JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS

25 May 2023

AN INDUSTRY FIRST ON THE FORMULA E RACE TRACK

  • In a Formula E racing first, Jaguar TCS Racing have successfully utilised a more circular transmission fluid in their race cars
  • With a circularity‑first mindset, used Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid is collected from the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 transmission, re‑refined and blended to make a more circular EV transmission fluid
  • Deployed during the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the 2023 Monaco E‑Prix, it demonstrates the capability of a more circular transmission fluid performing in a highly competitive and performance‑critical environment
  • The learnings can be used to help develop increasingly sustainable fluids for future cars without compromise on performance and efficiency
  • Sustainable discoveries support JLR’s Reimagine strategy and the adoption of circular economy principles is key to achieving its goal to be carbon net zero by 2039

Jaguar TCS Racing and longstanding partner Castrol set the objective to test and demonstrate more sustainable solutions, that also demonstrate the capabilities of circularity. As a result, re‑refined Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid was successfully used in the team’s all‑electric race cars at the 2023 Monaco E‑Prix. Pioneering this process at the race track, Jaguar TCS Racing become the first motorsport team in Formula E to claim the use of a more circular transmission fluid. 

As Official EV Fluids Partner to Jaguar TCS Racing since 2019, Castrol works with the team to co‑engineer advanced EV Fluids and lubricants to realise the performance and more sustainable solutions that support the future of electric vehicle efficiency.

Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has been a testbed for Castrol, using the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 as a fast‑paced laboratory to trial the comparable performance of a more circular transmission fluid.

The prestigious Monaco E‑Prix saw the more circular Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid deployed in a high‑performance environment, following successful testing earlier in the season in Berlin. The iconic race, with its winding streets, high‑speed sections, and challenging corners, saw Jaguar TCS Racing driver Mitch Evans take his third podium of the season, and teammate Sam Bird climb six places.  

Waste transmission fluid taken from across Jaguar TCS Racing’s test and development activity is collected and re‑refined using a technique to recover its main constituent base oil. This more circular base oil is blended with performance additives to make a fresh batch of the EV transmission fluid, which is then deployed to the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 gearbox in place of fluid containing virgin base oil.  

The successful deployment of the more circular Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid demonstrated that a more circular transmission base oil can perform in parity to virgin base oil.

Both Jaguar TCS Racing and Castrol will collect key data within the contained ecosystem to develop a technical and practical understanding of the technology and processes around more circular transmission fluid systems, with the ultimate aim of applying the learnings from the race track to road cars.

Sustainability sits at the heart of JLR’s Reimagine strategy. Limiting the use of virgin materials through the adoption of circular economy principles, based on a ‘use less, use longer, use again’ philosophy, will be key in achieving the goal to become net zero by 2039.

Castrol’s PATH360 strategy embraces circular thinking and looks at the life cycle of Castrol’s existing and new products, to see how they can be improved, extended, reused or recycled.

JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS
JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS
JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS
JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS
JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS
JAGUAR TCS RACING PIONEER CIRCULARITY WITH CASTROL ON EV TRANSMISSION FLUID IN RACE CARS

Our partnership with the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E Team puts our range of EV Fluids to the test on the track. The performance of our more circular Castrol ON EV transmission fluid in an extreme race environment gives us and customers confidence of the high‑quality and high‑performance of these fluids. It helps us embrace circularity principles – which is part of our PATH360 sustainability strategy – looking at the life cycle of our products, to see how they can be improved, extended, reused or recycled.

Nicola Buck
CMO Castrol

The use of re‑refined EV transmission fluid is a great demonstration of circularity in action on the race track and supports the wider company ambition to adopt circular economy principles so we can reduce the use of virgin materials. We have a clear aim to achieve carbon net zero by 2039 and embed sustainability into the JLR DNA.

Rossella Cardone
Director and Head of Sustainability Office at JLR

One of our core principles is that we race to innovate and we share this ambition with our longstanding partner Castrol. Together we deploy innovative e‑fluids and lubricants to drive efficiencies on the race track and to support the discovery of breakthroughs for road cars.

We are immensely proud to be the first motorsport team in Formula E to deploy this circular process, by using the re‑refined base oil, to a race car and set the standard for pioneering circularity within the paddock. In this World Championship with incredible competition, we cannot compromise on performance, so the successful use of a circular oil without compromise is a gamechanger. I believe this is a key discovery and helps us learn what is possible when pushing the boundaries of EV Fluids for the benefit future road cars.

