Jaguar wants win in Tokyo during milestone weekend | Preview Formula E

Japan is at the centre of the international motorsport world over the coming days. In a little over a week, Formula 1 will visit Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix; this weekend, the Formula E electric class will already be present for the first Tokyo E-Prix. A favourite for the race? Jaguar seems to have the best chances in a race where there is something for the team to celebrate anyway.

It was a day of announcements on Thursday: Shortly after Lola announced its entry into Formula E with Japan's Yamaha in '25, Nissan announced it had become the first manufacturer to commit to the Gen4 generation of electric cars. Through 2030, the Japanese company is sure to be active in the series.

It was no coincidence that two Japanese companies made their announcement in Japan. After all, Formula E is booming in the Asian country. So Japan—and Tokyo in particular—and the FE were keen to bring the class to the Land of the Rising Sun. Eventually, Formula E settled on a street circuit near the Tokyo Gate Bridge. The first part of the circuit is extremely technical, while the second part is all about speed.

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Picking a favourite in advance is difficult: no one has ever driven on the circuit, and the last few races do not offer any good insight. Last time in Sao Paulo, for instance, McLaren unexpectedly won through Sam Bird, while Jaguar looked like the big favourite. The British veteran himself is equally curious to see where his McLaren team stands in Tokyo: "I’m very excited to head to Tokyo, especially after such a strong weekend last time out in São Paulo".

"I think Tokyo is a great addition to the Formula E calendar, and I’m confident it’ll be a very exciting event. There are lots of different corner types, and I’ve heard it’s particularly bumpy in some sections, so that’ll be an additional challenge," Bird added.

Jaguar and Evans celebrate anniversary

Still, Jaguar seem to have the best chances ahead of the event. For Jaguar, it will be a special weekend anyway. The British team are entering their 100th E-Prix, and Mitch Evans drove them all for Jaguar: "I was just 22 years old when I first raced for Jaguar TCS Racing, it’s crazy how fast time goes. During our time together, we have been on a huge journey of both learning and growth, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we have achieved," Evans said.

"Everyone in the team has helped me to develop both on and off the track, and I’m truly grateful for their ongoing support. After 99 races in Formula E, we are still targeting our first World Championship winner’s trophy, for both myself as a driver and for the team, after being so close a number of times. Hopefully, my 100th race at the Tokyo E-Prix is one that takes us take another step closer towards that goal."

The race in Tokyo starts Saturday morning at 7:00 am CET/6:00am UK time.