Motor racing-McLaren interested in Formula E once Gen3 car comes in
Reuters
Published Dec 12, 2020 07:15AM ET
By Alan Baldwin
(Reuters) - McLaren are interested in entering Formula E once the company's battery supply contract ends in 2022 and the electric series introduces its Gen3 car, McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown said on Saturday.
McLaren Applied Technologies is the exclusive battery supplier until 2022. Williams (NYSE:WMB) Advanced Engineering has the next contract.
"We’ve been precluded from competing in Formula E because we were the battery supplier, so within that FIA tender we’re not allowed to compete as a team," Brown told reporters at Formula One's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"With the new generation car coming in 2023, and us no longer being the exclusive battery supplier, that’s a racing series that we find very interesting."
Formula E, an official FIA world championship, has a strong manufacturer interest despite recent announcements by BMW and Audi that they would be leaving at the end of next year.
Formula E chairman Alejandro Agag told Reuters last week the exits would potentially free up only one slot in the 12-team series, however, since BMW were technical partners of entry holders Andretti Motorsport.
Brown said the departures had created an opportunity and electrification and sustainability were important to McLaren.
"Having 10 teams, that’s still a very strong field so I see it as more opportunity...it’s deep with manufacturer support, so I’m ultimately not concerned," said Brown, who welcomed a planned budget cap to rein in costs.
McLaren are also involved in IndyCar and interested in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and its highlight 24 Hours of Le Mans.
"Those two series (WEC and Formula E) have our attention, and we want to get through this season, we want to make sure that anything we do is not a distraction to our Formula One efforts," Brown said.
Get The News You Want
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.