Background:
In 2016, Jaguar took the wraps off its new electric motorsport future, revealing its Formula E team’s official name, vision, title sponsor, driver line-up and electric racing livery. Starting that October, Panasonic Jaguar Racing joined the third FIA Formula E season with the first all-electric Jaguar racing car in history: the I-TYPE 1.
At the launch event at the Jaguar Collections Centre, the new I-TYPE 1 made a dramatic debut driven by the team’s official reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung and outlining the brands commitment to ‘Race To Innovate’ – a mission to change the perception of electric vehicles, to develop new electric technology and to inspire future generations.
Jaguar detailed its partnership with Panasonic that saw the leading electronics and automotive technology company partner with the Jaguar Racing Formula E team to develop a future that promises to push the boundaries of electric technology in a performance environment.
We are now entering Formula E season five and this page will keep you up-to-date with our racing progress.
Dateline Riyadh - December 15th 2018:
Panasonic Jaguar Racing started their third season in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Riyadh and kicked off a season of firsts for Panasonic Jaguar Racing, with a new car and new support series also launching.
Panasonic Jaguar Racing drivers Nelson Piquet Jr and Mitch Evans raced in the all-new, faster Jaguar I-TYPE 3. This season, each E-Prix is a timed race, lasting 45 minutes plus one lap – making the team’s strategies more difficult and the races unpredictable. This season, Panasonic Jaguar Racing has developed and built a new powertrain entirely in-house. With improved efficiency and comparable weight to the I-TYPE 2, the new powertrain is 25 per cent more powerful and produces up to 250KwH (335PS). The state-of-the-art Motor Generator Unit runs in excess of 30 000rpm, more than double a 2018 F1 car. The all-new Jaguar I-TYPE 3 has more than 800 new parts compared to last season’s race car showcasing the development in electric vehicle technology.
They got off to an electric start with a double points finish for Panasonic Jaguar Racing. Kiwi Mitch Evans battled inclement weather, a challenging track and bad luck in qualifying to finish fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium position. His Brazilian team mate Nelson Piquet Jr. fought for a valuable point to finish tenth.
The new Ad Diriyah track provided a tricky challenge for all drivers. Rain disrupted the free practice sessions which placed further importance on qualifying. Both Jaguar drivers were adversely penalised by a practice crash and were unable to complete flat out 250kW qualifying laps. Despite this Mitch Evans, with the aid of the new Attack Mode power boost, was able to make up four places from eighth place on the grid.
Said Evans: “A busy race after limited time on track but it was good fun. It is a shame not to give the team the podium they deserved but we were hampered by some bad luck in qualifying, which is so key in Formula E. I enjoyed using the Attack Mode and it brings a unique element to the race.”
Dateline Marrakesh - January 12th 2019:
The second race of season five showed pace, performance but only delivered a couple of points for Panasonic Jaguar Racing in Marrakesh. Mitch Evans started the day well with a fantastic drive in FP2, to set the fastest time. The Kiwi driver qualified into Super Pole with a P6 time and started the race in P5 due to a penalty for Antonio Felix da Costa. His team-mate Nelson Piquet Jr. also qualified in the top ten in P9.
With both drivers starting on the right side of the grid they were forced off the circuit to avoid a first corner incident and while they survived to remain in the race they lost ten places avoiding the melee. Mitch also incurred mechanical damage to his rear diffuser when the Mahindra of Pascal Wehrlein made contact with the back of his Jaguar I-TYPE3. The New Zealander showed great pace and competitive energy management to climb back up the order, despite a damaged car, to secure ninth place and two valuable points. Nelson also gained five places and eventually finished in 14th.
Dateline Santiago - January 27th 2019
Mitch Evans and Nelson Piquet Jnr battled extreme temperatures of 37C in Santiago but brought both Jaguar I-TYPE 3s to the finish in the hottest ABB FIA Formula E race in history. The Santiago E-Prix overtook the 35 degrees reached in season two – and was the joint hottest day ever recorded in the Chilean capital. The changing track conditions prevented Panasonic Jaguar Racing from a top six finish during qualifying and with it, a chance for Super Pole – Mitch qualified in 12th and Nelson in 20th. They lined up on the grid in P11 and P19 respectively as Audi’s Lucas Di Grassi was demoted from pole position for a technical infringement.
Despite starting outside the top 10, both drivers made fantastic progress up the grid. The Kiwi driver gained five places and finished in P6 earning eight valuable points for Panasonic Jaguar Racing. His Brazilian teammate fought hard but finished just outside of the points in P11.
Dateline Mexico City - February 17th 2019
Nelson Piquet Jnr endured a dramatic crash in the fourth race of the 2018/19 ABB FIA Formula E season in Mexico City but stepped out his Jaguar I-TYPE 3 unharmed. Mitch Evans brought his racecar over the line in seventh for a six-point finish for Panasonic Jaguar Racing. Piquet Jnr achieved the fastest first sector of any driver in qualifying but couldn’t convert to Super Pole – he started the race in P11 and Evans in P17 after inheriting a place from Robin Frijns’ penalty.
