Jaguar TCS Racing's Mitch Evans heads to Seoul and the season finale once again in with a shout of the Drivers' World Championship, having been in the fight in both Season 5 and Season 7. This time around, he's hoping for the rub of the green to go with his pace and performance.
Last time out in London, Evans headed standings leader Stoffel Vandoorne by one position in race two. An inverter problem ended things at the death, though, turning a 22-point advantage for the Mercedes-EQ driver into a 36-point lead. It's a big ask, says Evans, but he'll go out there this weekend trying to channel his Rome double - and hoping the bad luck's behind him following London and last year's Berlin finale; again scuppered by a technical problem
"It’s a completely different situation this year," says the New Zealander. "I was quite close last year in terms of points and I had a great starting position. Obviously, we know what happened in the race. The points gap is huge this year but there’s two opportunities to catch up. Even so, I feel it’s a bit more out of my control. I can’t control what he does but I can control what I can do. I’ve got to try and make the most of the big opportunities this weekend. It’s not over but it’s going to be a tough ask.
"You don’t wish [problems in a race] on anyone and that’s not the way I’d want to win it. I want to win on pure pace and performance and hopefully we’ve got enough to get to the front in both races. Crazy things can happen and I’ve had misfortune with problems in the last couple of years so it can happen but I don’t hope for it to happen to anybody else. I just aim to go out of this weekend proud and with my head held high and then whatever happens, happens.
"A win would mean the world to me and for the team I know what it means. The last time I won a title was 2012 and it’s been a long time. We’ve been in title fights since Season 5 now and I’m hoping for something different this time. This is what I live for and it’s what I’ve done since I was six. It would be an absolute dream."
An all-new challenge brings plenty of variables
The newest circuit on the Formula E calendar sees us take in Seoul's Olympic Park. The lap starts with a tight, technical run before entering the Jamsil Olympic stadium as the 22 racers put on a show for the grandstand audience.
As they leave the stadium a batch of sweeping turns leading to long straights connected by 90 degree turns follows as the circuit wraps around the Olympic park as the drivers jostle position around this fast 2.6km, 22-turn circuit in attempt to go for gold.
Seoul also brings more high temperatures for the teams to manage. EV battery systems and powertrains are at their most efficient and performant inside a specific temperature window. Track evolution will be a big factor, too. As will the weather, after Seoul experienced record rainfall early in race week.
If the Big Cat gets on top of these factors ahead of the rest, the team could give Evans a big leg up come Round 15 on Saturday.
“The new Seoul circuit is a track that brings a lot of new aspects," explains Phil Charles, Jaguar TCS Racing Technical Manager. "We’ve seen a number of high temperature locations this season and Seoul is most definitely another. It’s very likely that as we head into the final two races of the season battery management will be critical, meaning that both the drivers and engineers have to work on a clever strategy to maximise temperature and efficiency.
"As it’s the inaugural race in Seoul, we’re expecting the track surface to evolve throughout the weekend and we’ll see lap times getting quicker and quicker. There is also a high chance of rain which can add another level of complexity to qualifying and the race. We’re really looking forward to the season finale and will be fighting to bring home the Drivers’ title and finish as high as possible in the Teams’ table.”