SA's James Barclay revisits the choices that led him to becoming Jaguar's Formula E boss

As ever, Cape Town did not disappoint when it welcomed one of South Africa's unsung Formula E heroes home. And Simon's Town, Boulders, specifically, where we would meet James Barclay, was its classic self with the ever-present wind rustling over the mountain.

An hour prior, members of the Jaguar Land Rover South Africa team met us in Cape Town and chauffeured us to Simon's Town, where, after about 30 minutes, Barclay and associates from Jaguar's global team joined us.

"Hi, I'm James," the South African team boss for the Jaguar TCS Racing team says as he reaches for a firm handshake.

Born and raised in Kyalami on the Midrand and later completing high school at Pretoria Boys High, Barclay realised from a young age that he had a particular interest in motor racing.

From jumping the fence at the Kyalami Circuit to watch the races, to working at Zwartkops Raceway, being in motorsport was what he wanted to do, which led to him waving his country goodbye.

The crossroads

The tall, dark-haired man has 'lost' his South African accent, understandably, considering he left sunny South Africa for occupational opportunities in the United Kingdom in 1995.

"Any opportunity I could get to get close to racing cars and racing teams, I'd take it," he continues as we delve into his motorsport interests.

"Then, when I left South Africa in 1995, I realised there was an opportunity for me to go racing, because England is the home of motor racing, quite frankly."

During these early years, Barclay came to a crossroads in his career: continue pursuing a career as a racing driver, or put his tertiary qualification in Business Studies to use and be involved in motorsport in another capacity.

"I was given an amazing opportunity to join Lotus as a racing