After two races in Formula E season 9, Jaguar Racing is in a leading position that bodes well for the future of the competition.
Sam Bird is currently fifth in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship drivers’ standings, while Mitch Evans is twelfth. After the second round, Jaguar TCS Racing moved to fifth in the team standings.
At the night show in Diriyah, Bird took third position on the grid after reaching the semi-finals of the qualifying duels. On the seventh of 39 laps, he made a decisive overtake on Sébastien Buemi to lead the Arab E-Prix.
The Briton held the lead for 23 laps, fended off attacks from Pascal Wehrlein‘s Porsche with ease and made it clear what a great pace the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 can set, before dropping to second. With five laps to go, Jake Dennis managed to snatch second place from him, so Bird had to settle for the final podium spot.
Read also:100 Races and Top 10: Buemi Starts the Gen3 Era on the Right Foot
Evans’ Ride
Mitch Evans was also in the fight. He was sixth on the grid at the Diriyah street circuit. The New Zealander had a complicated race, but managed to reach the finish line in eighth position.
He received a five-second penalty for causing a collision on the first lap of the race, so he finally finished tenth and scored one point.
James Barclay, Jaguar TCS Racing Director, is pleased with the squad’s performance at the second stop of the electric single-seater series. “I’m tremendously proud that Sam has been on the podium and performed so well in his 100th race – it’s very positive for Sam and for the team.”
About Evans, he noted that he also showed his potential. “A podium finish, double points and four Jaguar cars in the top ten demonstrate the great worth of the Jaguar I-TYPE 6,” Barclay noted.
