Ho-Pin Tung set for Jaguar Formula E role

The Chinese/Dutch driver could be named officially tomorrow at Jaguar’s launch as working in some sort of capacity with Formula E's new manufacturer.

Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans are expected to be named as race drivers for the team, which has partnered with Williams Advanced Engineering for the all-electric project.

Tung was initially listed to drive on one of the Donington test days but had to make do with an observational role at the track on Wednesday.

He will be an important presence for Jaguar at the first round of the championship in Hong Kong next month as Jaguar’s primary market in 2016 is the PRC.

A source at the Jaguar team told Motorsport.com at Donington that: “He could some seat time in the car during the filming days and maybe the official test days during the season.

"The Williams guys know him pretty well and he’s obviously pretty switched on and experienced.”     

Talking at the Beijing International Automotive Exposition earlier this year, Ralf Speth, JLR CEO, said that China could recapture its position as “the number one [market] in terms of volume” in 2016 following a solid first quarter of the year.

2015 saw China slip to second in JLR’s biggest market in terms of volume behind the UK, but in 2016, the country is expected to emerge, like it did in 2014, as the most important market for volume sales.

Tung’s involvement with the team is expected to reflect this forecast and the current growth in China’s economy.

Tung is currently racing in the FIA WEC with the Baxi DC Racing Alpine team where he competes with a Signatech Alpine in LMP2.

He has previously driven in Formula 3, IndyCar, GP2, Superleague Formula and A1 GP. He also tested for the Williams and Renault F1 teams over the last decade.