Piquet Jnr was fighting for eighth position into turn 14 when a collision with Jean-Éric Vergne’s back wheel sent the Brazilian driver over the top of his car in one of the biggest collisions in Formula E. Despite serious damage to the car, Piquet Jnr emerged from the crash unharmed. Evans showed fantastic form, climbing an impressive ten places to finish seventh and secure six points for Panasonic Jaguar Racing – his fourth consecutive points-finish this season.
Dateline Hong Kong - March 10th 2019
The Hong Kong E-Prix and 50th Formula E race was dominated by wet weather and challenging driving conditions. Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans finished the race in seventh after putting in a determined performance. Team mate Nelson Piquet Jnr started in 15th following a wet qualifying session but suffered suspension damage on the first lap, which led to his retirement.
Evans continued his streak of scoring points at every race this season and rose ten places from 17th on the grid to finish seventh. He kept a cool head in a turbulent race and showcased the race pace of the Jaguar I-TYPE 3.
Dateline Sanya - March 23rd 2019
The inaugural Sanya E-Prix saw Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans climb eleven places to finish ninth and claim two valuable points – one of only two drivers to score in every ABB FIA Formula E race so far this season. Teammate Nelson Piquet Jnr had a strong start making his way up the order before a collision with the wall put an end to the Brazilian driver’s race. On a hot and humid race day in Sanya, a challenging qualifying session saw Mitch and Nelson start in P20 and P22, respectively.
Both drivers encountered difficulties during the race – Mitch struggled when a piece of signage caught in his halo safety device obstructing his view. While pushing for a point scoring finish Nelson collided with the wall and was forced to retire. Mitch claimed the second fastest race lap to prove the underlying race pace of the Jaguar I-TYPE 3.
A red flag stoppage brought Mitch and the remaining drivers back to the pitlane, leaving just 12 minutes left to race, and he restarted the race in P13. From there, Mitch gained a place overtaking the Venturi of Felipe Massa before benefitting from a late collision between Robin Frijns and Lucas di Grassi, which resulted in the race finishing under a full course yellow.
Dateline Rome - April 13th 2019
Panasonic Jaguar Racing's Mitch Evans claims an emotional first victory in Rome with DS Techeetah's Andre Lotterer in second and HWA Racelab's Stoffel Vandoorne bringing home both his and the team's first podium finish in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
Poleman Lotterer pulled away from Panasonic Jaguar Racing's Mitch Evans close behind in second and Geox Dragon's Jose Maria Lopez in third. With all cars running downhill, Lopez teammate Max Gunther slid sideways through turn eight, clipping the wall, which sent his front splitter flying across the track. Moments later, his teammate Lopez struck Envision Virgin Racing's Sam Bird, sending him into the wall and limping back to the pit lane. Following Lopez incident with Bird, the Argentinian Geox driver failed to make it through the chicane, crashing into the wall on the apex of Turn 19. With no where to go, HWA Racelab's Gary Paffett collided with Lopez before DS Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne went into the back of Paffett, ending the Brit's race.
With the red flag out, racing was suspended while the cars were recovered from the track, stopping the clock temporarily with 42 minutes left to go. Once the racing had restarted, Lotterer pulled away with Evans in second and HWA's Vandoorne chasing them down in third. With the ATTACK MODE Activation Zone open (running up the inside of Turn 7), Antonio Felix da Costa was the first driver to engage it, within seconds of getting back out on track. Each driver is permitted to engage ATTACK MODE at least twice during the race, with each power boost lasting four minutes.
Still battling it out at the front, Lotterer led Evans with 25 minutes left to go. Following Evans' disastrous race last season, where the Kiwi driver ran out of energy after leading the race, Evans was keen to prove his pace and potential here in Rome. For home race hero Felipe Massa, the Brazilian's race was cut short with 23 minutes remaining after a suffering a technical failure. With his car stranded on track, a full course yellow followed while the Venturi was recovered.
With 16 minutes left to go and, with ATTACK MODE engaged, Evans used the additional power and made a break for the lead on Turn 11, passing the German as he slid into second ahead of Vandoorne. Lotterer, hungry to regain the lead and claim his first win in the series, hunted down Evans using his final ATTACK MODE to try and squeeze past the Kiwi driver. Holding him back, Evans battled at the front with his energy fast depleting.
With the memory of last season's disastrous Rome race still fresh in his mind, Evans went all out for the finish, eager to claim both his as Jaguar's first ever win in Formula E. Crossing the line with only two per cent battery left, Evans clinched the win with Lotterer coming second and HWA's Stoffel Vandoorne claiming both his and the teams' first podium finish.
Dateline Paris - April 27th 2019
The Paris E-Prix – the fourth ABB FIA Formula E race in the French capital – was plagued by changeable weather and challenging driving conditions. Mitch Evans finished P16, while an incident at turn 14 forced Alex Lynn and his Jaguar I-TYPE 3 to retire from a potential points finish. Panasonic Jaguar Racing continued to prove the pace of the Jaguar I-TYPE 3. In Free Practice 2, Mitch set fastest lap for the session. The 24-year-old Kiwi also set second fastest lap in the rain affected race, quicker than the race winner, Robin Frijns.
