Early Career
Growing up in Auckland, New Zealand, Mitch Evans was introduced to motorsport from an early age by his father, who once held the New Zealand land-speed record at just under 350km/h. It wasn’t long before Evans followed in his father’s footsteps, getting behind the wheel of a go-kart at just six years old.
Between 2001 and 2007, Evans established himself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young drivers, winning 13 karting titles and qualifying for the 2007 World Rotax Final in Dubai. His rapid rise continued in single-seaters, as he won the NZ Grand Prix at just 16 years old, becoming the youngest driver to claim the title. Managed by former Formula One driver Mark Webber, Evans went on to win the 2012 GP3 Series championship with MW Arden.
In 2013, Evans made the step up to GP2 with Arden International at just 18 years of age. Despite being a rookie, he became the youngest driver in the series’ history to stand on the podium during his debut weekend in Malaysia, adding three further podium finishes throughout the campaign.
Evans remained in GP2 the following year with Russian Time, enjoying his most successful season in the championship as he finished fifth overall with two victories and seven podiums. During the same period, he made his debut at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with Jota Sport in the LMP2 class, finishing an impressive second in class. His final GP2 campaign with Pertamina Campos Racing proved challenging, although he still managed to claim a victory.
Formula E | 2016-20
In 2016, Evans joined Panasonic Jaguar Racing as the British manufacturer returned to the top-level single-seater racing for the 2016-2017 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The Kiwi scored 22 points during his rookie campaign, with his best result coming at the Mexico City E-Prix, where he finished fourth.
Evans took another step forward in his second season, securing Jaguar’s first Formula E podium at the Hong Kong E-Prix while also claiming pole position. The following campaign saw him establish himself as a regular front-runner, taking his maiden Formula E victory in Rome alongside two further podium finishes to take fifth in the Drivers’ Championship.
The 2019/20 season began in similar fashion, with Evans taking victory in Mexico and following it with a podium in Santiago. The campaign was ultimately interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing an abrupt end to a season in which Evans had firmly established himself as one of Jaguar’s leading drivers.
Formula E | 2020-24
The 2020/21 season marked another step forward for Evans, finishing fourth overall in the standings with five podiums. He opened the campaign with a third-place finish in Diriyah, before adding further silverware in Monaco and London, continuing to demonstrate the consistency that had become a defining feature of his driving.
The final season of the GEN2 era saw the Kiwi consistently challenge at the front of the field, securing four victories and three further podiums on his way to second in the Drivers’ Championship. Despite narrowly missing out on the title, he carried that momentum into the 2022/23 season, once again taking four victories and three additional podium finishes to finish third in the championship.
Once again, Evans remained firmly in title contention the following season, claiming two wins and four podiums. His campaign ultimately came down to a dramatic London finale, where Evans entered the final round fighting for the championship. However, he was beaten to the title by Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein, finishing just six points behind the German driver.
Formula E | Season 2024-26
2024/25 proved considerably more difficult for Evans. Despite securing victories in São Paulo and Berlin, a combination of four DNFs and a series of misfortunes left him 13th in the Drivers’ Championship, bringing an abrupt end to his run of consecutive top-five finishes.
Evans bounced back strongly in Season 12, returning to the championship fight with Jaguar. Three podiums and two victories kept him firmly in contention for the long-awaited Drivers’ Championship, with the title once again going down to the final round in London, but technical problems ultimately prevented him from scoring the points required to secure the title.
He finished third in the championship, extending his remarkable run of success while leaving the elusive Formula E crown just out of reach once again.
Evans is set to embark on a new chapter in his Formula E career, joining Opel GSE for the GEN4 era. The move brings an end to a decade-long partnership with the British manufacturer and marks a significant new challenge for the New Zealander.