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JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
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JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL

1 June 2023

Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird has taken training for the upcoming round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia to the next level by turning up the temperature in the Climatic Wind Tunnel at JLR.

  • Heat is on for Jaguar TCS Racing driver Sam Bird as he prepares for upcoming ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Using JLR’s state‑of‑the‑art Climatic Wind Tunnel, Sam trains whilst enduring top temperatures
  • The Brit will soon swap mild UK spring temperatures for the intense heat of Indonesia at this weekend’s Jakarta E‑Prix
  • The Climatic Wind Tunnel is part of JLR’s design, research and development centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire

Whilst Sam’s training regime often involves challenging cardio sessions, this week he has taken it to the extreme by preparing for the heat and humidity on a fitness bike in JLR’s state of the art facility in Gaydon, UK. Temperatures were turned up to 36 degrees Celsius with 90% humidity, replicating the intense conditions expected in Southeast Asia’s most populous city. High temperatures can quickly affect athletic performance so it’s important for the British racing driver to be as prepared as possible.  

The Climatic Wind Tunnel is based at JLR’s principal design and engineering centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The state‑of‑the‑art facility is normally used for product development testing to explore the performance and reliability of JLR’s road cars. The advanced tools can stimulate conditions as cold as ‑40 degrees Celsius and up to 55 degrees Celsius. 

On average, Sam loses two kilograms in weight during each race, demonstrating the physical impact motorsport can have. To prepare for such demands, training is a fundamental aspect for Formula E racing drivers as the Gen3 all‑electric race cars can be incredibly challenging to handle that level of strain on the body.  

JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL
JAGUAR TCS RACING DRIVER SAM BIRD BREAKS A SWEAT IN JLR’s EXTREME CLIMATIC WIND TUNNEL

Training in the Climatic Wind Tunnel at JLR was quite an experience. The team turned the heat up to 36 degrees Celsius and I could really start to feel the impact on my stamina. As a racing driver, training is an incredibly important factor in race performance. The loads on the Jaguar I‑TYPE 6 when competing at high speeds takes a toll on the body and you have to be able to handle that physically. But add in another layer of intense heat and humidity, and that can make it all the more challenging. Thanks to the team at JLR for helping me to get race‑ready in the impressive facility.

Sam Bird
Jaguar TCS Racing driver #10

If you’re not used to a hot and humid climate, then it can certainly be a shock to the system, especially if you’ll be exerting at such physical demands. Sam has put himself in the best possible position by prepping his body for these temperatures. Whilst our Climatic Wind Tunnel facility is designed for testing some of the most state‑of‑art cars, Sam was brave enough to take it on for a strenuous training session. He coped remarkably well with the conditions. I wish him all the best at this weekend’s Jakarta E‑Prix.

Steve Iley
Chief Medical Officer and Global Head of Occupational Health and Safety, Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar TCS Racing head to Jakarta, Indonesia for the Asian double‑header in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on 3 and 4 June 2023. 

Further information

Rose Jackson, Senior Communications Officer, Jaguar TCS Racing 

Tel: +44 (0) 7384 244 015

Email: rjackso9@jaguarlandrover.com  

Notes to Editors

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.

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