New cars, new regulations and two new teams: the ninth season of Formula E promises to be more exciting than ever and with new Gen3 cars that are more powerful, faster and more efficient. We took a closer look at the all-new Jaguar I-Type 6 at its presentation.
The next Formula E World Championship will start in Mexico City on 14 January 2023. The ninth season promises even more action than before because, in addition to the new regulations, there are also revolutionary new cars: the third generation (Gen3) racing cars they have changed radically, they are lighter, stronger and faster. Jaguar presented its electric racing car in London and takes a look at the new I-Type 6. According to Jaguar, it is the most advanced and most efficient electric car of all time, with which the British finally want to reach the crown of the world Championship .
Many changes are coming with Season 9. For the first time in Formula E history, there is also an electric motor on the front axle. In combination with the second electric motor at the rear, the 600 kW Jaguar I-Type 6 can now recover twice as much energy as before. For this reason, the racing car does without the classic brakes on the rear axle and decelerates there electrically. The British put the power at 350 kW (475 hp), previously a maximum of 250 kW (340 hp) was allowed. The I-Type 6 has also become 74 kilos lighter than the Gen2 vehicle and can now reach a top speed of up to 320 km/h.
The faster, more torquey Gen3 cars are sure to add excitement to the battle for the world championship. Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal James Barclay is extremely proud of his new car. But electric formula cars also bring new challenges. “The technology is a big step forward for Formula E, but it has also become very complex with the Gen3 era,” says the South African native. “Furthermore, the new Hankook tires have completely different characteristics compared to the previous Michelin ones. As a result, the much faster car will also be more difficult for the drivers to drive,” adds Barclay.
In addition to the many new unknowns for next season, at least the two Jaguar drivers Mitch Evans and Sam Bird are no strangers. Experienced and experienced drivers have long been part of the Jaguar team. Evans was the runner up in the world championship last season. Like his teammate Bird, his goal this time is to attack even harder and win the world title for Jaguar. With the Jaguar I-Type 6, the equipment you use has not only changed radically from a technical point of view. The new car will be launched in carbon black and satin white instead of gray with turquoise elements as before. Furthermore, both racing cars are now painted asymmetrically for better differentiation. Evans has the large Jaguar car logo on the right hand side of the car, while Bird has it on the left.
Before the two Jaguar drivers make their racing debuts in Mexico City, they prepare for the season at the team’s first official test at Valencia in December. Among the 11 teams and 22 drivers, there are two new teams, McLaren and Maserati, which aim to enrich the electric racing series. McLaren is the former Mercedes team. In addition, there are also new street circuits on the Formula E racing calendar next season with India (Hyderabad), South Africa (Cape Town) and Brazil (Sao Paulo). To reduce costs, carbon fiber frames and the batteries are the same for all teams, but with the electric drivetrain and rear wheel suspension, the manufacturers go their own way and develop them themselves.
Sustainability is a big deal for Jaguar. As part of a Reimage strategy, Britons have committed to zero emissions across the supply chain by 2039. The I-Type 6 will also serve as a development laboratory for upcoming production vehicles from Jaguar and Land Rover. From 2025, the British want to convert their models to purely electric vehicles and the knowledge gained from the racetrack is to be transferred to the road. (Guido Borck, cen)
