GKN Automotive continues partnership with Panasonic Jaguar Racing

GKN Automotive, the world’s leading supplier of automotive all-wheel drive and electric driveline technology and systems, is continuing its partnership with Panasonic Jaguar Racing. The global engineering group will strengthen its working relationship to support the team throughout season six of the ABB FIA Formula E championship, to further test and refine what is possible in electric automotive performance.

Panasonic Jaguar Racing unveiled its new 2019/20 Jaguar I-TYPE 4 during an official team launch event at Jaguar’s new design studio in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The occasion also marked the continuation of GKN Automotive’s multi-year team sponsorship with the team, maintaining a longstanding relationship with Jaguar and Jaguar Racing and the company’s remarkable motorsport heritage.

As part of an expanding technical workstream partnership, GKN Automotive will offer integration and control expertise to help boost Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s performance throughout future seasons. Through current research projects at its Innovation Centre, a UK hub for advanced automotive eDrive development, and further insight gleaned from the Panasonic Jaguar Racing partnership, GKN Automotive will explore further technical development of electric drivetrains for future use in electric motorsport.

GKN Automotive is investing in young engineers and providing pathways into engineering for apprentices, higher education placement students and post-graduates. The renewed partnership will allow GKN Automotive and Panasonic Jaguar Racing to work together to engage with young engineers interested in working in motorsport, with each company potentially benefitting from work placement exchanges and the sharing of teaching resources.

The ongoing sponsorship also means that the new GKN Automotive logo will now be displayed on the livery of the 2019/20 I-TYPE 4 race car throughout Season Six of the increasingly-popular global Formula E programme, as well as driver helmets, suits, team kit and merchandise.

Liam Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer of GKN Automotive, commented:

“We are proud to continue our longstanding relationship with Jaguar’s racing exploits. As the world leader in advanced drivelines and state-of-the-art electrified systems, we are looking forward to further strengthening the working relationship with Panasonic Jaguar Racing to share our technical expertise and to benefit the future development of high-performance electric drivetrains.”

James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director, said:

“The partnership with GKN Automotive is a great opportunity to share expertise in eDrive development. We appreciate the heritage that GKN Automotive has in motorsport, and look forward to exploring new ways in which we can work together to advance high-performance driveline technology in Formula E.”

GKN AUTOMOTIVE'S MOTORSPORT HERITAGE

The Formula E partnership continues the long-running relationship between GKN Automotive and Jaguar, which dates back to 1935 when GKN Automotive supplied driveline technology to the first SS Jaguar saloon. Today, GKN Automotive supplies every Jaguar model on the market with a variety of driveline technologies, including high performance CV Joints and intelligent all-wheel drive systems.

In motorsport, GKN Automotive driveshafts have featured on many of Jaguar’s performance cars, from the Le Mans-winning C-Type in 1951, to Jaguar's iconic 1990s supercar, the XJ220. Formula E represents GKN Automotive’s most recent motorsport partnership, but the company already has an enviable history in championship-winning and record-breaking race cars. Fifty years ago, GKN Automotive sideshafts helped to power the Ford GT40 to its overall win at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Since then, the company has continued to developed lighter, faster and stronger driveline technologies to help racing teams reach the summit of motorsport.

ONE MILLION eDRIVERS PRODUCED

GKN Automotive’s partnership renewal comes just months after the company delivered its one millionth eDrive system. Demand for GKN Automotive’s expanding eDrive portfolio, which encompasses a range of driveline technologies for electrified vehicles, has increased markedly during recent years, and the company currently has five major eDrive mass production projects in progress in China and Europe.

GKN Automotive has pioneered advanced eDrive technologies since 2002, developing experience of systems integration and production that is unmatched in the industry. The knowledge began with transmissions, then eMotor and transmission systems, through to fully integrated motor, gearbox and inverter systems. GKN Automotive’s eDrive experience is proven by its support of numerous OEMs with their evolving line-ups of electrified vehicles, including BMW, Mitsubishi, Porsche and Volvo.

ABOUT GKN AUTOMOTIVE

GKN Automotive is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline technology and systems. It develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline technologies – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics. GKN Automotive is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, four-wheel drive Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems and operates in 21 countries at 54 locations employing approximately 29,000 people. It is a pioneer of advanced e-Drive development and in July 2019 produced its 1 millionth electrified driveline system. www.gknautomotive.com

For further information, please contact:

GKN Automotive
Will Reeves
PFPR Communications
Tel: +44 1622 766513
Email: will.reeves@pfpr.com