Since partnering with Official Supplier, AERO, six months ago, Jaguar TCS Racing has been working with the team to apply their material technology to their racing cars.
AERO’s advanced urethane film forms the I-TYPE 6's black, white and gold livery and is an alternative to traditional wrap with a streamlined, sustainable manufacturing and application process. This creates minimal impact on the environment with no polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds, emits no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and produces zero carbon dioxide (CO2).
AERO produces materials that cannot particulate and flow into rivers and oceans - salient with an estimated 2.25 million tons of microplastic entering the ocean each year as a result of traditional paint.
“We are constantly exploring ways of improving sustainability without compromising performance," says James Barclay, Jaguar TCS Racing Team Principal. "We include methods of using less energy and fewer resources in everything that we do. Working with AERO is revolutionary, as it has provided us with a solution which outperforms a traditional car wrap in every way – it’s lighter, more durable and has dramatically less impact on our planet."
JLR's sustainability commitments
While Jaguar is committed to becoming an all-electric modern luxury brand from 2025, it also aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its supply chain, products and operations by 2039. Jaguar TCS Racing provides the platform for testing and developing innovations that will benefit future road vehicle development and enable sustainable transformation.
The team, along with their portfolio of partners, use the competitive nature of Formula E to push boundaries and discover even the smallest of gains in efficiency. The precision-engineered material technology from AERO applied to the race car features ultra lightweight properties and removes the need for multiple layers of coating, offering a reduction in mass - ultimately increasing performance and range benefits.
AERO’s wrap is tough against damage from chips, abrasions and chemicals and its construction and thickness can be optimized to balance weight and durability across a vehicle, using thicker film for high wear areas and lightweight films for low wear surfaces.
“It is fantastic to see the Jaguar TCS Racing team partnering with companies like AERO who are driving sustainable innovation in paint technology, an area traditionally associated with high environmental impacts," says Rossella Cardone, Director and Head of Sustainability Office at JLR. "Developments like this support the wider business’ Reimagine strategy, which includes our commitment to become carbon net zero by 2039.”
James E. McGuire Jr, CEO of AERO Sustainable Material Technology, said: “We originally developed AERO for the aerospace industry as a durable, lightweight, decorative solution to replace paint. When we pivoted to the automotive industry, we were able to dial in the performance and aesthetic value within motorsport. But the real value driver that has excited OEMs is our products’ sustainability and contribution to a more circular economy. Our business is committed to eliminating VOCs, CO2, and other harmful pollutants, while maintaining—or enhancing—performance and aesthetics for the ultimate customer experience. And Jaguar TCS Racing is a natural fit for innovation, performance, and environmental sustainability!”