Jaguar launches return to motorsport with a spark rather than a roar

JAGUAR has officially launched its return to the world of single seat racing – although the Big Cat won’t be roaring quite as load as when it was emblazoned across a Formula 1 car or the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race.

The company is the latest manufacturer to enter a team into the FIA Formula E world championship, which is solely for electric vehicles.

The launch, at the Jaguar Collections Centre in Birmingham, featured the team’s official name, vision, title sponsor, driver line-up and electric racing livery.

From next month, Panasonic Jaguar Racing will compete in the third Formula E season with the first all-electric Jaguar racing car in history – the I-TYPE 1.

Jaguar’s appearance in the championship has been done so under the strapline ‘Race To Innovate’ – which corresponds with the brand’s mission to change the perception of electric vehicles, to develop new electric technology and to inspire future generations.

Through its partnership with the electronics company, Jaguar is aiming to push the boundaries of electric technology in a performance environment.

In addition to Panasonic, Jaguar has also secured sponsorship from aviation company Lear Corporation, which will join as an Official Team Partner.

Gerd Mäuser, chairman of Panasonic Jaguar Racing said: “Today marks a new chapter in the history of Jaguar Racing. As the first premium car manufacturer in Formula E we are proud to be back in top-level motorsport.

“The future is changing and we’re part of that change. We can’t wait to begin racing competitively in inner city locations inspiring a whole new generation of @JaguarRacing fans to join us on this exciting journey. Formula E is the perfect platform to inspire the next generation.”

Nick Rogers, executive director, Product Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, said the company’s participation in the championship underlined the important role Formula E would  play in developing next generation electric vehicle technology and the importance of electric vehicles in JLR’s future product portfolio.

“Over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades,” he said.

The championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions. We will apply this vital knowledge as part of our real world development. At Jaguar Land Rover we employ 9,000 engineers and the team will draw on these engineers to extract data and push the boundaries of electric technology in a race environment.”

The Panasonic Jaguar Racing team has successfully completed 21 days of testing, up to and including the last Formula E public test, which was conducted at Donington Park.

James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director said: “Everyone has worked very hard over the last nine months to prepare for our debut in the championship.

“We want to be successful on and off the track. We know that the challenge will be strong – our competitors have a two-year head start. We will be keeping our expectations in check in our first season. Ultimately we’re here to win but we’re here to innovate too.”

The new cars will be driven by 33-year-old Northern Irishman Adam Carroll, whose motorsport career spans karting, F3, GP2, A1GP, IndyCar and WEC. He has also successfully carried out the bulk of Panasonic Jaguar’s Formula E testing duties.

Joining him is 22-year-old New Zelander Mitch Evans who has experience of karting, GP2, GP3 and the Le Mans series.

Spreading the international appeal, test driver will be Ho-Pin Tung, a 33-year-old from China.