Jaguar has confirmed it will return to motor sport next year by giving the green light to the development of cars to race in the Formula E Championship.

The company dropped out of Formula 1 in 2004, but is now set to get back on the grid, with Williams Advanced Engineering as official technical partners, in the increasingly popular electronic racing series.

Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover’s Group Engineering Director, commented, “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.”

Jaguar will join other manufacturers such as Audi and Renault who are already using the E Formula as a test bed for electric vehicle technology.

Jaguar will make its return next autumn. The current Formula E season is now two races in and is currently being led by Lucas Di Grassi in his ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport car after taking victory in Malaysia. The next round takes place in Uruguay this weekend.