Panasonic Jaguar Racing will make its FIA Formula E debut in the season opening race in Hong Kong’s iconic central harbor-front district Sunday, October 9.
The British manufacturer is hoping to extend its motorsport legacy that dates back to the 1950s by entering a full manufacturer supported two-car team in Formula E; the all-electric single-seater series that brings racing to the heart of some of the world’s greatest cities.
Beginning in Hong Kong, British driver Adam Carroll, 33, and New Zealander Mitch Evans, 22, will race Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s first all-electric Jaguar racecar, the I-TYPE, in the 14-round series which concludes in Montreal in July 2017.
The Jaguar Formula E program works to create tangible R&D benefits for the electrification of future Jaguar Land Rover road cars and is designed around the team’s founding principle, Race to Innovate.
Formula E races last 50 minutes and include a mandatory pit stop, in which drivers switch to a second car; adding another element to the exciting competition. Drivers face unique challenges in Formula E as they have to manage battery consumption and regeneration of the battery to maintain charge throughout the race.
With a focus is on advancing electric vehicle technology, teams design their own powertrains, which include the motor, transmission, inverter and the rear suspension. Common components across all teams include the carbon fiber chassis and battery to help control costs.
The Panasonic Jaguar Racing I-TYPE features an MGU (Motor Generated Unit) with a maximum power output of 200kW (270bhp) and with a maximum speed of 140mph. Power is delivered via a Jaguar Racing paddle-shift sequential gearbox.
Beyond its all-electric concept, Formula E is also unique in the world of motorsport for its choice of venues; each round, save for the one in Mexico, takes place on street circuits in the center of major cities. Track action, including practice, qualifying and racing, all takes place in a single day, apart from at the two-day double-header races in New York and the season-finale in Montreal.
