James Barclay will leave his role as Managing Director of JLR Motorsport and Team Principal of Jaguar TCS Racing at the end of the current season.
The story of Barclay at Jaguar so far
Barclay has been a central figure in Jaguar’s return to international motorsport, having joined Jaguar Land Rover in 2013 and leading the company’s Formula E programme since its launch in 2016. His departure will be effective from August 1, 2025, following the season finale in London.
A statement from Jaguar confirmed:
“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.”
Appointed Team Director in 2015 and elevated to his current position in 2021, Barclay oversaw Jaguar’s journey from newcomers to world champions, culminating in their first Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles in 2023. Under his leadership, Jaguar claimed 15 race wins through drivers Mitch Evans, Sam Bird, and Nick Cassidy.
Leaving his role at JLR Motorsport, too
Barclay also played a key role in establishing JLR’s Dakar Rally programme for the Defender brand, which will debut in the FIA World Rally Raid Championship in 2026. Jaguar added:
“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 in his current role leading the JLR Motorsport function until 01 August.”
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds praised Barclay’s contribution to the championship:
“He’s a racer himself and very passionate about racing. James is a really good collaborator for us, very collegiate and very supportive of the championship ambition to grow. And he’s been part of the growth. He’s put a shift in he’s earned the right to go on and do something else.”
Barclay’s exit comes amid a challenging Season 11 for Jaguar. Despite a promising win in the opening round in São Paulo, the team has struggled with consistency and currently sits eighth in the standings. This follows a difficult end to last season when tactical missteps saw Evans and Cassidy both lose their shot at the Drivers’ Championship in the London finale, despite Jaguar claiming the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ crowns.
As Jaguar looks ahead to the Gen4 era in 2026-27, a successor to Barclay has not yet been named.
