Panasonic Jaguar Racing will venture to next weekend’s inaugural Vegas eRace chasing its first major success since joining the Formula E grid earlier this year.
Jaguar entered the all-electric series for its third season, starting in Hong Kong at the beginning of October, but is yet to pick up its first points.
The British marque has spent the opening two rounds of the campaign getting to grips with life in Formula E, but has shifted attention to the virtual world ahead of the non-championship Vegas eRace on January 7.
The eRace will pit the 20-strong Formula E grid up against 10 sim racers in a battle for a $1 million prize pool, with the winner walking away with $200,000, making the event the most lucrative in eSports racing history.
Jaguar has been joined for the race by sim racer Greger Huttu, a multiple virtual racing world champion who has been dubbed “the world’s fastest gamer” and has even tested a real-life Star Mazda car at Road Atlanta.
“I have raced in eSports for years and have seen how it has grown into a global sport but Formula E’s Road to Vegas has taken it to another level,” Huttu said.
“The qualifying heats to get to the final have been very intense and it’s been cool to see how enthusiastically Formula E fans have supported us.
“The Vegas final promises to be very special with so many spectators cheering us on. I feel like part of the team already and I am proud to race in Panasonic Jaguar Racing colors.”
Huttu will race alongside regular Jaguar drivers Mitch Evans and Adam Carroll in Las Vegas, and has been offering them tips to get to grips with the virtual racing world.
“I won one of the eRaces in Hong Kong but these guys are professional so it will be very tough,” Evans said.
“Adam and I are lucky to have such a good team-mate in Greger, that guy is really on it.
“I’m excited to go racing and soak up what will be a really special event and hopefully the three of us can get our simulated elbows out during the eRace and come away with a strong result.”