Jaguar is one in every of motorsport’s most fabled manufacturers, however not because the iconic Silk Lower XJR-14 received the World Sportscar Championship in 1991 has it tasted title glory on the world stage.
That every one modified on Sunday when it emerged from Method E’s season finale with each the groups’ and producers’ titles. Loads was product of Jaguar TCS Racing’s failure to win the drivers’ championship within the all-electric open-wheel sequence with both Mitch Evans or Nick Cassidy, however for crew principal James Barclay, successful two titles out of three for the massive cat remained a momentous achievement.
“Again in 2016, our first season, the aim was to come back and win world championships,” stated Barclay (pictured above). “So (to win) Jaguar’s first world championship since 1991, I’m very happy with the crew we’ve created that may beat giants like Porsche in a battle for a world championship like this.”
“So extremely happy with the women and men which have constructed our crew up from scratch. That is our solely motorsport program, and we do an outstanding job. So I’m firstly, extremely proud, and I’m extremely joyful we fulfill all of our ambitions.”
Cassidy began Sunday’s ultimate race of the season from pole, and after taking his two Assault Modes early, had been able to cycle by way of to the race win and take the championship till he was hit by Antonio Felix da Costa — a collision which began a sequence of occasions that might finally result in him retiring from the race. Evans, in the meantime, completed behind TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein after a botched Assault Mode technique which he branded “unfair.”
In fact, lacking out on the drivers’ title, one thing Barclay admitted will take some evaluation to elucidate, remained a disappointment.
“We’ll return and take a look at that and analyze. Nick was taken out of a extremely robust place to win the world championship,” he stated.
“We’re extremely aggressive individuals. We needed one in every of our drivers to win the world championship. However, congratulations to Pascal … deserving champion in lots of respects. It’s not bitter grapes.
“I’m actually, actually happy with this crew. So we’ll embrace this, get pleasure from it, and really a lot have a good time being groups’ champions.
A couple of hours after successful the groups’ crown, Jaguar — which additionally provides Envision Racing — claimed the Producers’ Trophy after a post-race penalty for da Costa for his coming along with Cassidy. It capped off a stellar 12 months for the model, which first entered Method E within the third season of the sequence’ existence.
“World championships towards world-class competitors don’t come with out completely giving every part,” stated Barclay. “It’s the final thought at evening, the primary thought within the morning, the dedication of our firm, JLR, to permit us to come back and put Jaguar again on the highest step of the rostrum — I all the time stated we should always write Jaguar’s subsequent chapter of successes, that’s what this program is about. And I believe we stand shoulder to shoulder with a few of Jaguar’s best-ever achievements within the sport. So (I’m) very happy with that. However for Mitch, for Nick, I’m gutted. As Mitch stated, we’ve perhaps carried out half the job, and we’ll return and take a look at that and are available again stronger subsequent 12 months.
“However for now, we’ll take inventory and completely have a good time our first world championship again in world-class motorsport, and we needs to be very happy with that.”
