Latest news with #IanJames
Arab News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Arab News
From dust to data: NEOM McLaren's Bird and James eye strong finish after tough Jakarta test
Riyadh: Coming off a demanding weekend at the Jakarta E-Prix, NEOM McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird and managing director and team principal Ian James joined a media roundtable on June 24 to discuss their takeaways from the race and the team's trajectory heading into the final stretch of the season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Bird pointed to the circuit conditions in Jakarta as the toughest challenge of the weekend. He said that while dust was expected at the venue, the addition of rain made the surface even more unpredictable. 'We saw a dusty circuit almost get even dustier and even more difficult,' he said. The only grip available was on the narrow racing line, and deviating from it often meant a ruined lap or a potential crash. 'There was pretty much only the racing line that cleaned up, and then if you put one wheel off the racing line, the lap was finished or you were in the wall,' Bird said. That made overtaking extremely limited, and strategy around attack mode became even more critical. A technical issue with attack mode activation during the race also stood out as a key learning moment for Bird. Despite following standard procedures — pressing the activation button and passing over the loops — his boost failed to activate. 'We put that down to a regulation I didn't know about with regards to the amount of time that I needed to press the button for,' he said. In response, the team is now conducting an internal study of his button press durations over the past year to ensure consistency and compliance in future. Despite some setbacks this season, Bird emphasized the importance of staying focused and united as a team. 'If we can all operate at 100 percent — that's engineers, mechanics, myself, Taylor (Barnard) — then we know that we can score some big points,' he said. Acknowledging a few missed opportunities, Bird noted that the remaining four races are an opportunity to convert potential into performance. For James, the most rewarding part of his role has been leading a group of highly skilled and motivated individuals. He described the NEOM McLaren Formula E team as 'a group of men and women who are brilliant at what they do,' crediting their dedication and collaboration as key drivers of success. 'In bringing all of those ingredients, all those team members together, you then really unlock the performance potential of the team,' he added. Beyond the racing, James highlighted the progress the team has made in brand development and fan engagement. He confirmed that internal benchmarks in these areas have been met, reflecting Formula E's growing global appeal. In particular, he pointed to Saudi Arabia as a case study for that growth. He recalled the early days of Formula E in Diriyah in 2018 when the sport was still unfamiliar to many in the Kingdom. 'Every year that we've gone back, that interest has grown and grown,' he said, noting that the recent move to Jeddah has introduced the championship to new audiences and strengthened its presence in the region. With the team fourth in the standings with four races to go, James admitted that more work is needed to meet their goal of a top-three finish. Still, both he and Bird expressed confidence that the team has the talent, structure, and momentum to close the season on a high.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Aston Martin Returns to Le Mans With a Car That Is Turning Heads
In returning Aston Martin to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time since 2012, Ian James, the team principal, said it invoked mixed feelings. 'It's a little bit of trepidation, a little bit of angst, an immense amount of pride and being proud,' he said in an interview in May. James runs the Heart of Racing team, or THOR, which will have two Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMHs in the Hypercar class at Le Mans. Aston Martin has won the GT class five times since 2014 with its Vantage. It has not taken the overall victory since Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori did it in the DBR1 in 1959. James views this year as a developmental season. 'My goals this year are just to have continual improvement,' he said. 'As long as we continue to do that, and we've seen it in America in I.M.S.A. and W.E.C., we are inching closer and closer,' he said, referring to the International Motor Sports Association and the F.I.A. World Endurance Championship. 'I would say performance so far has exceeded my expectations,' he said. 'As long as we keep going in the same direction, then I'll be very happy at the end of the year as we move past the back of the grid, to tickling the middle of it, and I think that will happen.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Ian James on Monaco E-Prix Strategy
/ May 03, 2025, 03:24PM IST Catch exclusive insights from Ian James, Team Principal of NEOM McLaren Formula E, as he reflects on the challenges, strategy, and performance heading into the iconic Monaco E-Prix – Round 6 of Season 11. Learn about team dynamics, energy management, and what makes Monaco a uniquely demanding race on the Formula E calendar.
Los Angeles Times
29-04-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
LA Times Today: New desalination technology being tested in California could lower costs of tapping seawater
Californians could soon be drinking water from the Pacific Ocean. A new company is testing deep sea desalination technology that can turn saltwater to drinking water without the harmful effects to the environment. L.A. Times water reporter Ian James brought Lisa McRee the story.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
McLaren to exit Formula E at end of 2024-25 season
McLaren will leave the all-electric Formula E championship at the end of the 2024-25 season to focus on Formula One, IndyCar and a new hypercar project from 2027 in the World Endurance Championship. The reigning Formula One constructors champion said in a statement on Friday that the decision, after three seasons in Formula E with a team racing under the McLaren brand, followed a strategic review of activities. 'The time is right to explore other opportunities that more closely align with McLaren Racing's overall strategic direction -- including our 2027 entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship,' said McLaren CEO Zak Brown. 'For now, we are focused on setting this great team up for future success by working towards securing a new owner.' A Formula E spokesperson raised the possibility of the partnership continuing through next year. 'We recognise that the commercial landscape in motorsport is dynamic and often subject to change,' the spokesperson added. 'Despite this development, the team... is already engaged in positive discussions with potential partners and investors. We are confident the team will remain a strong presence in the championship, operating under a new identity if required.' McLaren took over the British-based team from Mercedes when the German carmaker left at the end of 2022 to focus on Formula One. The team, sponsored by Saudi Arabia's NEOM, was founded in 2019 and ran separately, under the leadership of Ian James, to McLaren's Formula One and IndyCar outfits. It is third overall after five rounds. Formula E puts its global fan base at nearly 400 million.
