James targets a triple as McLaren ready for Formula E debut

LONDON : McLaren will be making their debut when Formula E kicks off its ninth season, and the new 'Gen3' era, in Mexico City on Saturday but team boss Ian James is chasing his third championship in a row.

The Briton, who started out as an engineer at McLaren Automotive 21 years ago, led Mercedes-EQ to electric title doubles in 2020-21 and 2021-22 with Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne respectively.

Formula One giants McLaren, also racing in electric Extreme E and IndyCar series, took over the team from Mercedes and James stayed on as principal in a back to the future move.

"I was always very proud of the fact that at Mercedes we were the only brand with a foot in both camps, Formula One and Formula E," the team principal and MD of Saudi-backed NEOM McLaren Electric Racing, told Reuters.

"And now that we've transitioned to McLaren we're still the only team with a foot in both camps."

Past form counts for only so much, however.

The team - like the city-based series itself with faster, smaller and lighter cars - has hit a reset button and McLaren will be using a powertrain provided by Formula E regulars Nissan.

There are also new drivers in triple German touring car champion and former Audi racer Rene Rast alongside British rookie Jake Hughes, promoted from a previous role as Mercedes reserve.

The team are based at the Bicester Heritage centre in central England rather than McLaren's Woking headquarters near London, although the simulator will come on line down south later in the year.

"Up until now as Mercedes we were a manufacturer and competitor whereas now we are a customer team of Nissan so that brings a different dynamic," said James.

"What we’ve tried to do is make sure that with what we are able to carry over and