Title heartbreak for Kiwis
Kiwi drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy helped Jaguar TCS Racing win the 2024 Formula E teams’ world championship but they missed out on snaring the drivers’ title in a dramatic finale to the season.
The Jaguar team ended the campaign with 368 points to secure the marque’s first World Championship win since 1991, and they also won the newly created Manufacturer’s Trophy with 455 points.
Evans and Cassidy finished second and third respectively in the drivers’ world championship, despite occupying the top two spots heading into the campaign’s last two races in London on July 21 and 22.
They were overtaken in the standings by German Porsche driver Pascal Wehrlein when he won the campaign’s penultimate race ahead of second-placed Evans and Cassidy, who finished in seventh spot.
With everything resting on the final race, Cassidy clinched pole after a close qualifying session and his teammate was third on the grid.
The two Jaguars controlled the early part of the action following a safety car but Cassidy eventually had to retire after suffering a puncture following contact from Porsche’s Antonio Felix Da Costa.
It left Wehrlein and Evans to battle for the title, with the former clinching the crown after finishing second behind Briton Oliver Rowland. The Kiwi had to settle for the final podium spot.
It was another near-miss for Evans who has now finished in the top three of the driver’s standings for the past three seasons.
“It’s really difficult … securing the teams’ world championship is a fantastic achievement, I’m really happy for the team and everyone at Jaguar deserves this so much,” says Evans.
“They deserved it a long time ago and it’s great it’s now finally done but I do still feel disappointed that neither Nick nor I could get the drivers’ world championship.
“We achieved half of what we set out to achieve but sadly didn’t finish it.”
James Barclay, team principal at Jaguar TCS Racing, says Jaguar has a rich racing history and when the brand started its Formula E programme in 2016 it was determined to add to that legacy.
“To win the 2024 ABB FIA Formula E teams’ world championship – the pinnacle of electric racing – is fitting reward for everyone’s hard work and winning mindset,” he explains.
“I feel for both Mitch and Nick, coming so close to the drivers’ crown is tough for both of them, but they have driven incredibly well all year and I know they will be fighting for the title again next year.”
Final standings
1. Pascal Wehrlein, 198 points
2. Mitch Evans, 192pts
3. Nick Cassidy, 176pts
4. Oliver Rowland, 156pts
5. Jean-Eric Vergne, 139pts
