Jaguar announced its return to racing at a press conference this week. The manufacturer will be joining the Formula E circus in the series’ third season.
Trulli Formula E’s team’s exit from the series left room for a new entry. Jaguar Land Rover, who have been following Formula E since the first race, said now was the perfect time to join the series.
“It’s the right time for Jaguar to be back in racing,” Jaguar Formula E’s Team Director, James Barclay, said. “The brand is growing. Over the last year we’ve launched six new cars and we’re really focused on building a successful and sustainable future. Timing wise, it absolutely couldn’t be any better.”
Barclay said Formula E was the right way for Jaguar to return to racing.
“The championship is a perfect fit for us,” he said. “It’s innovative, it’s exciting, but it’s also future facing… We’re looking forward to working with the FIA, with Formula E, on building that appeal and that success of the championship.”
The team will work with Williams Advanced Engineering, the current manufacturers of the Formula E battery.
“We’ve worked with Williams for a few years,” Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director at Jaguar Land Rover. “We have a strong relationship. You actually saw the C-X75 in the recent James Bond film. A lot of that technology – the propulsion system, batteries, and motors – was actually the foundation of the same technology we’ll use in Formula E.”
Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: “We are delighted to welcome Jaguar into Formula E. Jaguar is a brand with a rich sporting heritage and the fact that it is returning to global motorsport with Formula E is a huge endorsement of the championship and its ability to influence the development of electric cars. Jaguar brings with it a passionate fan base that will drive the popularity of the championship across the world.”
Jaguar Land Rover also announced it will be manufacturing a portfolio of electric vehicles, the technology of which will be developed when the car is pushed to the limits on the track.
Image courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover
