In his second season as a Formula E driver, Taylor Barnard has made a significant move to DS Penske after debuting as a rookie with NEOM McLaren last year. The 21-year-old British talent recently took a break from the high-speed action to connect with fans, offering a glimpse into his life beyond the racetrack.
Fan Q&A Session Reveals Personal Insights
Following the Miami E-Prix, where Barnard topped the second free practice session but ultimately finished 14th, he engaged with fans through Instagram, answering questions that spanned various aspects of his personal life. This interaction provided a refreshing look at the driver's off-track personality and interests.
Racing Idol and Educational Background
When asked about his racing inspiration, Barnard didn't hesitate to name the legendary Formula 1 star Ayrton Senna as his idol. The question about his schooling revealed an interesting twist: "That's a bit of a technicality because the year that I finished school was the year of COVID," Barnard explained. "My last school year got cut short by a couple of months, so technically no, but I did get some GCSEs, so I'll let you guys decide on that one."
Musical Preferences and Summer Plans
Barnard's taste in music leans toward house music, with his current favorite being "Resurrection" by Chris Dusty. Regarding summer breaks, the young driver admitted, "Honestly, I've not had that many summer breaks throughout my career. I think this one will be the first. At the end of this season will be the first one where I can actually spend some time and go somewhere." He even invited fans to send him destination recommendations.
Language Skills and Karting Days
One of the more surprising revelations came when Barnard discussed his Italian language abilities during his karting days with Kart Republic from 2018 to 2020. "I could speak quite good Italian... I couldn't speak very well, but I understood everything," he recalled. "I could probably get by, but that was a long time ago, so I've lost some of my Italian skills, that's for sure. Maybe I need to try and fire up Duolingo again."
The DS Penske No. 4 Concept Car
Last month, Barnard unveiled his custom-made DS Penske No. 4 Concept car, which features several personal touches. "First of all, the number four is a DS Automobiles car. The color is very different. I think the style is more futuristic," he described. "I've helped design some of the cars and put some of my own personal touches on them. There's a 77 on the back. It's called tailor-made, so there are some other niche touches on there, which was quite cool."
Current Season Performance and Upcoming Races
Barnard's transition to DS Penske has yet to yield podium success this season. His performances include:
- A 13th-place finish in Sao Paulo
- A narrow miss of the podium with fourth place in Mexico City
- A 14th-place finish in Miami
The driver now looks ahead to Round 4 in Jeddah, which marks the first double-header of Formula E's Season 12. As he continues to adapt to his new team and car, fans will be watching closely to see if his personal insights translate into improved on-track results.
