Jaguar poised for Formula E 10 | 12 | 2015
JAGUAR IS POISED to make a dramatic return to motorsport by entering the all-electric Formula E Championship. It's understood Jaguar will confirm the decision next week. The third season gets underway in the autumn.
The announcement coincides with Jaguar Land Rover confirming recently its first range of electric vehicles. In addition, there are grid slots available in the Formula E with the troubled Trulli Formula E on the verge of announcing its withdrawal.
Jaguar's presence on the Formula E grid would place it alongside other manufacturers, including Renault, Citroen (through the DS brand) and Audi, plus electric-vehicle specialists Venturi and Mahindra and Chinese company NEXTEV.
Related: Jaguar Land Rover eyeing Silverstone bid
The Jaguar race car is expected to be developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering, the company that designed and assembled the batteries for Formula E's cars.
Jaguar has not had a works motorsport programme since then-parent company Ford pulled it from Formula 1 in 2004, at the end of a five-year spell in the world championship.
Its motorsport heritage includes seven victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours — including Ecurie Ecosse — plus the 1991 World Sportscar Championship, run by Scot Tom Walkinshaw, and 1984 European Touring Car Championship titles.
Related: Double Scottish delight for Jaguar Land Rover
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Jim McGill