Jaguar is set to return to the world of racing with an entry in the electric Formula E, reports suggest. The company is believed to be formally announcing its participation next week.
At the same time Jaguar is expected to announce its commitment to building a fully electric car in the future, with its entry to Formula E presenting an opportunity to develop new green technologies for use in its road cars.
An insider told Sky: 'It offers live testing for electrification technologies in areas such as batteries and drive-trains: that's why it looks valuable to them.' The Formula E presence will be launched in conjunction with the Williams group - which is well-known for its presence in Formula 1.
Jaguar has so far stuck to traditional petrol and diesel powertrains in its road cars thus far, with not even a hybrid making it onto market – but could be using Formula E as a springboard to develop a hybrid or even a full-electric car, like the original concept C-X75 which used electric motors in conjunction with a pair of gas turbine engines.
Parent company Tata Motors would also profit from such an arrangement, potentially using technologies developed in Formula E on its own cars for the Indian market, amongst others.
Jaguar has been absent from motorsport since 2004, when Ford pulled the British brand from Formula 1. However the company has a rich sporting heritage including seven Le Mans victories.
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