Jaguar Formula E boss James Barclay to exit team after season 11

Written by Vyas Ponnuri

Long-time Jaguar team boss James Barclay will exit the British outfit at the conclusion of Formula E's eleventh season in 2025.

Barclay has served as Jaguar's team boss since November 2015 | Credit: Formula E

Barclay has served as the team's boss ever since they joined the series back in 2015. The Kidlington-based marquee joined the Formula E grid ahead of season 3, replacing Trulli GP, who had folded up ahead of the new season.

Alongside acquaintance Mitch Evans, Barclay has been the other constant figure at Jaguar, forming a stellar driver-team boss partnership ever since they started out in season 3.

Barclay's time with Jaguar as team principal is the latest in his storied motorsport journey. Having grown up next to the famous Kyalami Racing Circuit in South Africa, motorsport has always been in Barclay's blood.

After moving to the UK, Barclay pursued a stint as a racer in the BTCC championship for Lotus Motorsports. A ten year run on Bentley's PR team also meant he witnessed the team score a 1-2 at Le Mans in 2003, a historic feat for the team.

Barclay joined Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Motorsport in 2013 as their Global Partnerships Manager. With Formula E gaining prominence in the mid-2010s, Jaguar appointed Barclay as their team director after joining the Formula E grid in 2015.

Ever since, he has served as the team boss for Jaguar, overseeing their rise from a small outfit to becoming Formula E champions in 2024.

Alongside his position as team boss, Barclay also serves as JLR Motorsport's Managing Director, working behind the scenes to help the outfit enter the Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship from 2026.

A statement from Jaguar read, “JLR can confirm that James Barclay has decided to leave his role as Managing Director JLR Motorsport and Team Principal of Jaguar TCS Racing, effective from 01 August 2025, to pursue an exciting role outside our business."

“James has been an integral member of the JLR leadership team since he joined the company in 2013. Among many significant accomplishments during his time at JLR, last year, James sensationally led Jaguar TCS Racing to Jaguar’s first world championship win since 1991.

“More recently, James has been instrumental in establishing the programme which will see Defender enter as a factory team into the Dakar Rally and FIA World Rally Raid Championship from 2026.

“James will continue is his current role leading the JLR Motorsport function until 01 August.”

Under Barclay's leadership Jaguar have taken a total of 14 race victories, courtesy of Mitch Evans, Sam Bird, and most recently Nick Cassidy. Barclay's move to bring the latter into the works Jaguar team's fold paid off, as both him and Evans worked to bring the team their first Formula E championship in 2024.

However, neither driver could pry away the championship from Pascal Wehrlein, despite coming close at the conclusion of season 10.

Jaguar have faced a difficult start to season ten. Despite Evans starting the season with a last-to-first win in São Paulo, the British team's season has not achieved the trajectory many expected.

Jaguar have achieved only two points scores so far, with Cassidy bringing home fifth in the round 4 at Jeddah, his only points score of 2025.

Neither Cassidy nor Evans brought home points at Miami, after a disappointing race saw both drivers finish only 16th and 17th on the road.

The team's problems are expected to persist until the end of 2025, with Cassidy appearing less optimistic of the defending champions turning their fortunes around in season 11, instead expecting big results when Formula E's Gen4 era begins from 2026.