I wanted to watch the highlights of the latest Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy round that was raced on the streets of Monaco. As there are several monitors in the office linked to the same computer, I just could not get the sound working. Then I realised that I didn’t need it. It was an electric car race. So in talking with Team Asia New Zealand Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy driver Simon Evans, I put the question, ‘How was it for him going from a thumbing loud V8 SuperTourer to a silent Jaguar electric SUV?
Before we get to his answer, here’s a little background.
At 28 years-old, Simon Evans is driving in the inaugural season for the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy and is the brother of Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E driver Mitch Evans.
The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY is a battery electric zero-emission international motor racing series supporting the FIA Formula E championship starting in December 2018 and ending in July 2019.
Simon comes with a background of competing in the NZ Formula Ford Championship (2007-09), Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge (NZ) and seven seasons racing V8s in the BNT V8s, V8 Supertourers, Supercars Dunlop Series and NZ Touring Championship.
With three rounds left in the 2018/19 Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy series, he lies third overall having won at the opening round in Saudi Arabia as well as gaining three podiums.
“The level of competition is really tough,” commented Evans. “There are some really competitive and top drivers.”
This includes current series leader is US driver Bryan Sellers, who competed in NZ back in 2002 and finished second to Fabian Coulthard (Van Diemen Stealth RF94 Ford) in the New Zealand Grand Prix (Teretonga Park, Invercargill).
The format for the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy sees drivers and teams having a briefing and a shakedown session plus a 40 minute practice on the Friday. The following day there is a 30 minute qualifying session in the morning with a 25 minute + 1 lap race starting at 2pm.
“You have to nail qualifying,” says Evans. “It’s the key to winning as they are so close and we really can’t do much about setup. Getting the fastest in all three sectors in qualifying is really difficult. No one has done this yet.
“Out tyres react differently to each circuit and the different surfaces. Some, they can get too hot and don’t recover while at other events they don’t get hot to the end of the (qualifying) session.”
“The biggest thing with the I-Pace is the lack of noise, not that I miss it. Its now that I realise how much I used it (engine sound) as a tool, listening to the rpm and acceleration. We have no gears and you can gauge a lot from listening.
“It’s dead silent. I can hear the brakes clamping. I hear the crashing of another car.”
“It is a challenging car to drive and requires a lot of thought. While the acceleration is great, the top speed is not super quick.
“You have to think of every aspect of the corner. Its a 2-ton car on a 22inch rim with a 25″ profile, smaller than average road car. It is easy to over step the mark so you are always on the knife edge.”
Did he say a 2 tonne (2,000kg) car? And that’s without an engine! Those batteries must be quite heavy.
Like Formula E, both series have massive manufacturer support.
“Everyone is getting into that electric vehicle mindset, especially in Europe,” explained Evans. ” Electric charging stations are everywhere. I think in NZ we don’t realise how fast it is coming. The manufacturer support for the series is huge as they realise the change that is taking place and it is about developing the technology.”
With three race to go, one in Berlin and two in New York, Evans is in the top three overall and excited about the future of the series.
“I’d love to be involved in another season. There is plenty of interest growing with more teams wanting to get involved now that the first season has show-cased these cars. Particularly there are more sponsors and really forward thinking companies wanting to get on board.”
As for the Jaguar I-Pace road car, it arrives in New Zealand in a matter of weeks and goes on sale boasting a very significant range of 470km. It sounds like a way of the future, the sound of silence.
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