Prince William visited the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E Team in Kidlington, Oxfordshire on Thursday, as his younger son Prince Louis of Wales turned 8.
The royal was welcomed by team members before beginning his tour of the trophy room, where Jaguar’s growing success in the Formula E Championship was on full display.
The visit then moved into the heart of operations, where cutting edge technology and precision engineering drive Jaguar’s race day performance.
William met Portuguese racing star António Félix da Costa, the 2019-20 Formula E World Champion.
The driver walked him through the details of the car, providing insight into the speed, strategy and split-second decisions that define the sport.
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for when the prince himself climbed into the cockpit.
At 6ft 4in, it wasn’t exactly a seamless fit, but that didn’t stop him getting behind the wheel and getting a feel for the tight, tech-filled space drivers call home.
One engineer joked that only one of their current drivers, Jake Dennis, comes close in height, and even he barely fits.
Still, Williams’ willingness to give it a shot was greatly appreciated, especially given how physically demanding it is just to get in and out of the car.
The visit also explains the wider mission behind Formula E, which combines elite motorsport with sustainability and innovation.
Jaguar TCS Racing has been at the forefront of this push, using racing as a testing ground for electric car technology that could ultimately impact everyday road cars.
