In the same week that Jaguar announced plans to electrify all vehicles before 2020, the OEM has announced the world’s first international championship for production-based electric cars.
The one-make tin-top championship will feature race-converted I-Pace ‘eTROPHY’ models, and the championship gives racers of the future a chance to showcase their talent, in 10 races across global cities such as Hong Kong, Paris, Sao Paolo and New York.
The Jaguar I-Pace eTROPHY will support the FIA Formula E championship, taking place on the same weekends at the same city circuits, and will start late 2018. With up to 20 electric racecars on the grid, Jaguar will use the race series to support the release of the innovative five-seat battery electric SUV which hits the road in the same year.
The racecars will be built by Jaguar Land Rover SVO and will be based on the company’s first zero-emissions battery EV blueprint.
Gerd Mäuser, chairman at Jaguar Racing, has high hopes for the series, “We’ve always said we want to prove our electrification technologies on the track – this is the proof. Ultimately this innovative series will enhance the technology in our future electric vehicles and benefit our customers.
“The Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY will improve the spectacle for the fans and gives the young drivers a ladder into FIA Formula E Championship. We expect our series to be a sell-out and an exciting international sporting event.
This announcement reinforces the automakers commitment to electrification, following news that the British government is to ban the sale of all petrol and diesel cars from 2040.
