Mitch Evans faces high-stakes Tokyo E-Prix as Formula E title fight intensifies
Mitch Evans arrived in Tokyo with his Formula E championship ambitions on hold, knowing that only an excellent performance could keep his title hopes alive. After a challenging pair of races in Shanghai – where the Jaguar driver finished eighth in Round 12, before technical problems forced him out before the start of Round 13 – Evans now trails Pascal Wehrlein with just four races remaining in the season.
As the final weekend of the championship approaches, Evans is determined to erase the memories of past disappointments at the Tokyo E-Prix. Last year’s Tour of the Japanese capital was disrupted by both DNFs and DNS, and Evans is well aware that history cannot be allowed to repeat itself. “I’m trying not to even think about the last race, but let’s say even last year, it’s very much here,” Evans told Motorsport Week ahead of the event. “It’s never been a good track for us, so I’m trying to stay positive.”
The Tokyo Street Circuit offers a new set of challenges this season, with night racing and noticeably hotter temperatures ready to shake up the established order. Evans remains cautiously optimistic that the new circumstances may be in the Jaguars’ hands, but he has no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead. “It’s a hard decision to make,” he admitted. “I think the weather is going to be a big factor this weekend. Qualifying in the sun, which is very hot. It’s our first night race here. It’s hard to predict what effect it will have on things. But I think it will be hard to put the car in the right window for both conditions. It’s still quite hot at night, so it will be interesting to see what it will be like to drive here at night. Hopefully it will be in our favor, because the other conditions over the last few years haven’t really been working. Hopefully the change will be good for us.”
The chance of rain is adding further unpredictability to an already volatile weekend. Friday’s free practice narrowly avoided chaos after torrential rain just hours before the session, and Evans is prepared for any situation. He commented, “I don’t think I’ve ever driven at night when it was wet, so this might be really unique.” “We’ll have to wait and see. If it rains, how much will it rain. As always, every forecast says something different. We’ll have to see what we get.”
Amid the championship drama, Evans also reflected on the rise of New Zealand talent at the highest levels of motorsport. Along with compatriots Nick Cassidy in Formula E, Liam Lawson in Formula 1 and the likes of Scott Dixon, Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong in IndyCar, Evans is very proud of his country’s achievements. “I think it’s not discussed enough,” he said. “We’re a small country. I don’t know what the latest number is, maybe 4.5 million, 5 million. When I was growing up it was 4 million. In terms of geography, we’re at the bottom end of the world. It’s very hard for us to go abroad economically. It’s unbelievable. I don’t really know if New Zealand appreciates it enough.”
Evans believes a Formula E title for him or Cassidy could inspire the next generation of Kiwi racers. “I’d like to think so,” he said. “When you’re in karting, you’re just focused on F1. I don’t know what the perception is within the karting community of our community. I know that in New Zealand, let’s say it’s like 50-50. We have a bit more of a V8 (Supercar) type of mentality. But I think that’s changing. I hope to think that if Nick or I can ever win a championship, it will have a really good positive impact on the motorsport culture. So one of us has to win it.”
With the championship hanging in the balance and a new set of challenges awaiting under the lights of Tokyo, all eyes are on Mitch Evans as he seeks redemption and a key result to keep his title dreams alive.
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