Simon Evans, the elder brother of Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E driver Mitch Evans, will take part in the inaugural Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY season.
Representing “a multi-sponsor team from across the Asia-Pacific region”, Evans will join his brother in Jaguar’s electric racing roster.
Simon Evans has previously competed in his native New Zealand where he was crowned V8 Super-Tourer champion in 2014-15.
He becomes the third member of his family to race internationally, as his father Owen Evans ran at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Pre-Qualifying in a Porsche in 1996.
He was denied a race start after an accident in New Zealand while attempting a land-speed record.
Simon Evans got his first taste of the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY car at Silverstone on Tuesday.
“My brother races in Formula E and I’ve been following it for a few years now; it’s exciting, it’s definitely the future so it’s great to be involved,” said Evans.
“The car exceeded all my expectations, it was really nice to drive and the braking performance is really good.
“Having my brother there will be great too – we’ll be supporting each other and he’ll definitely be pushing me on.”
Both Katherine Legge and Bryan Sellers, driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, also took delivery of their eTROPHY cars and logged some valuable test mileage at Silverstone.
Further multi-car teams from China, the Middle East and Europe will announce details, including their drivers, shortly.
In addition, a team from Germany attended the acclimatization running at the Silverstone Stowe circuit on Wednesday.
Recently announced I-PACE drivers Sergio Jimenez and Caca Bueno are also in attendance at Silverstone to get their first experience of the all-electric SUV.
E-racing365 understands that at least one high-profile driver and team from Saudi Arabia will run a campaign in the first season of the series which will kick off in Riyadh in December.
“This week’s test confirmed the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY is shaping up to offer exciting, close and really competitive racing,” said championship manager Marion Barnaby.
“The standard of drivers is high and with five continents already represented on the grid it is going to be a truly international series.
“We’re looking forward to unveiling more competitors and completing final testing before our debut in Ad Diriyah on 15 December.”
Jaguar also announced that ABB, the official title partner of Formula E, will be official charging partner for the eTROPHY, providing fast chargers to each team.
