For car manufacturers, Formula E is a valuable innovation laboratory for experimenting with the technology behind the electric cars of the near future. But what about spectators and motorsport enthusiasts? Is it an interesting competition or, as some claim, a kind of "poor relation" of Formula 1 that serves mainly as an advertising vehicle for the wider uptake of electric cars? James Barclay, team principal of Jaguar TCS Racing and managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Motorsport, has no doubts on the matter. Drawing up a balance sheet of the brand's experience – which has been competing in the Formula E World Championship since 2016 – he explains how "becoming World Team Champions and winning the inaugural constructors' trophy in the tenth season was an incredible achievement, as well as the culmination of an enormous team effort. It was also Jaguar's first World Championship victory since 1991, making it a historic moment, but you can't stand still for too long in Formula E.

How the single-seaters have evolved over the years

Never rest on your laurels, then. This is because the single-seaters have evolved at a remarkable pace over a very short period of time. From the Gen1 – the car that took to the track in Beijing in 2014 during the first E-Prix in the category's history – to the current Gen3, everything has changed in terms of power, speed, vehicle and battery weight, energy efficiency and regeneration; all of this while awaiting the debut of the Gen4 in 2026, which will be capable of delivering a maximum output of 600 kW, a significant leap compared to the 350 kW of the Gen3 and especially when set against the 200 kW of the first generation.

"Motorsport – Barclay points out – has always pushed the boundaries of technology and innovation. Racing car design has changed enormously over time and cars can now go much faster, while in the case of a championship like Formula E we are competing with the world's first net-zero carbon racing car, in the world's first net-zero carbon sport." Everything changes, in short, except one thing: "The on-track action has remained just as exciting and competitive, not least because Formula E boasts the most competitive driver line-ups of any motorsport championship, and because in just a few years technology has pushed the single-seaters to a truly superior level."

Formula E grows in step with road-going electric models

Formula 1 and Formula E are often compared for their impact on car manufacturers, drivers and spectators. And even if significant differences remain – we are, after all, talking about a historic competition alongside a relatively young one – those very differences are gradually narrowing. Year after year we are seeing an overall growth in Formula E's following both on social media and on television channels, but also in terms of race attendance."

It is no coincidence that over the years the number of car manufacturers that have decided to take part in the championship has grown considerably: alongside Jaguar Land Rover there are Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche and Ds Automobiles, to name but a few. It is therefore wrong to claim that Formula E is a series created solely to advertise electric cars; the truth is that the two segments – plug-in road cars and motorsport – are growing in step with each other.

The track is where the technology of tomorrow's cars is put to the test

The main reason that has driven such a significant number of car manufacturers to enter the Formula E championship lies precisely in the opportunity to test electrified solutions that are already beginning to appear in road cars. Indeed, if anything, in the case of electric single-seaters technological advancement is even more important than in Formula 1: "Sport is an incredibly influential platform in driving change and motorsport too has been very important in this regard." Consequently, "the growing innovation in Formula E can be aligned with the future development of road cars, perhaps more so than Formula 1. Since Jaguar has mapped out a fully electric future, Formula E is the perfect proving ground for electrified technologies under extreme conditions."

It is therefore right to define Formula E as a genuine experimentation laboratory and not merely a straightforward motorsport competition. "Formula E – Barclay highlights – has always been a laboratory for testing cutting-edge technologies. When we prepare for races, we take some of the most innovative electric vehicles and put them to the test to see how they perform on track and whether they can give us that crucial edge over our competitors. We run our car on a high-performance platform to collaborate with all our partners to test, innovate and develop cutting-edge technologies. These are shared across Jaguar Land Rover for the benefit of future road model development, offering customers a broader range, better performance and more positive experiences when using our products."

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