RACING “I love street

RACING “I love street racing – that feeling of being so close to the walls while being ultra-smooth and precise” KATHERINE LEGGE too,” enthuses Rahal. “It answers a lot of the demands people have for a car for the street. The I-PACE is eye-catching, there’s nothing like it out there. Jaguar has really hit a home run with this one.” The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY is the support series for Season Five of the Formula E Championship, with races taking place on the same race weekends as Formula E over the full 10 rounds. With up to 20 cars participating in each race, entrants get their own dedicated race engineer plus access to mechanics, branded livery, clothing and special hospitality suites too. A Jaguar VIP car will attend each race as well, with a famous face from motorsport or beyond taking part. “I have a lot of faith in Jaguar and M-Sport who is doing much of the technical operations work,” says Rahal. “The parties involved give us confidence it will be a very well-run series and provide a lot of excitement. Besides, electric vehicles are only going to get more sophisticated and capable, and through this program we might help contribute to that evolution.” The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY cars use the same 90-kWh lithium-ion battery from the production I-PACE, but boast enhanced aerodynamics – most PHOTOGRAPHY: NICK DIMBLEBY, CHARLIE GRAY 72 THE JAGUAR

NASCAR and Formula E veteran Katherine Legge was Bobby Rahal’s first driver signing visible in the adjustable rear wing – plus a host of race-safety and weight-saving measures, including a roll cage instead of rear seats and some aluminum panels swapped for composite. For all his jovial enthusiasm Rahal is deadly serious about his team’s entry into the series – “We want to win,” he states unequivocally – and has signed up two “very good drivers,” Katherine Legge and Bryan Sellers. “Experience, maturity and pace are the qualities that I was looking for when we chose our driver lineup,” he explains. Ohio-born Sellers brings extensive experience in endurance racing, with stints in IMSA WeatherTech Sports car championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Meanwhile, British-born but now US-based Legge is a veteran of not only motorhead series such as NASCAR and DTM, but Formula E too. “I’m stoked to be involved – it’s an iconic British brand and an iconic racing team,” Legge told The Jaguar. “I’ve always loved Jaguars. I have special memories of my grandfather’s E-type.” The potential of the series to spread a positive message about EV ownership also appeals to Legge: “Formula E has done a lot of good in promoting electric cars, but the I-PACE is even easier to relate to; it brings it closer to home.” Does she think her Formula E experience will stand her in good stead for eTROPHY racing though? “Electric car racing does require different throttle modulation, energy saving and regenerative braking at certain points, but it’s not as big a step as some people think,” she reasons. “There won’t be pitstops in this series so the races should be an out-and-out street fight. I love street racing – that feeling of being so close to the walls while having to remain ultra-smooth and precise.” That will be music to Rahal’s ears – he knows all about taking his chances, but is level-headed enough as a team owner to know that consistency is as important as out-and-out speed. “With lots of narrow circuits there are all kinds of opportunities to hit the wall,” he says with a smile, “so you want drivers who will make good decisions.” Good decisions that will hopefully bring racing success, forecourt sales and excitement about the future of EVs in general, as Rahal concludes: “Everyone in racing wants to see the electric aspect of the sport grow. These series are bringing a lot of people to the sport who would otherwise not be interested. I think that adds to the value of motorsport in general. And when you look at the companies involved, it’s really the cutting-edge ones. They’re the ones that are going to play a strong role in the future of the automobile.” With the I-PACE eTROPHY, Jaguar is at the very front of the grid. Follow the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY racing championship at jaguarracing.com THE JAGUAR 73