Whereas Jaguar TCS Racing and TAG Heuer Porsche come into this weekend’s System E finale with each of their drivers in competition for the Drivers’ title, each are additionally within the hunt for the Groups’ and Producers’ championships as nicely.
That presents an intriguing state of affairs for the drivers at each groups, who might want to steadiness their very own private ambitions with doing the suitable factor by their employers.
“All of us have the precedence, clearly, us drivers within the Drivers’ championship, as a result of we actually need that title,” says Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. “However however, we’re employed by our groups, and nothing is larger than a crew.”
That being mentioned, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy feels that whereas the drivers have their very own goals, each go hand-in-hand and gained’t affect one another.
“Finally, my feeling is that whichever crew wins, the drivers will win,” mentioned Cassidy. “If we do an awesome job collectively and as a crew, I feel we’ll win the Drivers’ as nicely. So let’s see what occurs. However that’s type of my prediction.”
It’s a prediction that’s considerably shared by Cassidy’s boss James Barclay. He’s eager to emphasize that the crew’s precedence is the Groups’ championship, each drivers are free to struggle each other.
“Whereas each drivers have a mathematical probability, you need to let each of them struggle for the championship, and that’s the fact,” mentioned the Jaguar crew principal. “However on the similar time, completely everyone seems to be right here racing for Jaguar TCS Racing. That’s absolutely the focus and the precedence, however really supporting each drivers equally. They each stand an opportunity to win the championship.”
That’s not a technique that’s set in stone, although. With this weekend being a double-header, the whole championship complexion might change by Saturday evening, with one spherical nonetheless to go. Ought to that be the case, Barclay says Jaguar could be prepared to shift its steadiness to again one.
“If one thing modified on Saturday, we’ve to regulate that technique on the similar time,” he mentioned. “It’s completely what we’ll do, and the entire crew will type of rally round what that call is and take it ahead from there.
“So yeah, it’s respectful to each drivers. They each have a chance, but when one thing adjustments, then our full assist will go by and certainly one of them to maximise that chance.”
Arriving in London on the prime of the Groups’ standings, and occupying the top-two spots within the Drivers’ (with second-placed Evans degree on factors with Wehrlein in third), the brightest spotlights are these on the Jaguar crew. The truth that it’s a house occasion provides an additional layer of stress, too.
“Strain is a privilege, because the saying goes,” Barclay mentioned. “I feel that house assist goes to be one thing which we’ll actually really feel this weekend. We have now enormous quantities of colleagues, companions, media, and all kinds of individuals attending assist the crew. So from our standpoint, a incredible, incredible platform which to do it.
“That is precisely what sport ought to be about, proper? It’s about massive crucibles, massive moments, and that’s precisely what this weekend is about. And it offers us one thing to essentially be captivated with, and we’re actually pushed by that. The considered with the ability to achieve success in entrance of our house crowd is one thing which we’re excited by.”
Whereas Porsche could be very a lot the chaser, the German outfit’s crew principal Florian Modlinger insists its future is in its personal arms.
“I feel we proved and confirmed that we’re aggressive on all type of tracks. Final yr we had a little bit of a weak spot in qualifying, this we sorted out for this yr,” he mentioned, alluding to Wehrlein presently having the equal-most variety of pole positions this yr. “This implies we’ve it out in our personal arms: put it on pole, attempt to do the win from the entrance two instances.
Porsche wants to shut down Jaguar’s factors benefit, however the German producer heads into this weekend’s finale believing that its destiny is in its personal arms. Dom Romney/Motorsport Pictures
“And that’s the large message. We have now it in our personal arms if we carry out nicely right here, we don’t want luck, we don’t need assistance from others, however we have to carry out.”
Wehrlein agrees, realizing that persevering with his sturdy qualifying run might be key to overhauling the Jaguars.
“I feel we’ve every little thing in our personal arms, which is nice,” he mentioned, echoing his boss’ phrases.
“One of the simplest ways to begin is to qualify on the entrance, after which have a clear race.”
On the driving force entrance, it’s Evans that’s main the chase behind Cassidy. And having completed within the top-four for every of the final three seasons, it’s a well-known place for him. But additionally having been with Jaguar for the whole lot of his – and certainly the crew’s – time in System E, crew success can also be one thing that issues to him
“Clearly, I’ve been on this place fairly just a few instances now, so it doesn’t really feel too unusual,” he mentioned. “I imply, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I wouldn’t desire to be in Nick’s footwear – I’m simply at all times the one in competition, however not the one being chased.
“I feel is a big precedence that we need to win this Groups’ (championship),” he added. “That’s going to be enormous for Jaguar. We’ve come so shut previously. We’ve obtained second final yr, second in Season 7, so I really feel like this crew actually deserves that world championship
“So I feel we obtained to deal with it as a standard weekend in a approach. Clearly, there’s quite a lot of weight behind it, and quite a bit at stake. However, I feel we are able to’t micromanage it an excessive amount of, simply because you’ll be able to’t in System E. It’s actually tough to try this.”
As for himself, it’s championship or nothing. If his chase proves to return up brief, he gained’t be dissatisfied if he slips even additional again.
“I’m probably not (maintaining a tally of these behind), to be trustworthy,” he mentioned. “Each of us must be scoring to have the ability to win this for the crew. I feel we’ve each obtained a accountability.
“From a driver’s standpoint, I feel if I find yourself dropping the third or fourth, that doesn’t actually trouble me an excessive amount of. I’m right here to win. We’re all right here to win, and I completed second and third too many instances. I’ll positively be dissatisfied to not win, however whether or not it’s second or third doesn’t actually trouble me an excessive amount of.”
Cassidy has the lead, however many assume this may very well be Evans’ yr to lastly get the championship monkey off his again. That being mentioned, it’s Antonio Felix da Costa who involves London as the shape man. He’s an outsider, however given he’s gained 4 of the final 5 races, some within the paddock are tipping him as a darkish horse for the title.
“I’m undecided that’s practical,” he countered. “I imply, thanks, however this way is just not very regular in System E and it doesn’t final ceaselessly so I’ve already forgotten what we’ve achieved a few weeks in the past.
“I simply did my regular preparation for a weekend and I’m simply making an attempt to have enjoyable driving the automobile in the mean time. I don’t have quite a lot of stress in the mean time, just a few titles on the road for us this weekend, however I’m simply going to do my greatest and see the place I come out.”
“The principle purpose in the mean time is the Producers’ and Groups’ championships. There are three guys very very shut collectively, realistically talking I’m just a bit bit too far, however stranger issues have occurred on this planet of motorsport.”
