23 Feb 2021

Formula E: Jaguar Racing raring to go in Saudi season-opener

Jaguar Racing

•Jaguar Racing returns to electric street racing in its fifth season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

•Jaguar's multiple race winner Mitch Evans and nine-time Formula E winner Sam Bird joins the British team this season.

•The first round is a double header of night races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

• The lights turn green for Season Seven in Diriyah on 26 February.

British race team, Jaguar Racing, has its focus firmly on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the season opener only four days away. Season seven of the electric street racing series will start with two-night races in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

The first on 25 February at 6:55pm South African time and the second just 24 hours later.

Jaguar Racing

With one of the strongest pairings on the Formula E grid, Sam Bird and Mitch Evans will drive in the new racecar, the Jaguar I-Type 5. This is New Zealander Evans' fifth season with Jaguar Racing while Britian's Sam Bird, who has won races in every Formula E season, is new to the British team this season.

Both drivers have previous form on the Saudi Arabian street track - Evans secured points last year and Bird was victorious in the 2019 season opener in Diriyah.

Jaguar Racing

Since the last race in August 2020, development of the season seven racecar, the Jaguar I-Type 5, has centred around an all-new in-house powertrain, suspension and state-of-the-art invertor which features 24 carat gold.

James Barclay, Jaguar Racing Team Director: "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."

Jaguar Racing

Sam Bird, Jaguar Racing driver, #10: "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 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, #20: "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."

KEEP UPDATED on the latest Wheels news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

Jaguar Racing

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred

In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.

Subscribe to News24