Jaguar to Join Formula E in 2016

Formula E is very much the up-and-coming motorsport. It may never be able to steal the spotlight from its petrol-powered big brother, Formula 1, but it’s certainly drawing attention in recent times. Firstly  with its announcement two weeks back that it was planning a driver-less “Roborace” championship for self-driving cars, but now famous luxury car manufacturer, Jaguar, are getting in on the action with a plan to join the championship next season.

Many key automotive manufacturers already have some involvement in the motorsport, entering partnerships with existing Formula E teams to provide them with electric power units and other components. Jaguar’s entry into the sport has been made possible due to the exit of the Trulli Formula E team following disappointing results in their first two seasons.

In order to make their entry into the sport, Jaguar is partnering with Williams Advanced Engineering (who are related to the Williams F1 team). The two companies have shown greatness together before, collaborating on Jaguar’s C-X75 supercar and with Williams’ experience in the sport, as the battery provider for all the cars on the field, the result could be spectacular.

This could be a kick-off event for Jaguar to develop electric road cars too, with Jaguar Land Rover’s engineering director, Nick Rogers going on record stating that “Jaguar Land Rover’s made no secret about the fact that we will make electric vehicles.” “Formula E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies,” said Rogers.

It is definitely a very exciting time for both motorsport and car enthusiasts. Many purists may believe that the petrol engine is the only way, but only time will tell what exciting racing Jaguar could bring to Formula E, and how they will pair their great sport and luxury cars with the modern electric engine for the road.

Image credit to Jaguar Land Rover