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For the first time since the end of its mis-firing Formula One team, Jaguar is set to return to front-line motor racing when it enters the all-electric Formula-E championship next August.
Working closely with long-time partner Williams Engineering (a sister company to the Williams F1 team) Jaguar wants to use Formula-E to improve the skills of its engineers as it prepares to launch its first all-electric model, some time in 2018.
Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "I am proud to announce Jaguar's return to racing with an entry into the innovative FIA Formula-E championship. Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio and Formula-E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies. The Championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions.
"It is my belief that over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades. The future is about being more connected and more sustainable; electrification and lightweight technologies are becoming more important than ever as urbanisation continues to increase. Formula-E has recognised and reacted to these trends and the championship's exciting and pioneering approach is the perfect fit for our brand."
We don't have any details yet as to how many cars Jaguar will enter in the series nor who will drive them but that will all be announced over the course of the next eight months.
Alejandro Agag, Chief Executive Officer for Formula-E, 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 and once again shows that Formula-E is the future of motorsport."