Plans for an 11th Formula E team rumoured

Motorsport.com has revealed that the prospect of an 11th Formula E team joining the grid was close to coming to fruition in the summer.

The reports suggest that the idea of an additional squad was proposed to the existing teams, however it was rejected by two of them.

The sports’ commercial agreements allow for ten teams to compete in the sport; there is scope for two reserve teams but there are no requirements for them yet.

The potential new team was reported to be Jaguar Cars; an idea that gained momentum due to the company increasing its R&D capacity to work on “ultra-low-emission projects” – potentially including electric and hybrid power.

A Jaguar spokesperson flatly rejected the prospect when speaking to Motorsport.com.

“We have no desire to go in to a motorsport programme at this stage. We are fully committed to our new products this year. Of course we get many interesting and exciting proposals but at the present moment we are not planning a racing project.”

A potential Jaguar / Williams Advanced Engineering partnership was rumoured, but it is believed that the talks broke down. The two companies have already collaborated on the Jaguar C-X75 hybrid super car.

When questioned by Motorsport.com, Paul McNamara, the technical director of Williams Advanced Engineering said that entering Formula E was not in the organisations’ immediate plans.

“It is not something we are actively looking at. Who knows what might happen in five or ten years’ time but it certainly isn’t on our agenda. I’m sure it would be a distraction for what we are doing now.”

Initial report on Motorsport.com http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/revealed-additional-formula-e-team-plans

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