While even the most staunch automotive traditionalists have come around to the idea of an electric future for consumer cars, the question of motorsports remains unanswered. Although Formula 1 introduced advanced hybrid engines in 2014 and continues to make advances towards more fuel-efficient protocols, it’s still decidedly un-electric. Ardent motorsports fans cite the roar of a V8 as central to the appeal of the sport while Formula 1 experts point out that the capacity of lithium-ion batteries is not large enough to handle the energy requirements of a Grand Prix. Even the colloquial honorific ascribed to motorsport lovers is intrinsically tied to fuel: petrolhead. After all, the top-billed star of the Fast & Furious franchise isn’t named Vin Lithium.
However, heritage British marque Jaguar is hedging its bets on an electrifying future for motorsports, with the release of the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY — of which there are only 20 examples worldwide — and the benchmark-setting Jaguar I-PACE; released in 2018, it was the first all-electric production vehicle produced by a European marque.
Jaguar has a storied racing history; from its early dominance at Le Mans during the 1950s through to a five-year run at Formula 1 from 2000 to 2004. Making its return to motorsports in 2016, Jaguar was the first luxury automotive manufacturer to partake in the all-electric Formula E street racing series, with its involvement in the series serving as a launchpad for the brand’s plan to become fully electric by 2025.
As an official manufacturer team in Formula E, Jaguar TSC Racing designs its own powertrain which comprises the motor, transmission, inverter, and rear suspension. With the carbon fibre chassis and battery being universal across all eleven participating teams, the focus for Jaguar is squarely on designing efficient and lightweight powertrains with performance in mind. The electric vehicle know-how developed during the conception and production of Formula E vehicles is directly applied to Jaguar’s consumer cars; namely the I-PACE.
Late last week, a select group of media were acquainted with both the Jaguar I-PACE and the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY on a private racetrack in Sydney. The twists and turns of Luddenham Raceway provided ample opportunity to put the agility and dynamism of the I-PACE to the test. Rather than speed being the priority, emphasis was placed on cornering and handling; something the I-PACE’s lower centre of gravity makes infinitely easier.
We also experimented with one-pedal driving — a regenerative driving mode that recharges the battery using kinetic energy from the vehicle’s forward motion when you lift off the accelerator pedal. In doing so, it also significantly slows down the vehicle without the need to hit the brakes. While it takes a second — or more like a minute — to get used to, when used correctly, it can eliminate the need for braking when taking a corner (within reason).
After refuelling — ourselves, not the cars — over lunch, we slid into the passenger seat for a couple of hot laps in the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY. Two of the aforementioned 20 cars were shipped over from the UK for this drive day, with media treated to a truly exhilarating experience. With some of Jaguar’s best taking the wheel, the handling prowess of the I-PACE eTROPHY was evident, with the car taking on the technical corners and numerous elevations of Luddenham Raceway with ease. And, with its almost eerily silent engine, the sound of one’s heart thumping is almost discernable.
By the sounds — or silence — of it, Jaguar is well on its way towards achieving the sustainability goals it laid out in 2021. The marque aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain and production process by 2039 and has pledged to become an all-electric brand by 2025.
Learn more about the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE below.
Words by T. Angel