Heavy rainfall and limited visibility resulted in a full course yellow fifteen minutes into the race. Shortly after resuming, damage to Mitch’s car brought him back to the pit lane for a nose change before returning to finish the race in P16. On a tight circuit with few passing opportunities and variable driving conditions including hail, Alex moved up to P11 – just outside of a points-scoring place – before an incident with Mortara shunted the British driver into the wall ending his race.
Dateline Monaco - May 11th 2019
Panasonic Jaguar Racing took to the iconic streets of Monte Carlo for round nine of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship – the third E-Prix at the historic venue. Mitch Evans finished sixth, while team mate Alex Lynn claimed his first points for the team, finishing eighth.
Mitch showed the speed of the Jaguar I-TYPE 3 and made it through to Super Pole where he set the third fastest time. However, he was later handed a 10-place grid penalty as a result of selecting the 250kW qualifying mode approximately 0.4 seconds prior to the beginning of the last sector. This minor non-performance infringement ruled the Jaguar driver out of his second front row start this season. The Kiwi lined up P12 on the grid. His team-mate Alex Lynn produced his best qualifying performance to start P7.
On a racetrack notoriously difficult for overtaking, Evans managed his energy and seized his chances with some decisive overtakes to gain five places and finish P6. Mitch has finished every race this season and scored in all but one.
Brit Alex Lynn had a clean start but was hampered by contact with Robin Frijns which damaged the bodywork of the Jaguar I-TYPE 3. With well-executed energy management and patience he would eventually finish in P8 to take his first points in only his third outing for the team.
Dateline Berlin - May 25th 2019
Round ten of the championship showed promise but ended in disappointment for Panasonic Jaguar at the 2019 BMW i Berlin E-Prix. After showing impressive speed and competing in his first ever Super Pole for Panasonic Jaguar Racing, Alex Lynn qualified P5 and was set to earn strong points before a technical issue forced him to retire. His teammate Mitch Evans had previously topped the time sheets in FP1 but had to contend with a race-long midfield battle after qualifying P18. He missed out a point finish in P12. The Kiwi continues his streak of completing every race this season.
The penultimate round of the European races took place on a challenging concrete track renowned for being tough on brakes and tyres. A strong start for Alex saw him battling for a podium in the Jaguar I-TYPE 3 before misfortune struck. Mitch showed impressive race craft in the middle of the field despite a damaged front wing, moving up six places by the chequered flag.
Dateline Bern – June 22nd 2019
Mitch Evans finished second in the Swiss E-Prix to achieve his second ABB FIA Formula E podium. He fought a race-long battle with Jean-Eric Verge and a last-minute rain shower to power him to fourth in the driver standings. Teammate Alex Lynn secured his best result for Jaguar since joining the team mid-season and brought the Jaguar I-TYPE 3 over the line in seventh.
Another impressive qualifying performance saw both drivers qualify within the top 10. Mitch advanced to Super Pole with the fastest time during group qualifying before taking to the grid in P2. Alex put in a solid performance to line up P10.
“It feels great to be back on the podium, but I definitely feel I had the pace today to take the top step. It was harder than I expected to overtake here. I was hoping I’d be able to move on Jean-Eric Vergne under Attack Mode, but that didn’t materialise, he was defending well,” commented Mitch Evans.
Dateline New York – July 13th 2019
Mitch Evans, claimed his third podium of the season, finishing second in Saturday’s E-Prix and keeping his title hopes alive. Team mate Alex Lynn made a good start – overtaking Pascal Wehrlein on the first lap to move up to P2 – but was forced to retire after suffering a technical problem. Evans’ stellar performance moves him just three points behind second place in the driver standings and twenty-five points behind the leader Jean-Eric Vergne.
Dateline New York – July 14th 2019
Panasonic Jaguar Racing suffered a disappointing end to a positive season at a hot and humid season five finale in Brooklyn, New York City. Mitch Evans suffered a collision with Lucas di Grassi in the final lap – dropping from P6 to P17. Alex Lynn succeeded in crossing the line in P16, despite lining up in P21, and having to serve a drive-through penalty in the opening lap for a motor change. Mitch finishes the season fifth in the driver standings – just three points off di Grassi in third, while Panasonic Jaguar Racing finish seventh in the team standings.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything Panasonic Jaguar Racing have achieved this season. We’ve had three podium finishes – and our first win in Rome – which is testament to the hard work of all the team. Fighting for the championship up until the last race of the season shows the progress we’ve made. The team have created a fantastic racecar with the I-TYPE 3 and it has shown great speed and efficiency during the season. I would like to thank Mitch and Alex who have really worked well together and brought success to the team. The work for season six has already begun. It will be the toughest season yet but that motivates us and makes us even hungrier for more success” observed James Barclay, Team Director.