Credit: Simon Galloway courtesy of FIA Formula E
Mitch Evans is hoping to end the 2023 Formula E season “on a high note”, at this weekend’s season finale in London.
Evans heads to the London E-Prix double-header looking to bounce back from his likely title-ending collision at his beloved Rome E-Prix, which saw him launch over fellow title protagonist Nick Cassidy.
The Jaguar TCS Racing driver did brilliantly to win the opening race in the Italian capital just over a week ago, to keep his hopes of becoming World Champion alive.
However, his hopes disintegrated on the second lap of the second race in Rome, as he was forced to retire after launching over the top of Cassidy.
Evans locked his rear tyres and went almost vertical in the air, as his car was sent skywards over his fellow New Zealander.
With championship leader Jake Dennis having won the race after capitalising on Evans’ and Cassidy’s collision, the 29-year-old finds himself 44 points adrift of the Andretti driver with two races remaining.
Whilst Evans is still mathematically in the title hunt – a maximum of 58 points can be scored in London – realistically his chances are over for another year.
He needs a miracle to happen to somehow leave the ExCeL Centre as World Champion; however, stranger things have happened in Formula E this season.
Evans is seemingly not thinking too much about the Drivers’ Championship as he heads into the weekend, with him simply aiming for the “best result possible”.
“I left Rome with a mixture of emotions but I’m heading to London ready to end on a high note, giving it my all and aiming for the best possible result,” Evans said.
“It’s been an incredible season of racing – we’ve had a really fast and efficient Jaguar I-TYPE 6, I’ve had three wins, five podiums and I’m hopeful to get a few more this weekend.”
On the other side of the Coventry-based team’s garage, Sam Bird is looking to score some strong points in his and the team’s home event, in what is reportedly his last weekend with Jaguar.
The Race reported recently that Cassidy is going to be replacing the British driver in 2024, with Bird having supposedly found a seat elsewhere.
2023 will represent the end of a third season with the team for Bird, in what has been a mixed period of time for the driver.
He’s bounced back somewhat in season nine following a dreadful campaign in 2022, with four podiums to his name this year.
Another podium or two this weekend could help Jaguar clinch the Constructors’ Championship for the first time, as they enter the season finale 25 points behind customer outfit Envision.
The 36-year-old is “determined” to help the team pursue the crown in East London, in what’ll be a “special” few days for the British driver.
“Racing on home soil will always be special for me and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 performs on this track,” said Bird.
“I’m going into this weekend feeling determined to do my best for the team in our quest for the team championship.”
Keyword: Evans hoping to end season ‘on a high note’ in London