The Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy will return to the racetrack in what will be the last chapter for the series around the Berlin Templehof Circuit for what has been dubbed the ‘lockdown showdown.’
The Berlin track will play host to seven races in nine days on three different track layouts.
Rounds 4/5 will run the normal circuit, rounds 6-8 will run in reverse and rounds 9/10 will feature the normal circuit but with a revised section in turns 4/5.
The electric production car series will see three VIP drivers join for the final races: Michelin VIP driver Oil Webb, W Series racer and VIP driver from Diriyah Abbie Eaton, and Austrian Journalist Sven Forster.
Webb will race in rounds 4 and 5 with Eaton and Forster competing in rounds 6-8 and Forster driving for the final two races of the season and the series.
This fast-paced season showdown will see races four to ten take place on the 5-6 August, 8 August and two races on the 9 August (including a reverse-grid race) and the 12-13 August.
Other changes include that Australian Nick Foster and Frenchman Gregory Segers will replace Pro-Am runner-up from last season Yaqi Zhang and Chao Sun at China Racing.
Pro-Am winner from season one, Ahmed Bin Khanen, will replace Mashhur Bal Hejalia at Saudi Racing.
After ferocious work behind the scenes to get this season up and running, everyone is excited to hit the track once again.
Mark Turner, Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Series Manager said: “After a couple of months of working closely with the FIA and Formula E we’re very excited to get the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY back on track in Berlin next week. The Tempelhof circuit will host the most intense season finale in motorsport history and we’re looking forward to crowning our two champions.
“With 146 points still available and ‘Super Sunday’, with two races including our first ‘Reverse Grid’ round, the I-PACE eTROPHY will provide great entertainment for all our fans. We have a fantastic driver line-up, with the addition of a few new faces in Berlin, and are looking to the end the series on a high.”
The last time the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy took to the racetrack was at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City on 15 February which was won by Sergio Jimenez.
This now means that the Brazilian has a six point advantage over Team Asia New Zealand driver Simon Evans heading into the ‘lockdown showdown.’
ZEG iCarros Jaguar Brazil Racing driver Jimenez said: “The nine days in Berlin will be like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. It’s going to be a concentrated period of racing, we’re going to need to be very careful and maximise damage limitation. With seven races to go there are lots of points available but it’s also going to be mentally challenging. I’ve been in Europe for a month now and I’ve been preparing to head back to the racetrack. As I’m currently leading the series and I’m hoping to leave Berlin as the reigning champion of the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY.”
Jimenez won the title last season after a flawless title showdown in New York City, but with seven races in nine days the fight for the championship will be like none of them have every experienced before.
His closest challenger, Simon Evans said: “I’m really looking forward to coming back to the Tempelhof circuit. It’s going to be very intense travelling from New Zealand, but after nearly six months out of the seat, I’d travel anywhere in the world to get racing again. I had great speed in the first three rounds and hopefully I can keep that rolling into Berlin.
“It’s an extremely unique format – three circuit layouts across the nine days is going to be very different to anything I’ve ever done before. This is going to be an event I won’t forget. In 10 years’ time I’ll look back and remember how special it was to be a part of the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY ‘Lockdown Showdown’. I’m in the hunt for the championship and I hope Mitch and I can walk away from Berlin at the top of both championships.”
Alice Powell had a solid first three rounds and she will be looking for some more good results in the lockdown showdown with everything still to play for.
As for the Pro-Am title fight, it is all in the court of Fahad Algosibi as the Saudi Racing driver is the only man in this class who won’t be missing the lockdown showndown who was also at the first three rounds in Diriyah and Mexico City. As it stands, Yaqi Zhang is eight points ahead of the Saudi racer.
All Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy races will be streamed live and free via: youtube.com/jaguarcars.
