Jaguar stops electric I-Pace racing class due to corona pandemic

Jaguar has decided that the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy Series will not have new seasons after the last race of this season has been completed. The manufacturer points to the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason.

The racing series, in which only electric I-Pace cars participate, started in 2018 and is now being closed after two years. The I-Pace eTrophy was a support class for the electric Formula E racing series. Jaguar Land Rover also participates in that class. The team boss, James Barclay, speaks of ‘unprecedented times’ due to the corona pandemic. He says that led to a rethink of the strategy and the decision to retire ‘after two successful seasons’.

The I-Pace eTrophy features heavily modified versions of the Jaguar I-Pace, in which, for example, the drivetrain has been moved to the rear and completely new suspension and brakes have been installed. The races take place on the same temporary street circuits used for Formula E. This means that Jaguar’s racing competition could partly make use of the infrastructure and organization of Formula E, which is now in its sixth season. Both competitions are currently on hold due to the corona pandemic, but it is expected that they will be restarted later this year.

Presumably, the economic impact of the corona pandemic is not the only reason for the termination of the I-Pace eTrophy Series. Inside Electric writes that there was never a fully filled grid and that the costs are high.

According to Jaguar, owners of regular I-Pace cars have benefited from the I-Pace eTrophy races. The manufacturer claims that experiences gained during the races have led to a software update for all I-Pace cars that increases the range by 20 km. This update has been available since December last year.