► Jag’s new Formula E support series
► Spirit of legendary BMW Procar lives on
► Unveiled at Frankfurt motor show 2017
Remember Procar, the short-lived support series in which F1 drivers did battle in identical BMW M1 racecars?
Niki Lauda won the first Procar series way back in ’79 but the concept still resonates, and Jaguar’s hoping to dust its i-Pace BEV coupe/SUV with a little of the same magic with the i-Pace eTrophy one-make series, which will support the burgeoning Formula E series, on the same street circuits, from next year.
Manufacturers have flocked to Formula E in recent months, keen to develop and promote their battery-electric powertrain prowess, but Jaguar’s underlining its status as an early-adopter (it first entered Formula E in 2016) with the intriguing eTrophy.
Tell me more about the Jaguar eTrophy i-Pace…
Technical details for the racecars, which will be built at Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations facility in Coventry, will be released next year, when the i-Pace production car is set to go into production.
The road car uses twin e-motors and a 90kWh floorpan lithium-ion battery to deliver a combined output of 394bhp and 516lb ft, with Jaguar promising 0-60mph in 4sec. Shorn of unnecessary weight and with a performance-focussed remit, bank on the eTrophy cars being quicker still.
Jaguar’s already receiving enquiries on the series, which it sees as the perfect launch pad for ambitious drivers keen to showcase their skills in front of a global audience and some serious OEMs, including Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
What’s involved and what does it cost?
The eTrophy package is also comprehensive, with the as yet undisclosed entry fee covering all 10 race entries, trackside technical support including data engineering, logistics for the cars, spares and support team, all tyres and consumables, a garage for each race weekend, hospitality, branded racewear and TV coverage.
A typical race weekend is likely to include practice and qualifying sessions followed by a 30-minute race. Given Formula E’s urban circuits are big on fan proximity and light on run-off, Jaguar could get through some bodywork…
Will we see Lewis in a Jag?
The carmaker is also promising a VIP driver at each event, but since contracts are unlikely to allow Lewis Hamilton or Seb Vettel to be seen racing a Jaguar, we’ll have to wait a little longer for a true EV successor to Procar.
Click here for more news from the Frankfurt motor show 2017 in our A-Z article