James Barclay
Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal

Further information

bp press office London, bppress@bp.com, +44 7919 217511

For further information about Jaguar TCS Racing, please contact:  

Rose Jackson, Senior Communications Officer, Jaguar TCS Racing 

Tel: +44 (0) 7384 244 015

Email: rjackso9@jaguarlandrover.com  

Notes to Editors

Castrol and JLR have a long‑standing relationship and deep history of technical collaboration after working together for more than 30 years. All JLR vehicles (with a Jaguar engine, hybrid and EV) are already born with Castrol products inside.

Castrol and Jaguar TCS Racing use the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to further advance e‑Fluids technology for the current and future electric road vehicles.

About Castrol:

Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fueling the dreams of pioneers. Our passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership, has enabled Castrol to develop lubricants and greases that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea and space for over 100 years.

Today, Castrol is helping drive sustainability with our PATH360 strategy and aims to save waste, reduce carbon and improve lives. Castrol is part of the bp group and serves customers and consumers in the automotive, marine, industrial and energy sectors. Our branded products are recognized globally for innovation and high performance through our commitment to premium quality and cutting‑edge technology.

To find out more about Castrol please visit www.castrol.com/forward or contact bppress@bp.com.
 
ABOUT JAGUAR TCS RACING
Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first luxury manufacturer to join the all‑electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship street racing series. In season eight, Mitch Evans finished as runner‑up in the drivers’ standings – his most successful result in Jaguar TCS Racing’s Formula E campaign.

Formula E is a real‑world test bed for Jaguar with its journey to becoming an all‑electric luxury brand from 2025. Jaguar TCS Racing’s goal is to ‘Reimagine Racing’ and together the team will test, develop, learn and collaborate, sharing insights across JLR which will benefit future road car development. Specifically, learnings and technology transfer from Formula E will help ‘Reimagine” the Jaguar brand coinciding with the company’s commitment to the Gen3 era of Formula E.

2023 is the first year for the teams to be racing with the Gen3 car, the world’s first net zero race car.

As an official manufacturer team in Formula E, Jaguar TCS Racing designs its own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter, and rear suspension. Jaguar, via its long‑term Formula E technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering, will supply Envision Racing with its powertrain for the Gen3 era.

To control costs, the carbon fibre chassis and battery are common components and the same for all eleven teams. This allows the focus to be on developing efficient and lightweight electric vehicle powertrains which will improve the performance and range of future JLR electric vehicles.

Teams have two race cars, 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 2023 championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world’s major cities including Mexico City, Diriyah and Rome, with new locations including Hyderabad, Cape Town, and São Paulo. The season finale plays out across a double‑header race weekend in London.

In 2022, Jaguar TCS Racing finished fourth in the teams' standings with seven podiums, four wins, one pole position, one fastest lap and 231 points scored – the team’s biggest points haul to date. New Zealander, Mitch Evans finished last season as runner‑up with Sam Bird finishing thirteenth overall in the drivers’ standings.

Formula E remains a key priority for JLR and the company’s Reimagine strategy. As the premier all‑electric world championship, Formula E allows us to test and develop new electric vehicle technologies in a high‑performance environment. It continues to be the test bed for our Race to Innovate mission that will see Race to Road and Road to Race learnings that will help shape our electric future – a future that Jaguar is passionate about, and dedicated to for the benefit of our society, the changing landscape of mobility, sustainability and our clients.

Through our Race to Inspire mission, Jaguar TCS Racing are committed to inspiring the future generation by using the race programme to create a positive impact on our planet and the communities in which we race. From competing in the world’s first net carbon race car to supporting and training the next generation of engineers and motorsport professionals.

For more information, visit https://media.jaguarracing.com/
 
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
TCS is an IT services, consulting, and business solutions organization that has been digitally transforming many of the world's largest businesses for over 50 years. A long‑standing strategic technology partner of Jaguar Land Rover, TCS is committed to leveraging innovative digital technology to help the race team accelerate their electrification journey, win races, and create a more sustainable future. TCS believes that global sports sponsorships with purpose can spark change and positively impact our communities. A part of the Tata Group, TCS has more than 616,000 consultants in 55 countries.