – only five points from top spot
  • The lights go green on Jaguar Racing’s home double‑header E‑Prix at 15:00 BST on Saturday 24 July with the second race on Sunday 25 July at 14:00 BST
  • Watch Vernon Kay present the action live on Channel 4 across the weekend in the UK

Jaguar Racing ‑ the only British manufacturer competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – start a historic countdown to their first race on ‘home‑soil’ in 17 years this week, ahead of the double‑header Heineken London E‑Prix on Saturday 24 and 25 July.

This weekend’s Heineken London E‑Prix ‑ the first ever indoor and outdoor Formula E race ‑ also marks the sixtieth Formula E race for the team who were the first premium automotive manufacturer to join the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2015.

British driver Sam Bird, who grew up just miles away from the ExCeL circuit, is focussed on extending his lead in the drivers’ standings and his teammate Mitch Evans will be ready to push for a podium finish in front of the team’s home crowd. During a milestone weekend in the team’s racing history, the hunger for on‑track points and podiums is bigger than ever as the Oxfordshire‑based team sit third in the teams’ standings – only five points from top spot.

 Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021
Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021
 Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021
Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021
 Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021
Jaguar Racing - London E-Prix 2021

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.

James Barclay
Team Director Jaguar Racing

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.

Sam Bird
Jaguar Racing driver #10

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.

Mitch Evans
Jaguar Racing driver #20

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 at 15:00 BST on Saturday 24 July with the second race on Sunday 25 July at 14:00 BST.

Further information

For further information about Jaguar Racing, please contact:

Emily Hogg, Media Officer, Jaguar Racing

Tel: + 44 (0) 7384 532 605

Email: ehogg2@jaguarlandrover.com

 

Adrian Atkinson, Global PR and Communications Manager, Jaguar Racing

Tel: +44 (0) 7979 554005

Email: aatkins5@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

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.