Sri Lanka, Access Group race to global spotlight at Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy series

Sri Lanka and Access Group made local history in the fast-gaining electric car racing industry on Saturday in Sanya, China, whena Jaguar I-PACE sporting the national flag and Access’s corporate branding competed on a Formula E track of global body FIA.

The Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy series championship is part of the world’s first-ever all-electric production-based international race. 

The Sri Lankan flag and Jaguar Land Rover local agents Access’s corporate branding adorned the competition’s Team Asia’s car.

One of the competitors, Team Asia, is dedicated to Jaguar’s markets of Sri Lanka, Singapore and New Zealand. Driven by Kiwi-born Simon Evans, the Team Asia Jaguar I-PACE emerged second in the Sanya race, which was the fourth in the series, and topped the drivers ranking with six more contests. 

The Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy series and Sri Lanka and Access spotlight figured ahead of the FIA Formula E Racing championship’s 2018/19 season, which is televised in 197 territories and watched by 7.8 million viewers per race in full, and 18.8 million of those who watch highlights. 

The Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy contest had featured previously in Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Hong Kong prior to Sanya, China, and followed contests in same locations of FIA Formula E, the current season of which has been viewed by over 120 million TV viewers, more than 40% than the previous season.The fourth season in total drew 330.4 million viewers. 

The Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy, which began in the on-going season five of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, is the first official support race to the street racing series.

Given the huge TV audience and large crowds watching it in person, the decision by Jaguar to give a spotlight to Sri Lanka and Access is considered as a big boost for the country.

“It demonstrates our commitment to Sri Lanka and how much we value our partner - Access,” Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director Robin Colgan told the Daily FT, which was invited to cover the series in Sanya, China.

The eTrophy championship involves 20 identical I-PACEs, 10 races, and one winner.According to Jaguar, the I-PACE eTrophy series will become the next exciting chapter in the global brand’s ‘Race to Innovate’ commitment.

Team Asia driver Simon Evans created history when he won the first-ever Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy race in Saudi Arabia in December last year, and came sixth in Mexico and fourth in Hong Kong, SAR, China. With his second place win in Sanya on Saturday, Simon’s overall performance has propelled him to number one in drivers standing in the competition. 

The other teams are Jaguar Brazil, TWR Techeetah, Team Germany, Jaguar China Racing, Saudi Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, and Jaguar VIP Car. 

Given the fact that 20 production-based Jaguar I-PACE race cars are, with identical specifications, going head to head, it’s down to driver skill and team tactics to decide who will be crowned champion. 

The remaining races will be held in Rome and Paris in April, Monaco and Berlin in May, and New York in July, including the final. 

With one of the richest histories in motorsport of any manufacturer, dating back to 1948, the British manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover revived its motorsport program to showcase its range of electric cars with its entry into Formula E in 2016. 

With several seasons worth of learnings from Formula E behind it, the British carmaker’s first electric car – the Jaguar I-Pace SUV – made its first production appearance at the 2017 Mexico City E-Prix, driven by Mitch Evans, the brother of Simon Evans, and ranks joint 10th in driver standing of the on-going ABB FIA Formula E Championship. 

The team’s efforts in the series help it to test, develop and refine the latest technology, which will filter down to the next generation of Jaguar’s all-electric cars.