Credit: LAT Images courtesy of FIA Formula E
Jaguar TCS Racing may have narrowly missed out on the season nine Constructors’ Championship, but the Coventry-based side arguably enter the new campaign as the hot favourites for the crown.
As a Formula E manufacturer, Jaguar made a strong start to the Gen3 era and continued their upward trend, which has developed over the last few seasons. Alongside Porsche, Jaguar made the most successful transition from Gen2 to Gen3 and in many ways developed the must-have powertrain of 2023.
Most of the manufacturers in Formula E developed a powertrain which was either strong over one-lap or very efficient, with Jaguar having really been the only supplier to have designed a powertrain which was effective in both areas.
Across their four cars, Jaguar claimed the most race wins in the 2022/23 season, with the factory team’s Mitch Evans having picked up four wins, as did Envision Racing’s – Jaguar’s customer team – Nick Cassidy. The British manufacturer had the winning powertrain on eight occasions in the first season of Gen3, meaning that a Jaguar-powered driver was victorious in 50% of the races.
Above: Evans claimed four wins in 2023, as did Cassidy – Credit: Sam Bloxham courtesy of FIA Formula E
The second best manufacturer was Porsche, who picked up six wins across their two teams as well as the Drivers’ Championship, courtesy of Andretti’s Jake Dennis. It was Jaguar who picked up the Constructors’ Championship, but via their customer team, rather than the full factory outfit.
Whilst the works team insisted that they were delighted for Envision, being beaten to the title by their customer team must have been a kick in the teeth and understandably so. Throughout the entirety of 2023, Mexico City and Jakarta were really the only two venues where the Jaguars all struggled, highlighting their impressive consistency.
As well as claiming the most victories out of all the powertrain suppliers, Jaguar also secured more pole positions than anyone else. Six pole positions were achieved by the famous manufacturer, whilst the next best were Nissan and Stellantis, who both had one of their powered cars start from P1 three times.
If that wasn’t enough for Jaguar, they also racked up more podium finishes in 2023 than any other manufacturer. 20 podium finishes were achieved by Jaguar-powered drivers, two more than were secured by Porsche’s four cars. Along with the German manufacturer, Jaguar-powered cars also managed to claim the fastest lap in six E-Prixs.
The statistics don’t lie. Jaguar were the most successful powertrain supplier in season nine, but why are the works team the favourites to claim the season 10 crown, rather than Envision?
Jaguar TCS Racing’s supreme driver pairing
Above: Cassidy (left) and Evans (right) will contest S10 as Jaguar TCS Racing team-mates – Credit: Sam Bagnall courtesy of FIA Formula E
Envision’s charge to their first Constructors’ Championship was led superbly by Cassidy, who was the season nine Vice Champion behind Dennis. For 2024, the Kiwi has moved from Jaguar’s customer team to the main outfit, replacing Sam Bird who has moved 95 miles south from Coventry to Woking, to join the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
Cassidy is forming an all-Kiwi partnership with Evans, in what is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most in-form driver pairing on the season 10 grid. Jaguar have at their disposal the drivers who came second and third last season and were responsible for all of the powertrain supplier’s wins, as well as 15 of their rostrums.
Evans, too often in season nine, was left to fight for the team by himself, with Bird’s recent campaign having been inconsistent. With Cassidy onboard, the factory Jaguar squad have two drivers who should be fighting for the podium in every single round virtually, if they carry over their 2023 form into 2024.
Jaguar are the one manufacturer who really don’t have much to do ahead of pre-season testing, given that they were consistently successful both in qualifying and in the races.
Based on Evans’ and Cassidy’s season nine campaigns, Jaguar could very easily cruise to the season 10 crown in Red Bull-esq fashion, should Norman Nato not be able to support Dennis at Andretti and if TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team’s one-lap woes continue.
Having two of the most in-form drivers in the championship is in many ways a blessing and a curse for Jaguar, with the last thing they need in 2024 being an intra-team rivalry. That is the risk they’ve taken by signing Cassidy, given that if the duo avoid clashing with one another, it could prove to be a dream signing for the team.
With all of that in mind, it’s safe to say that ahead of pre-season testing next month, Jaguar TCS Racing are the favourites for the 2024 title. However, will it be Evans or Cassidy who finishes highest in the Drivers’ Championship?
Keyword: Looking ahead: Are Jaguar TCS Racing the team to beat in 2024?