It might solely be simply over per week because the 2022-2023 Method E season resulted in London, however nothing ever stands nonetheless in motorsport and the main target of groups has already switched to subsequent yr’s opening spherical in January and Mexico Metropolis.
An indication of intent has already come from Jaguar Racing, which has turn into the primary staff to formally announce its two-driver line-up for the upcoming marketing campaign; and what a line-up it’s. Mitch Evans will proceed with the British producer having been with the staff since each joined Method E again in 2016, throughout which era they’ve taken 10 wins collectively. And becoming a member of Evans subsequent season will likely be fellow Kiwi Nick Cassidy, who on Monday was confirmed as having moved from Jaguar buyer staff Envision Racing into the complete works outfit for 2024.
The signing of Cassidy is one thing of a logical determination for each events given their shut working relationship over the previous yr and the New Zealander’s spectacular outcomes which took him to second within the standings.
“We’ve got had a watch on Nick for a while, in actual fact, when he did the rookie take a look at for Envision [back in 2020] we had been truly considering of providing to do the take a look at with us,” Jaguar staff principal James Barclay tells Autosport.
“We positively had been monitoring his profession and he was somebody I had my eye on together with his performances in Japan [where he won the Super GT title in 2017 and Super Formula title in 2019]. Then there are moments in his Method E profession. One which stands out for me was a moist qualifying in Valencia the place he made a slight mistake within the ultimate sector, however he was a lot quicker than everybody in that session at one level it was extremely spectacular.
“We at all times noticed his functionality after which clearly we’ve seen that intently now this yr with him being in our buyer staff. I’ve seen in Nick a driver who is totally devoted to his craft, who’s laser-focused on wanting to achieve success and we love that spirit, we love that angle. We’re actual racers, we simply wish to battle for race wins and championships, and I believe Nick has received that character as does Mitch. We’re actually excited, I believe they’ll be a powerful pairing and I can’t wait to go racing.”
Cassidy completes an all-Kiwi line-up for Jaguar, whereas the pair each completed within the prime three within the Method E standings
Picture by: Jaguar Racing
Earlier than delving into the Kiwi dynamic and what it means for Jaguar in addition to the championship, it’s price taking a look at who Cassidy has changed. Sam Fowl spent three seasons with the British outfit having been a stalwart of Method E since its inception in 2014 with Virgin Racing after which Envision. Two wins got here in his first season with Jaguar in Diriyah and New York, however a barren patch adopted with not a single podium within the 2021-2022 marketing campaign. The Briton’s fortunes improved barely this yr with 4 extra podiums however once more no wins, which was in stark distinction to the 4 racked up by Evans.
Extra considerably, Fowl was at fault for 2 collisions with Evans in Hyderabad and Jakarta that price the Kiwi very important factors and a stronger tilt on the title, having missed out by simply 32 factors to eventual champion Jake Dennis. All of it meant that Fowl’s time at Jaguar was at all times more likely to come to an finish sooner slightly than later, though he’s anticipated to stay on the Method E grid subsequent season with McLaren.
PLUS: How Dennis navigated Method E finale chaos to be topped champion at residence
“Sam is a unbelievable racing driver, he’s a unbelievable human being and I believe, from our perspective, if we glance again [we had] some nice recollections collectively,” says Barclay. “I believe he’s actually proud to have raced for Jaguar, he joins an unimaginable listing of drivers who’ve raced for this superb model and we’re proud to have had him drive for us.
“We completely have the elements and we must always be capable of battle for a championship subsequent yr” James Barclay
“There’s most likely been a actuality that we haven’t fulfilled the potential collectively and generally you want a reset and I believe from each Sam’s perspective and our perspective we each felt that was the appropriate time.”
That reset paved the way in which for Cassidy to hitch Jaguar and within the course of, create arguably the strongest driver line-up on the Method E grid no matter who different groups are set to announce within the coming weeks.
Each Kiwis demonstrated unimaginable type throughout this yr’s marketing campaign, every taking 4 wins and heading to the London finale with a shot on the title. Within the rain-affected ultimate race, they had been every in a league of their very own with Cassidy’s win that means he pipped Evans to the runner-up spot by simply two factors. On the ages of 28 and 29 respectively, each are simply approaching the peaks of their careers and have sufficient expertise in Method E to get the job accomplished when it issues.
Off the observe, the duo are good mates having grown up and competed in opposition to one another in New Zealand, even being team-mates within the 2011 Toyota Racing Sequence that means, in idea, their tight collaboration ought to solely push Jaguar to new heights.
However this friendship was strained considerably when Evans collided with an harmless Cassidy within the second Rome E-Prix, basically handing Dennis the title, and extra fractures may seem ought to they each discover themselves ready to win the title.
Hypotheticals apart, it’s arguably a state of affairs Jaguar would like to have with Barclay admitting that the groups’ title is the precedence and that the “staff clearly comes first and the selections we make are about the perfect consequence for the staff”.
This emphasis on the groups’ title comes after Jaguar missed out to buyer staff Envision on the ultimate day of the season, having entered the ultimate spherical tied on factors as its powertrain dominated the second half of the season. The runner-up place can be one it occupied in 2020-2021, and over the last three seasons, Evans has additionally taken the drivers’ title right down to the ultimate spherical solely to fall quick on every event – his final title coming method again in 2012 when he received the GP3 crown.
All of it signifies that whereas there have been moments of success, no title has come the way in which of the works Jaguar staff in seven years of it being within the all-electric championship.
“Our need and intention as a aggressive staff is to go and win the championship,” says Barclay.
“However that is Method E and in the event you’re within the place of combating for the championship come the closing phases of the season, you’re doing an excellent job as a staff. We’ve got a really sturdy driver line-up, we completely have the elements and we must always be capable of battle for a championship subsequent yr however we have to see what occurs over the winter earlier than we begin racing once more.
“Assuming now we have that bundle which is aggressive, which we must always do with a homologation for 2 years, nobody is actually bringing any new {hardware}, that ought to imply we stay aggressive. We’ve got the elements to battle for the championship, however would I deem this yr a failure as a result of we got here second – completely not.”
Barclay might not deem this yr as a failure, however there inevitably comes a degree the place ending second isn’t sufficient – and 2024 is that yr. In Evans and Cassidy, Jaguar has two drivers able to successful on any given weekend and who will push one another on observe whereas serving to to steer the staff in the appropriate path off it.
The Huge Cat now has every thing it wants on paper to sit down on the prime of the Method E meals chain, and something much less in 12 months’ time will virtually definitely be deemed a failure.
Can Jaguar lastly seize a Method E title subsequent season?
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures