Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal James Barclay has expressed that the likelihood of extended races in the upcoming Gen4 era of FIA Formula E will place a greater emphasis on car efficiency and race strategy.
With the recent release of details regarding the Gen4 car, there has been a growing discussion surrounding Formula E. Barclay stated, “In Formula E, it has always been possible to increase speed, but our main focus is on delivering exciting racing. Speed alone does not guarantee thrilling races; it is essential to strike a balance that creates great racing.”
He added, “Some of the most captivating racing categories are those with high levels of overtaking. Our goal in Formula E is to find the right balance between exciting racing and speed. The introduction of longer races will introduce new factors that we do not currently encounter.”
Barclay highlighted, “We will need to consider the impact on the tires and develop new strategies. If we use a single set of tires for the entire race distance, we will need to manage tire wear over the extended race duration.”
“In terms of powertrain, the focus will shift towards efficiency. While there will be changes to the size of the power pack, there will undoubtedly be a greater emphasis on efficiency,” he explained.
“In Formula 1, drivers often have to lift and coast to manage tire wear. Similarly, we will need to employ similar tactics to manage energy consumption to some extent,” Barclay continued.
“The manufacturers who can master these challenges will have a significant advantage. Longer races will offer more strategic opportunities, depending on the regulations. Therefore, efficiency, strategy, and tire degradation will be crucial factors to consider. However, the overall performance improvement will pose a challenge for manufacturers as we embark on the development of our Gen4 cars, which will commence soon.”
Currently, Jaguar is leading the pack in 2024, with both drivers consistently earning points in every race. Nick Cassidy is currently at the top of the Drivers’ standings. Last year, they finished second in the Teams’ Championship, falling behind Envision Racing, who happens to be their powertrain customer. Is there a rivalry between these two teams, considering their cars share the same DNA? According to Barclay, it’s actually quite the opposite. He explains, “When we started our partnership with Envision, we had been battling Mercedes for two seasons prior, with only two cars – theirs and the Venturis. We were at a disadvantage, but now we know that having four cars gives us more flexibility with setups and allows us to try different things. So, it’s a true testament to our team that we were able to compete with one hand tied behind our backs, while our competitors had the advantage of two extra cars through their partnership. From our perspective, we were open to this customer-team relationship because we knew it was becoming the norm. We also set the goal with Envision to finish the final race in first and second place in the Championship, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Barclay continues, “This context gives you an understanding of the mindset behind our relationship. However, we are still a team and a manufacturer, and our ultimate goal is to win the World Championship. Although I’m proud of our first and second place finish, we still strive for that top spot. Even Envision would acknowledge that the manufacturer teams had a lot more work to do. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t have double the amount of people. While we had to focus on getting the Gen3 working efficiently and performing well, a customer team could solely concentrate on running the car. We had to navigate through code, software, and optimizing the car’s performance, which was challenging for us as manufacturers.”
He adds, “Last year was really tough for us as manufacturers. We carried the weight of responsibility and workload, while customer teams enjoyed certain benefits. However, from our perspective, if a Jaguar car is on the top step of the podium, I’m extremely proud. It’s the same dedicated team of men and women here who design, develop, and build the winning car. Envision has been an excellent customer team, and our relationship is strong. But, we also have our own aspirations to win, and there is mutual respect among us all.”
According to the Source motorsportweek.com