Envision Racing will continue its programme from Gen3 in to Gen4 with its nominated manufacturer Jaguar, ensuring that their collaboration will likely get to eight years spanning 2022 to 2030.
The Chinese owned team and Jaguar both announced today the continuation of the partnership that has so far seen Envision deliver four EPrix wins and the 2022-23 teams’ title, the first won by a Jaguar designed and built package.
Envision’s managing director and chief technology officer, Sylvain Filippi, told Formula E Notebook this week that several factors influenced the decision to stick rather than twist, when it came to Envision’s Gen4 programme.
“When we started with them, there’s a lot that we liked, like their track record of developing a really good powertrain and a quick car, plus obviously the geographical proximity, which is a huge one,” said Filippi, touching on the fact that Envision’s Silverstone HQ and Jaguar/Fortescue Zero’s bases are just 30-minutes apart.
Fillipi also identified the working cultures and cohesion that exists between the two companies.
It hasn’t always been completely harmonious though, with some tensions coming to the surface in the second Gen3 season of 2023-24, when Envision slipped from first to sixth in the standings. But generally, in recent seasons there has been a string dynamic between the two operations,
“We have created bridges basically at every level: performance engineers, systems, race team, management, PR, we have nice contact points right now,” expanded Filippi.
“So, that’s why it really makes complete sense. But the interesting thing really is that four years ago it was the first time that Jaguar had a customer, so there’s a lot that they didn’t know, didn’t appreciate and they were learning.
“We’d done it with Audi before, so we already had an idea, but it’s a very different culture and different company. So, what has been really good is just working on a new partnership for Gen4 now, and just basically improving on the things that we have learned.”
Filippi added that “we’ve learned from our mistakes, we know what works, we know what irritates people, and we’ve learned.
“On top of that, they have this renewed approach where it has to be a win-win situation. We get a good powertrain and we pay a good price for it, but also it is very useful for them to have four cars with the data, with good drivers, good team, a good benchmark.
“We have to take the fight to Porsche, Stellantis and others, it’s not easy.”
Envision has a close and strong relationship with key figures at Jaguar and Fortescue Zero, notably race director, Gary Ekerold, who lays down much of the structure and operational excellence within the ‘ Big Cat’ squad.
Ekerold is known to have driven forward key consolidations in engineering co-operation with Envision, and even advised Envision on specific attributes he and engineers had witnessed and admired upon Joel Eriksson, who was signed to the team last autumn to replace the outgoing Robin Frijns.
From Jaguar’s standpoint the relationship is “exceptional” according to Jaguar team principal, Ian James, who added that “over the past four seasons, our shared commitment to performance, innovation and electric racing excellence has delivered race wins, podiums, Teams World Championships and a Manufacturers Trophy that together we can be very proud of.
“As we move into GEN4, Jaguar’s focus remains on providing a world‑class powertrain and working closely with Envision to ensure both teams can compete at the very front of the grid. We look forward to building on the success we’ve achieved together and continuing to push the boundaries of all-electric racing innovation,” concluded James.
