"Unreal Experience"
Simon Evans wins The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Championship.
Aug 14, 2020
The Grandstands might have been empty, but this was a Grandstand finish nonetheless; as Simon Evans came from behind to win the eTROPHY in the final race, and by a single point.
Post-race, the New Zealander’s excitement was astronomical, "It was like a rocket… I'm over the moon!"
Going into the season finale raced over nine days at Berlin's Tempelhof airfield, Evans was confident that he could reel in defending champ Sérgio Jimenez. Despite bagging three straight wins going into the final race, the Brazilian still led the PRO series. While Jimenez struggled with the set-up of his car in the penultimate round, Evans had found the I-PACE's sweet spot "We rolled with the same set-up, with what we know, and it worked."
The car's set up was okay, but these another kind of set up waiting for Evans final race. Jimenz' teammate and eventual race winner Cacá Bueno, doing all he could to thwart the kiwi, "I tried to do my best to win this race and together help the team. I tried to expose Evans to help Sérgio but fairly."
Evans only needed to finish ahead of Jimenez to secure the title, and second place was enough. The Brazilian had lead the series until the final chequered flag fell in Berlin, Evans finishing the season on 163 points; Jimenz on 162.
With multiple New Zealand Touring Car titles, Evans is no stranger to success, but this result is at a whole new level. Not only is it a worldwide championship, but it is also the only series based on production EVs. "I'm so happy for Team Asia New Zealand It's been a tough nine days, with seven races but it's been epic at the same time. Thanks to the Giltrap family and Group, we did it."