Jaguar launches Formula E team with Carroll, Evans as race drivers - MotorSportsTalk

GAYDON, UK – Jaguar has officially launched its new Formula E operation ahead of the all-electric series’ third season, confirming Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans as its race drivers.

Jaguar confirmed last December that it would be entering Formula E from its third season in a bid to boost its electric vehicle development and technology.

The move sees Jaguar return to top-line international motorsport for the first time since 2004, when it ended its five-year stint in Formula 1 before selling the operation to Red Bull.

Jaguar Racing has conducted private testing with its powertrain in the lead-up to the collective test sessions at Donington Park over the past three weeks.

The car is Jaguar’s first all-electric racer, and will be known as the I-Type, in-keeping with its naming patterns for many of its road cars.

Carroll has been integral to its testing program, taking part in both the private running and all six days at Donington.

The Northern Irishman raced in GP2 before winning the A1 Grand Prix title in 2009, and also made two IndyCar starts with Andretti Autosport in 2010.

Most recently, Carroll has plied his trade in British GT, but came close to making his Formula E debut in Buenos Aires earlier this year when the participation of both Nick Heidfeld and Jean-Eric Vergne was in doubt due to injury and illness.

Now, Carroll will get his chance to showcase his talent in Formula E with Jaguar, marking his first full-time single-seater campaign since his A1 GP victory in 2009.

“It’s a real privilege to be racing for Jaguar in Formula E,” Carroll said.

“You only have to look at the calibre of the other drivers in the series to see the level of competitiveness and prestige that this championship now has.

“To drive for Jaguar is also a dream come true. They are the biggest brand to come into the series and one of the most evocative names in racing.”

Evans’ arrival comes off the back of four years racing in GP2, the premier feeder series to F1, which was preceded by a GP3 title success in 2012.

The New Zealander arrives off the back of four days of running with Jaguar at Donington Park, getting acclimatized to the Formula E car after seeing off competition from Alex Lynn and Harry Tincknell for the seat.

“Formula E is a real drivers’ championship with some of the most competitive racing in the world,” Evans said.

“Any of the drivers will tell you how challenging it is to find the limit in a Formula E car and gain those extra tenths and I’m looking forward to the season ahead.

“Some of history’s most iconic cars have been developed by Jaguar, and I’m thrilled to be part of Jaguar’s electric future and our return to motorsport.”

While both Carroll and Evans will be Formula E rookies in season three, both arrive with significant racing pedigree, which combined with Jaguar’s commitment to the series should make them competitive from the off.

Carroll and Evans will be joined at Jaguar by Ho Pin Tung, a Chinese-Dutch racer who has three Formula E races under his belt as well as a variety of experience from other series. Tung will act as reserve driver for the team.

“I believe that Jaguar’s entry to the series is a significant moment for the FIA Formula E Championship,” Tung said.

“I have direct experience of racing in this series and have seen how effectively Formula E brings a thrilling showcase of next-generation technologies right to the cities of fans around the world.

“I am looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to this future of electric mobility and to Jaguar’s significant racing legacy.”

The event also saw Japanese technical company Panasonic confirmed as Jaguar’s title sponsor for season three. The team will be known as Panasonic Jaguar Racing.

The launch event held at Jaguar’s HQ in Gaydon, England echoed its storied automotive and racing past, the room packed with classic cars such as the Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9, and even the Jaguar R5, the last F1 car produced by the British marque in 2004.

However, the message was firmly about the future: Jaguar is back at the top table of motorsport through its presence in Formula E as it looks to push the boundaries of electric technology and – naturally, given its pedigree – be successful on-track.

Formula E’s third season begins on October 9 in Hong Kong.

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Vicki Golden has earned a career worthy of a thousand stories and 805 Beer tells at least one of them, as “Inverted Perspective” premiered March 30 on the company’s website and YouTube channel.

Golden did more to break the glass ceiling in SuperMotocross than she ever thought possible. She knows this because riders have never felt the need to explain any of her accomplishments with the disclaimer, “for a girl”.

At this point in Golden’s career, she’s been the first woman to finish top 10 in AMA Arenacross Lites, the first woman to qualify in the Fast 40 in Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the first woman to compete in freestyle Moto X competition, earning a bronze medal by doing so.

Her love for moto came from childhood while she watched her dad and brother ride. By seven she was on her bike and making waves throughout Southern California.

Golden, 30, is still madly in love with the sport and has no plans on moving away but her career is already one to talk about. 805 Beer’s film series wanted to do exactly that.

“I’m taken aback by it all,” Golden told NBC Sports about the documentary. “It’s just crazy to see your story, it’s one thing to live your life and battle everything that comes about but it’s another to just sit there and talk about it.”

805 approached Golden about the feature by asking, “Do you even realize that what you do, and your story is special?”

Golden took the question as a blank canvas to map out the highs and lows of her career and life.

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The title “Inverted Perspective” came from a brainstorming session with Dominick Russo and it highlights Golden’s outlook on the sport of SuperMotocross and her life in general.

“My whole life, my whole career was thinking differently and looking at things that shouldn’t be done and aren’t there, while being able to make a place for myself, where no one thought there should be a place,” Golden said. “It’s inspiring someone to think in different ways. It sums up my life.”

*Vicki Golden is not “fast for a girl”; she’s just fast. – 805 Beer*

While Golden is no stranger to the spotlight, this was the first time she’s been fully involved with the storytelling and creation of a feature about herself.

“It’s not like a full new experience,” Golden said. “Obviously, you get your standard questions about your upbringing and accomplishments, but I’ve never really put into perspective things that happened in my past with my dad and putting that to light. Also, certain other things that maybe got overlooked in previous interviews or films. I wanted to touch on these and Dom wanted to create a story. It’s just cool to see it come to light, it’s a nearly impossible thing to tell somebody’s life story in 40 minutes.”

Golden’s father was left paralyzed after an ATV accident, robbing him the opportunity to ride again. This happened a few months before the father-daughter duo was set to compete in the Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Nationals when Vicki was 12. While she might have been unable to grasp the severity at the time, it’s something she carries with her. Golden continues to ride in his honor.

Years later, an accident in 2018 nearly sidelined the then 25-year-old Vicki when a freestyle accident almost resulted in the amputation of her lower leg.

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Golden 805 Beer — *Vicki Golden has ridden a variety of disciplines in SuperMotocross, which gives her a unique perspective. – 805 Beer*

“Inverted Perspective” highlights her father’s diligence in helping Vicki continue with her career and the kindness and strength he carried while fighting his own battle.

“My dad was the entire reason that I started riding in the first place,” Golden said. “So, to honor his memory and to honor what we went through and how hard he pushed to keep our dream alive and keep everything going – in that sense then, it was really special to be able to honor him and talk about him.”

The 40-minute feature was filmed entirely in black and white, a stark contrast from the oversaturated world of motocross where the brighter the suit the easier it is for fans to find their rider and follow him in the race. By filming in monochrome Russo and Golden had the chance to focus on the race and track from a different perspective.

“It was cool to be able to film it differently,” Golden said. “It created a challenge in the sense of what was going to be more visually impactful for the film.

“I couldn’t be here without the companies that back me but at the same time, it’s not like the logos or colors disappeared, it’s just different lights shed on different spots. It’s just a cool way to do it and to take color away and still be impactful. When you think of black and white, you think of old school, the OG way of doing things.”

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