The ambitious plan is for 20 identical I-Pace racers, allocated on an arrive-and-drive basis with one special VIP driver per race. No technical details are available as yet, but with events scheduled for cities like Hong Kong, Paris, and Sao Paulo, Jaguar should have no problem in attracting interest.
The arrive-and-drive package includes everything from logistics and spares down to a Jaguar-branded race suit, with prominent television coverage promised for the 30-minute races. The cars themselves will be built and prepared by Jaguar's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) outfit in Warwickshire.
Jaguar Racing chairman, Gerd Mäuser explains the rationale behind the concept: "Jaguar returned to racing in 2016 with the mission 'Race to Innovate'. With the launch of the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy we have strengthened our commitment to battery electric vehicles, international motorsport and Formula E. As a British team, we are proud to announce today the launch of the world's first production battery electric vehicle championship. We've always said we want to prove our electrification technologies on the track - this is the proof. I am looking forward to seeing a full grid of Jaguar I-Pace racecars in late 2018, soon after the first Jaguar I-Pace hits the road in Europe. Ultimately this innovative series will enhance the technology in our future electric vehicles and benefit our customers."
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