- Race to Innovate - Panasonic Jaguar Racing's mission - continues as the team head to Hong Kong for the FIA Formula E Championship season opener
- New season, new car, new line-up, new rules, new venues
- With more than 200 new parts, the new Jaguar I-TYPE 2 racecar is a lighter and more efficient package
- Season one champion, Nelson Piquet Jr. joins Jaguar sophomore Mitch Evans on the grid
Thursday 30th November 2017, Whitley, UK: Panasonic Jaguar Racing are heading to Hong Kong for the start of their second season in the FIA Formula E Championship. The season opener takes place on 2 - 3 December in Asia's first ever double-header race weekend and will be the first-time drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. and Mitch Evans line up on the grid together in the new British team.
At the Hong Kong E-Prix drivers will complete 45 laps of the 1.86km street race circuit in the new Jaguar I-TYPE 2 on city's iconic Harbour front. With ten turns and two hairpin bends, Panasonic Jaguar Racing are ready to electrify the city's streets.
This season, Panasonic Jaguar Racing have developed a new powertrain, with more than 200 new parts in the Jaguar I-TYPE 2 to produce a more efficient package using high strength lightweight materials. Taking in all the learnings and technical advancements from season three, the team believe these will have a positive impact on their performance. For this season, the race power level increases to 180kwh making the cars even faster.
James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director, said: "We are very excited to kick off our second season in Formula E and it's great to be back on the grid in such an iconic city.
"As we race to innovate, we have taken a great deal of learnings from our first season and the team have worked extremely hard to make sure that we have the most competitive powertrain possible for the season ahead. Alongside the improvements on the Jaguar I-TYPE 2, we welcome Nelson to our new driver line-up – all of which, we hope, will help us to be regularly competing for points."
Panasonic Jaguar Racing's newest driver, Nelson Piquet Jr, who took Pole Position honours at the inaugural Hong Kong E-Prix in 2016, said: "Joining Panasonic Jaguar Racing is a great move for me, and it's been fantastic learning how this new team operates. I'm working closely with everyone to draw on my experience in Formula E and push us to the next level.
"As the series becomes more competitive, I wanted to join Jaguar to give myself the best chance of success. We won't know until we are on the grid how much the other teams have progressed and what the true capabilities of the Jaguar I-TYPE 2 are, so I'm looking forward to getting started and giving it my very best."
Mitch Evans, who has been confirmed for a second season with Panasonic Jaguar Racing, said: "The competition this season will be stronger than ever, but the work that the team have put in will help push us further up the grid.
"I had a really good first season as a rookie in the championship so I'm very excited for my second season with Panasonic Jaguar Racing. Nelson and I are already working together to grow as a team so bring on Hong Kong."
Panasonic Jaguar Racing's mission - Race to Innovate - continues into season four with the aim of inspiring and engaging a new generation of fans.
As the first premium manufacturer to enter Formula E, Jaguar also recently launched a world-first electric vehicle race series - the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY - which showcases the link between Jaguar's involvement in Formula E, the development of Jaguar's road cars and the future of electrification.
From season five, 20 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY racecars will line up on the grid in ten of the world's most iconic cities, in the world's first all-electric support race series. The championship will take place on the same day as the FIA Formula E Championship, enhancing the electric race schedule.
From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover model lines will be electrified – with either hybrid or battery technology.
Fanboost opens 27 November and closes on 2 December. Vote for your favourite Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver to give them extra boost on the racetrack in Hong Kong. Tweet your boost using #MitchEvans or #NelsonPiquetJr and #FanBoost, or visit: http://fanboost.fiaformulae.com/
Find out where to watch Panasonic Jaguar Racing at the Hong Kong E-Prix: http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/championship/tv-schedule/
-Ends-
For further information about Panasonic Jaguar Racing, please contact:
Phoebe Eaton, Race Team Media Officer, Panasonic Jaguar Racing
Tel: +44 (0) 7825 255 553
Email: phoebe.eaton@jaguarracing.com
Adrian Atkinson, Global PR Manager, Panasonic Jaguar Racing
Tel: T: +44 (0) 7979 554 005
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 FIA Formula E Champion street racing series.
Jaguar's Formula E programme will 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'.
Manufacturers can design their own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter and the rear suspension. Common components across all teams include the carbon fibre chassis and battery to control costs. The focus is on developing electric vehicle powertrains.
Beyond its all-electric concept, Formula E is unique in the world of motorsport for its choice of venues. With the exception of the Mexico ePrix, every round of the championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world's major cities.
Each race day sees all track action including practice, qualifying and racing, taking place in a single day. Beginning on December 2, the 2017/18 calendar includes 14 races in 11 cities, including double-header races in Hong Kong, New York and the season finale in Montreal.