Mitch Evans takes second-place podium for Jaguar TCS Racing under the São Paulo sun in electrifying E-Prix
Mitch Evans secures his first podium of the 2024 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a second-place finish at the São Paulo E-Prix.
Image supplied by Jaguar South Africa
This achievement marks the fourth podium the British team have scored in the first four races of the season.
Swapping carnival feathers for electric race cars, energy radiated through the Anhembi Sambadrome this afternoon as the 22 drivers took to the track.
After lining up on the grid in P4, following a strong qualifying performance which included progressing into the qualifying Duels, Mitch and the team executed an impressive race under the São Paulo sun in the Jaguar I-TYPE 6. Holding his own to both defend and attack throughout the 34-lap race, Mitch maintained a second-place position behind NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird, before overtaking him with six laps to go. Mitch and the team strategically managed the race from the front for the remaining laps but with only two corners until the checkered flag, the battery temperature became too high, causing the car to lose power and Sam Bird was able to pass and take the win.
Tackling the 11 turns of the 2.93km track, Nick was determined to climb from his P9 starting position. For the early phase of the race, Nick focussed on energy management and positioning his Jaguar I-TYPE 6 ready to progress at the appropriate opportunity. Unfortunately, the concertina effect caught Nick out resulting in damage to the front wing of his car which caused his eventual retirement from the race.
Now a quarter of the way through the 2024 World Championship season, Jaguar TCS Racing remain at the top of the leaderboard of the Teams’ Standings with 96 points, an impressive 35 points ahead of Porsche.
Despite not claiming points this weekend, Nick Cassidy retains his position at the top of the Drivers’ Standings, whilst fellow Kiwi Mitch has climbed to third.
James Barclay, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal:
“Overall it’s been another great weekend here in São Paulo and I am really proud of all the team. Mitch has delivered a brilliant performance today - from completing only one lap in FP2 to then get through to the Duels and deliver a race like he did today, was fantastic and testament to his resilience. We always knew this race would be temperature-sensitive, and whilst the team did an incredible job with the strategy, the balance of the battery temperature versus the energy just didn’t work out for us in those last two corners of the race – we were so close though."
“It was really unfortunate for Nick here in São Paulo. He had the pace across all sessions, and it was looking promising for a points-finish, but this is motorsport and the concertina effect of this new Gen3 style of racing caught both Nick and the team out today."
“Importantly we have increased our lead in the Teams’ World Championship standings, with Nick leading the Drivers’ and Mitch in third, we are really looking forward to heading to Tokyo.”
Mitch Evans, Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #9:
“It’s a bittersweet feeling today. It’s great to be back on the podium and scoring strong points for the team, but it’s also disappointing to have been leading the race and losing it on the last two corners. Unfortunately, our battery overheated meaning that it was easy for Sam to pass. Big congratulations to Sam today. I am now looking forward to keeping this momentum going into Tokyo in two weeks’ time.”
Nick Cassidy, Jaguar TCS Racing driver, #37:
“I had a really fast car in FP1, FP2 and the first run of qualifying today, but the race didn’t go quite how I wanted or expected it to. I had a couple of touches with the front wing and unfortunately it was too badly damaged. I still think I was one of the fastest cars this weekend, plus, I have come off the back of four podiums in a row and I’m still leading the Drivers’ Championship standings so there’s a lot of positives to take forward to Tokyo.”
The pinnacle of all-electric racing resumes in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday 30 March.
