PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING COMPLETE SUCCESSFUL FORMULA E PRE-SEASON TESTING

19 October 2019

  • Panasonic Jaguar Racing completed 334 laps at Valencia pre‑season testing with season 6 driver line‑up, Mitch Evans and James Calado. A distance similar to driving from the Paris E‑Prix to the Berlin E‑Prix
  • The Jaguar I‑TYPE 4 demonstrated speed and reliability on track, 35 days ahead of the first race in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

Panasonic Jaguar Racing completed over 334 laps during pre‑season testing at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, with New Zealander Mitch Evans and ABB FIA Formula E rookie, James Calado working through the team’s test programme and demonstrating the Jaguar I‑TYPE 4’s on‑track potential.

Both drivers set fastest sector times across the three‑day test. During test session 3 on Wednesday, Evans set the fastest sector 3 time, 26.190 seconds, before being classified as second fastest in the final test session of the week.

British driver James Calado showed his adaptability to the all‑electric series by setting the fastest sector 1 time during test session 4, with 24.862 seconds.

Across the intense three‑day test programme, the I‑TYPE 4’s newly developed powertrain, motor, gearbox and rear suspension have showed reliability on track, with Evans and Calado completing 163 and 171 laps respectively.

 Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing - Mitch Evans and James Calado
Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing - Mitch Evans and James Calado
 Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing - James Calado
Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing - James Calado
 Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing
Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing

The pre‑season test is a really important time for further development and from our three day programme, we can see areas where we can take another step forward. Overall, we’re pleased with the work we have done here and with the car as it looks competitive on track. It’s hard to tell where everyone else is and it is difficult to compare lap times and race runs during testing so we have focussed on our own plan. We are looking forward to now completing our test programme and taking the Jaguar I‑TYPE 4 to Saudi Arabia for the first race, pushing for points.

James Barclay
Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director

It’s been a good test and opportunity to put plenty of kms on the car. We get to iron out any issues with the new car ‑ that’s to be expected with a brand‑new powertrain. We’ve collected a lot of data over the test, pushing the limits of the new powertrain and learning a lot along the way. This week has given me confidence so we’re ready to hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia in just over four weeks.

Mitch Evans
#20

The three days of testing have been really beneficial for me and the team to try and develop the car and see where we are in terms of pace. We’ve completed an intense programme and it looks positive so far. On my side of the garage the test has been largely about learning, trying different set ups and understanding the car as best as I can ahead of Diriyah.

James Calado
#51

With the first race only 35 days away, the three days of testing are crucial in the development of the I‑TYPE 4 as the team push for a positive start to the most competitive season of Formula E to date.

Season 6 - Valencia pre-season testing

Further information

For further information about Panasonic Jaguar Racing, please contact:

Imogen Shaw, Media Officer, Panasonic Jaguar Racing

Tel: +44 (0) 7825 024 591

Email: imogen.shaw@jaguarracing.com

 

Adrian Atkinson, Global PR Manager, Jaguar Racing

Tel: +44 (0) 7979 554005

Email: aatkins5@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

ABOUT PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING

Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first premium manufacturer to join the all‑electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship street racing series. In 2019 the team won the Rome E‑Prix – Jaguar’s first international motorsport victory since 1991.

Formula E is a real world test bed for Jaguar to make fearless progress in the future of electrification.

As an official manufacturer team in Formula E, Panasonic Jaguar Racing designs its own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter and rear suspension. To control costs the carbon fibre chassis and battery are common components and the same for all twelve teams. This allows the focus to be on developing electric vehicle powertrains which are efficient and lightweight which will improve the performance and range of future Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles.

This is the second year teams will be racing with the futuristic Generation 2 racecars. Teams have two racecars, one per driver, which will be used for the full race distance.

Beyond its all‑electric concept, Formula E is unique in the world of motorsport for its choice of venues. The championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world’s major cities including Diriyah, Hong Kong, Sanya, Rome, Paris, New York and ending in a double‑header race weekend in London.