While Season 4 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship might not have been quite as successful as Panasonic Jaguar Racing would have liked, driver Mitch Evans made up for it by bringing home some off-season silverware, after setting a new electric car record at the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb in Worcestershire on August 12.
Evans, who finished seventh in the Season 4 standings, piloted his Jaguar I-Type 2 up the 1000yard (0.91km) climb and crossed the finish line in 30.46-seconds - a full 6.84-seconds faster than the previous record for an electric car. "It was a great honour to drive the Jaguar I-TYPE 2 at such a historic venue, and the whole team was elated with the record time we managed to achieve," said the New Zealand driver.
"Formula E fans in the UK were incredibly welcoming, and it was great to see them so excited about the car’s debut run here."
With a total rise in height of 100-meters and a track width of just 3.66-meters at its narrowest point, the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb is one of the longest running events of its kind. Celebrating 113 years at this event, it was fitting that an electric car should take pride of place, not just as a nod to the future of the event but also the automotive industry in general. "I’m proud to have moved the class-best result a step further towards a potential pure electric outright hill record in the future,” added Evans.
“In 113 years of Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb history, we have never seen a more advanced electric vehicle take to the course, so it was a thrill to see the Jaguar I-TYPE 2 Formula E car charge up the hill and secure a new course record under electric power," said Antony Harper, Chairman Midland Automobile Club. Put together as a partnership between Panasonic Jaguar Racing and GKN Driveline - the global engineering group that provides design, manufacturing and consultancy services to the team - the record celebrates over 83 years of history between the group and Jaguar, after GKN Driveline supplied components to the first SS Jaguar saloon in 1935.
With a new chapter of Formula E starting in Ad Diriyah on December 15, 2018, Jaguar will line up on the start line with its new Gen2 challenger with the hope of securing the teams' championship title in Season 5 of the all-electric racing series. Join us to witness all the action from a new era of Formula E.