MITCH EVANS SECURES HOME RACE PODIUM FOR JAGUAR RACING
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MITCH EVANS SECURES HOME RACE PODIUM FOR JAGUAR RACING

Date: 26 Jul 2021 Author Type: Press Release
Author: Jaguar South Africa
Source: Jaguar South Africa
  • Jaguar Racing driver, Mitch Evans, secures a third-place podium finish after a chaotic race at the Heineken London E-Prix
  • Sam Bird gained ten places before a collision with Norman Nato took him out of the race and a potential points finish
  • Sam Bird sits third in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, while teammate Mitch Evans is in eighth
  • Jaguar Racing remains third in the teams’ standings with 156 points
  • The Formula E season seven double-header finale takes place at the Berlin Tempelhof circuit on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August 2021
Pretoria, 26 July 2021 – Jaguar Racing driver, Mitch Evans, secured a home race third-place podium finish after a chaotic Heineken London E-Prix on Sunday. The Kiwi showed passion, determination and some good fortune as he raced his Jaguar I-TYPE 5 around the twisty London ExCel circuit.

Mitch Evans started the race in fifth after he made it through to Super Pole by qualifying second. Mitch held position for the first half of the race, defending from the BMW Andretti driver, Maximillian Gunther. With 21 minutes remaining, a collision with Gunther cost the Kiwi his front wing but he was fortunate to be able to continue. Mitch executed a fantastic overtake on Robin Frijns to take the final spot on the podium. The third-place finish marks the first podium on home soil for Jaguar in 30 years.

Sam Bird had a second tough day of qualifying and lined up twenty-first on the grid. The Brit showed the pace of the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 by carving his way through the pack and gaining ten places, before a collision with Norman Nato ended his race in a dramatic Heineken London E-Prix.

In the preceeding race on Saturday, Mitch Evans started in eleventh and made up two positions in the first corner, moving to a potential points scoring ninth. The opening lap was unforgiving for both Jaguar drivers after they were both involved in accidents on the tight ExCel circuit. Mitch pitted for a new nosecone which sent him down to twenty-first but the team didn’t give up. He would go on to set the fastest lap of the race – proving the superior race pace of the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 – and finished the race in fourteenth.

A tough group one Qualifying session for Sam Bird resulted in him starting eighteenth on the grid on Saturday. In the first lap of the race, the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 was hit from behind and the side which caused terminal front left suspension damage, forcinghim to retire.

Sam Bird sits third in the ABB FIA Formula E Drivers’ World Championship, while teammate Mitch Evans climbs back up to eighth. Jaguar Racing remasin third in the teams’ standings with 156 points.

James Barclay, Team Director Jaguar Racing, said: “An incredibly eventful weekend here at our home race in London. We are pleased to have achieved a podium with Mitch today. We know we have a strong race car and Mitch’s drive today was testament to that. Sam’s accident was really unfortunate as he would have scored points after a great drive but we now look forward to the double-header finale in Berlin. We are still in contention for both championships so will be throwing everything at it.”

Sam Bird, #10 Jaguar Racing driver, said: “Unfortunately I haven’t had a great weekend. Going into it, you have high hopes and want to do everyone proud - being a British driver racing for a British team - but it didn’t happen for us here in London. We had the pace but it wasn’t meant to be. That is now in the past so we take the positives and look forward to Berlin. I am still in the hunt so there is everything to play for.”

Mitch Evans, #20 Jaguar Racing driver, said: “I’m so happy to be on the podium today for Jaguar – a British team on home soil. For a lot of the race I didn’t think it would be possible as I lost my front wing and missed an ATTACK MODE. I really needed these points today and it puts me back into the championship fight. Thanks to all of the team and we’re now looking forward to fighting for every point in Berlin.”

The season seven double-header finale of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place at the Berlin Tempelhof circuit on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 August 2021.
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