Jaguar is set to make history this weekend with the launch of the all-electric production car racing series, the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy at Ad Diriyah, Riyadh for the first round of the 2018-19 Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy.
The all-electric production car racing series is the first of its kind, and will be Formula E’s first ever support series.
The series will field eleven drivers this weekend, including a VIP racer who for this weekend will be 25-year old British racer Alice Powell, which will change for every race meeting.
Amongst the other previously-confirmed entrants, the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing squad will be represented by British racer Katherine Legge and American sportscar ace Bryan Sellers.
Jaguar Brazil Racing are fielding Brazilian stockcar racers Caca Bueno and Sergio Jiminez. Viessmann Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Team Germany will be represented as a single-car entry driven by Nurburgring Nordschleife ace Celia Martin.
Piloting the Team China racecars are Wang Tao and Yaqi Zhang, with Team Asia New Zealand featuring brother of Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans, Simon Evans. Saudi Racing have two GT3 drivers in their line-up, with the experience of Bandar Alesayi coupled by the youth of Ahmed Bin Khanen.
Alice Powell is super excited and blessed to be given the opportunity of racing in Riyadh this weekend, and as she prepares for it she said: “I am very excited to have been given this opportunity by Jaguar to race in their VIP car in the all new Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY. Electric is the way the world is going, so to have the chance to drive in this series, in the early stages of this new era, is fantastic. It’s been three years since my last race, so I cannot wait to get back out there and would like to thank Jaguar for this opportunity. ”
The championship starts this weekend in Riyadh before the 10-round calendar takes us to Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sanya, Rome, Paris, Berlin and finishes with a double-header season finale at the Brooklyn Street Circuit in New York City next July.
This weekend’s race will take place on 15 December at 12.50pm local time (9.50 am GMT), just before the main Formula E race. Shakedown and free practice sessions will take place on Friday, with qualifying at 07.55 local time (04.55 GMT) on Saturday morning.
Fans will enjoy the racing action, which will be freely accessible on Jaguar Racing’s Facebook and Twitter Channels, with the series presented by Vernon Kay and Amanda Stretton who will be hosting straight from Riyadh this weekend. Every race across the season will be a standard length of 25 minutes plus 1 lap.
There is much anticipation for the season ahead, with Gerd Mäuser, Chairman of Jaguar Racing full of nervous anticipation, who said ahead of the first round of the season.
“We are immensely proud to reach this historic moment. We had an idea that we could bring electric production car racing to city streets, and showcase the power and capability of the award-winning Jaguar I-PACE.
“This weekend that will become a reality. We have built this championship from scratch, attracting drivers, teams and sponsors from all over the world, and this is just the beginning.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E is also very pleased to see the launch of the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, which will be the first support series for Formula E, saying: “Congratulations and good luck to Jaguar Racing this weekend as they embark on a historic first for motorsport and electrification.
“We are proud to have them on the grid in Formula E and now with a spectacular support series with the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY. This gives our fans an exciting addition to our one-day race format and I can’t wait to watch the action and see the first winner.”
