Whereas Jaguar TCS Racing and TAG Heuer Porsche come into this weekend’s Components E finale with each of their drivers in rivalry for the Drivers’ title, each are additionally within the hunt for the Groups’ and Producers’ championships as nicely.

That presents an intriguing state of affairs for the drivers at each groups, who might want to stability their very own private ambitions with doing the best factor by their employers.

“All of us have the precedence, clearly, us drivers within the Drivers’ championship, as a result of we actually need that title,” says Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein. “However alternatively, we’re employed by our groups, and nothing is larger than a staff.”

That being mentioned, Jaguar’s Nick Cassidy feels that whereas the drivers have their very own goals, each go hand-in-hand and gained’t affect one another.

“Finally, my feeling is that whichever staff wins, the drivers will win,” mentioned Cassidy. “If we do an incredible job collectively and as a staff, I feel we’ll win the Drivers’ as nicely. So let’s see what occurs. However that’s form of my prediction.”

It’s a prediction that’s considerably shared by Cassidy’s boss James Barclay. He’s eager to emphasize that the staff’s precedence is the Groups’ championship, each drivers are free to combat each other.

“Whereas each drivers have a mathematical probability, you must let each of them combat for the championship, and that’s the truth,” mentioned the Jaguar staff principal. “However on the similar time, completely everyone seems to be right here racing for Jaguar TCS Racing. That’s absolutely the focus and the precedence, however truly supporting each drivers equally. They each stand an opportunity to win the championship.”

That’s not a method that’s set in stone, although. With this weekend being a double-header, the complete championship complexion might change by Saturday evening, with one spherical nonetheless to go. Ought to that be the case, Barclay says Jaguar could be keen to shift its stability to again one.

“If one thing modified on Saturday, we’ve got to regulate that technique on the similar time,” he mentioned. “It’s completely what we’ll do, and the entire staff will form of rally round what that call is and take it ahead from there.

“So yeah, it’s respectful to each drivers. They each have a chance, but when one thing adjustments, then our full assist will go by and considered one of them to maximise that chance.”

Arriving in London on the prime of the Groups’ standings, and occupying the top-two spots within the Drivers’ (with second-placed Evans degree on factors with Wehrlein in third), the brightest spotlights are these on the Jaguar staff. The truth that it’s a house occasion provides an additional layer of strain, too.

“Stress is a privilege, because the saying goes,” Barclay mentioned. “I feel that residence assist goes to be one thing which we’ll actually really feel this weekend. We’ve large quantities of colleagues, companions, media, and all types of individuals attending assist the staff. So from our perspective, a improbable, improbable platform which to do it.

“That is precisely what sport must be about, proper? It’s about large crucibles, large moments, and that’s precisely what this weekend is about. And it provides us one thing to essentially be enthusiastic about, and we’re actually pushed by that. The considered having the ability to achieve success in entrance of our residence crowd is one thing which we’re excited by.”

Whereas Porsche could be very a lot the chaser, the German outfit’s staff principal Florian Modlinger insists its future is in its personal arms.

“I feel we proved and confirmed that we’re aggressive on all form of tracks. Final 12 months we had a little bit of a weak spot in qualifying, this we sorted out for this 12 months,” he mentioned, alluding to Wehrlein at the moment having the equal-most variety of pole positions this 12 months. “This implies we’ve got it out in our personal arms: put it on pole, attempt to do the win from the entrance two instances.

Porsche wants to shut down Jaguar’s factors benefit, however the German producer heads into this weekend’s finale believing that its destiny is in its personal arms. Dom Romney/Motorsport Pictures

“And that’s the large message. We’ve it in our personal arms if we carry out nicely right here, we don’t want luck, we don’t need assistance from others, however we have to carry out.”

Wehrlein agrees, understanding that persevering with his robust qualifying run might be key to overhauling the Jaguars.

“I feel we’ve got every thing in our personal arms, which is nice,” he mentioned, echoing his boss’ phrases.

“The easiest way to start out is to qualify on the entrance, after which have a clear race.”

On the motive force entrance, it’s Evans that’s main the chase behind Cassidy. And having completed within the top-four for every of the final three seasons, it’s a well-known place for him. But in addition having been with Jaguar for everything of his – and certainly the staff’s – time in Components E, staff success can also be one thing that issues to him

“Clearly, I’ve been on this place fairly a number of instances now, so it doesn’t really feel too unusual,” he mentioned. “I imply, I’d be mendacity if I mentioned I wouldn’t want to be in Nick’s footwear – I’m simply at all times the one in rivalry, however not the one being chased.

“I feel is a large precedence that we need to win this Groups’ (championship),” he added. “That’s going to be large for Jaguar. We’ve come so shut up to now. We’ve acquired second final 12 months, second in Season 7, so I really feel like this staff actually deserves that world championship

“So I feel we acquired to deal with it as a standard weekend in a approach. Clearly, there’s a number of weight behind it, and so much at stake. However, I feel we are able to’t micromanage it an excessive amount of, simply because you may’t in Components E. It’s actually troublesome to try this.”

As for himself, it’s championship or nothing. If his chase proves to return up brief, he gained’t be disillusioned if he slips even additional again.

“I’m not likely (keeping track of these behind), to be trustworthy,” he mentioned. “Each of us have to be scoring to have the ability to win this for the staff. I feel we’ve each acquired a duty.

“From a driver’s perspective, I feel if I find yourself dropping the third or fourth, that doesn’t actually trouble me an excessive amount of. I’m right here to win. We’re all right here to win, and I completed second and third too many instances. I’ll undoubtedly be disillusioned to not win, however whether or not it’s second or third doesn’t actually trouble me an excessive amount of.”

Cassidy has the lead, however many suppose this may very well be Evans’ 12 months to lastly get the championship monkey off his again. That being mentioned, it’s Antonio Felix da Costa who involves London as the shape man. He’s an outsider, however given he’s gained 4 of the final 5 races, some within the paddock are tipping him as a darkish horse for the title.

“I’m unsure that’s practical,” he countered. “I imply, thanks, however this way will not be very regular in Components E and it doesn’t final eternally so I’ve already forgotten what we’ve carried out a few weeks in the past.

“I simply did my regular preparation for a weekend and I’m simply attempting to have enjoyable driving the automotive in the meanwhile. I don’t have a number of strain in the meanwhile, a number of titles on the road for us this weekend, however I’m simply going to do my finest and see the place I come out.”

“The primary aim in the meanwhile is the Producers’ and Groups’ championships. There are three guys very very shut collectively, realistically talking I’m just a bit bit too far, however stranger issues have occurred on this planet of motorsport.”