The Cape Town E-Prix will be one of the fastest races of the season as the city becomes the first in sub-Saharan Africa to host the event.
With the iconic Table Mountain as a backdrop, round five of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be held on a street circuit through the South African city’s Green Point district. Spectacular views surround the 2.8km track, which will be among the fastest in Formula E.
The race offers the team an opportunity to recover after a dramatic race result at Hyderabad that saw both Jaguar TCS Racing cars retire. All four Jaguar-powered cars showed impressive pace and efficiency around the track and Kiwi Mitch Evans took his first pole position of the Gen3 era, adding three valuable points to his championship campaign. Sam Bird will look to build on his two top four finishes this season with another positive points tally.
Jaguar TCS Racing remains fifth in the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams standings.
Jaguar is currently selling electrified vehicles such as the all-electric I-PACE and hybrid electric versions of the F-PACE and E-PACE SUVs in South Africa.
“As a team we made another leap in performance at Hyderabad and showed that with the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 we have a fast and extremely competitive car,” says James Barclay, Team Principal of Jaguar TCS Racing. “Our goal for this weekend in Cape Town is to put ourselves in a position where we can drive for points and podiums.
“Having grown up in South Africa and watching the last World Championship race there at Kyalami in 1993, it is a proud moment for me and the other South African team members to be part of the return of elite sport to this passionate motorsport country. The track is fast and challenging and will be a test for the teams, drivers and cars against the backdrop of Table Mountain, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.”
Mitch Evans, Jaguar TCS Racing driver, said: “My car has so much potential, it has the pace and efficiency to be successful and we learn more from it every race at the Cape Town E-Prix. Qualifying will be particularly important for me because after my first pole position of the season in Hyderabad, I want to be among the front runners again.”
Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird said: “As Formula E racers we are incredibly fortunate to travel to new destinations and Cape Town is one that I am particularly looking forward to. We’ve been focused on finding our way around the new track, our second so far this season, and being as prepared as possible. I am confident that our team and the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 have the power to score points and podiums in Cape Town.”
Phil Charles, Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager said: “There are some exciting tracks on the Formula E calendar this season and next we have an absolute smash. A fast-paced track with several bumpy braking points, a super-tight chicane in T4,5,6 and a high-speed passage with needle threading T8,9,10: the Cape Town E-Prix promises to be an absolute thrill.”
The fifth round of the 2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship takes place in Cape Town on February 25 at 16:00 local time. Qualifying and race sessions are streamed live and replayed on SuperSport.
