“Bittersweet” Points Haul for Evans, Jaguar

Photo: Panasonic Jaguar Racing

Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Mitch Evans has described how coming tantalizingly close to the podium left him with a bittersweet feeling after Saturday’s Ad Diriyah E-Prix.

Evans came through the field from eighth on the grid after his qualifying lap was compromized by a red flag incorrectly displayed after Felix Rosenqvist’s final corner accident.

“It was a strong race and a good one especially after the bad luck in quali,� Evans told e-racing365.

“A bucket-load of points is a good start and we’ll take that at this early stage but to be so close to the podium is a little bittersweet.�

The Kiwi said that a considered approach to the first ever 45-minute-plus-one-lap Formula E race paid off for him later in the event.

“I stood my ground in the first few laps and I actually had quite a conservative approach from lap one,� he said.

“I was just hoping to get ahead of the game before we got full max re-gen and the race settled down.

“It was panning out quite nicely, I’m not sure what the exact percentage difference was but it was sort of three percent I was really racing against like d’Ambrosio, Lopez and Buemi.�

Evans was initially unsure if he had really benefitted from the safety car being deployed with 11 minutes and one lap of the race remaining.

“It got to the point where the safety car came out and we had a crossover and it looked good but it was really hard to get a picture what everyone else was planning,� he said.

“The safety car definitely helped Jerome and some other guys that were tight on energy.

There was some frustration though for Evans as he said he finished with plenty left in reserve in his Jaguar I-Type 3.

“I finished with a lot left in the tank which was a little frustrating but actually I think fourth was the best we could do anyway as DS were so strong and Antonio was quick also.