Barclay credits Evans''calm, game-changing performance' after victory in Jakarta

Following Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans' third victory of the season in Jakarta, Team Principal James Barclay credits his 'game-changing performance' as the Kiwi pipped DS TECHEETAH's Jean-Eric Vergne to the finish line in a last lap dash in the Indonesian capital.

"That was a hot, hard race!" says Jaguar's Mitch Evans after stepping down off the top step of the podium for the third time in Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. "We had a nice strategy and the car worked well all day. To come to a new event, a new circuit and especially an aggressive climate like we got today, it's very hard to get the car in the window for the whole race. 

"I just want to say a huge credit to the guys here in the team because we just had a tough race but they gave me the goods this weekend, which is just what I needed when it's so tight." 

Off the back of a tough two races in Berlin, Evans - along with the rest of the grid - faced an all-new challenge as Formula E made its debut in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta.

Alongside a new circuit, the race brought sweltering temperatures and humidity levels, which proved challenging for managing battery temperatures and tyres. Still, Evans managed to steal the lead from DS TECHEETAH driver and polesitter Vergne in a perfectly executed overtake into Turn 7. 

"It was really tight at the end with Vergne, I thought I was gonna pull away but my tyre started going off as soon as I got past him. I was under a bit of heat but I got the job done," says Evans. 

"This race throws everything at you physically and technically with the car tyres, battery temperatures and energy management. The track is quite difficult - it just has it all, so to come out on top like that is amazing. We're all very tired after that one - it was a lot to manage but the team guided me really well and it feels amazing." 

After his race win and sealing a point for taking the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap during the race, Evans holds firm on his fourth place in the championship standings with 109 points - now just 12 points off the leader, Mercedes-EQ's Stoffel Vandoorne. With his teammate Sam Bird also scoring two points in Jakarta after finishing ninth, the Jaguar squad also holds onto fourth in the Teams' World Championship. 

"[Mitch's] move on Vergne, which came a little bit out of the blue was a critical moment," insists Jaguar Team Principal James Barclay. "We worked hard on the strategy but also the drivers had the opportunity to do something if they saw it, and Mitch saw that moment - he saw Vergne regenning and he took that opportunity.

"The other key moment was with Antonio [Felix da Costa], when we got out in front of him once we took the second ATTACK MODE. That was a game-changer for us - we didn't have to come past him," explains Barlcay. 

"Mitch has put a huge amount of work into every element of his driving and as a team as well. He's becoming calmer as success develops - you don't need to snatch. He's just very, very calm in his approach now, and so is the team. Now we are starting to be really able to fight for the championship, it's about being kind of calm in those moments of real pressure."