Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Sheldon Van der Linde

  • Fittipaldi & Van Der Linde to drive for Jaguar

    Jaguar TCS Racing will be welcoming back Sheldon van der Linde for the Rookie Test, alongside new debutant Enzo Fittipaldi.

    The team will be bring back Sheldon van der Linde, who represented the Jaguar squad during last season’s Berlin test as well as last month in Misano during the Rookie Free Practice.

    The South African, who is the younger brother of ABT CUPRA driver Kelvin van der Linde, showed some impressive pace and went fastest in the opening session of the Berlin test last year.

    As well as being the 2022 DTM Champion, van der Linde also won the South Africa Polo Cup Championship and Volkswagen Cup South Africa during his younger career.
    He was also a part of BMW i Andretti Motorsport as a test and reserve driver, during the seventh Formula E season before joining Jaguar as their Test Driver from Season 9.

    Alongside him will be Brazilian racer, Enzo Fittipaldi, who will be getting behind the wheel of the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 for the first time.

    Fittipaldi comes from a long line of motorsport legends, with him also having a very impressive start to his 2024 racing season.
    The 22 year old won the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race in Jeddah with Van Amersfoort Racing, as well as picking up a podium in the Sprint Race that same weekend.

    I’m very excited to get back for my fourth test with the Jaguar TCS Racing team within one year – I feel a bit of a veteran at these rookie tests by now. Formula E is a really exciting championship to be racing in, one I hope to be competing in in the future, so hopefully this is a stepping stone to that opportunity.
    Sheldon on the news.

    This will be my first time driving a Formula E race car and I am really looking forward to the opportunity. I’ve spent some time in the simulator at the team’s headquarters in Kidlington to give myself the best chance to have a successful test in Berlin. The rookie test is a great opportunity for young drivers to try an all-electric motorsport category and I can’t wait to get some experience.
    Fittipaldi on the news.

  • Van Der Linde & Evans join Jaguar for Testing

    Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY Champion, Simon Evans joins Sheldon Van Der Linde, in Jaguar TCS Racing’s Rookie Test line-up.

    Simon Evans, elder brother of Mitch Evans, will return to the iconic Tempelhof Circuit where he was crowned Champion of the 2020 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY race series, three years after an epic ‘lockdown showdown’ finale.

    The 32 year old Kiwi will step into the cockpit of the Jaguar I-TYPE 6 as part of his long-awaited prize for winning the all electrical production based race series.

    I’m incredibly excited to be taking part in the official rookie test for Jaguar TCS Racing. The Jaguar family has always meant a lot to me, and I’m really looking forward to this opportunity. It’s the first time I will have been back to Berlin since I won the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY at the Tempelhof circuit. It’s definitely going to bring back some great memories. I know the track very well but it’s been a long time since I’ve driven a single-seater. I’m going to enjoy myself, while hopefully getting some valuable data for the team.

    Evans on the opportunity.

    South African, Sheldon Van Der Line, will be joining Evans in his Gen3 test debut. The BMW factory driver has raced in DTM for the last four years and is currently 2022 DTM Champion.

    The 23 year old started karting at the age of six, and gained a wealth of experience and won multiple national titles before moving into cars in 2014. Since then, Sheldon has continued his impressive career and seen success in the ADAC Total 24 hour of Nurburgring.

    I’m very proud to be joining Jaguar TCS Racing for my first rookie test in the Jaguar I-TYPE 6. The rookie test is a really great opportunity for young and upcoming drivers to try new motorsport categories and I’m really looking forward to driving the Gen3 race car for the first time. I’ve visited the team in Grove and have been working closely with the engineers to familiarise myself with the simulator, systems and procedures to be best prepared for what’s ahead in Berlin. From what I’ve heard, Formula E is particularly challenging if you’re a rookie, so it will be great to get some valuable experience in the all-electric racing series.

    Van der Linde on the experience.

    The test is an important day for both teams and drivers and I’m very pleased that we have Simon and Sheldon driving the Jaguar I-TYPE 6. It’s an opportunity to give new and upcoming talent a chance and assessment in the GEN3 race car and for us as a team to continue to build valuable data and insight into this new car. Simon has been a stand-out member of the Jaguar family, racing in the Jaguar I-TYPE eTROPHY for two seasons and ultimately becoming champion in a very competitive season. Mitch is also very proud to see his brother have this opportunity. Sheldon’s resume is without question and we are very pleased to have this very talented young driver in one of our cars. We’re looking forward to seeing how he approaches his time with us and his feedback.

    James Barclay, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal.