Ford eyes Formula E, not IndyCar (Update)

All manufacturers eyeing all-electric future

UPDATE Ford has continued to evaluate the EV racing landscape, with deadlines looming on the potential participation in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and proposed FIA Electric World Rallycross Championship.

The American manufacturer, which is involved in discussions in both series, as well as at least two emerging all-electric championships, is understood to be facing a program decision for as early as 2020.

An entry into Formula E needs to be declared by next month in order to debut in the 2019-20 season with a customer powertrain or Season Seven with its own technology.

While having previously been linked to an alliance or takeover of the Jay Penske-owned Dragon operation, e-racing365 believes a possibility also exists for Ford to replace an existing Formula E manufacturer on the grid.

A deadline of March 29, meanwhile, has been established for commitments to EWRX, with at least three manufacturers understood to be needed to launch the all-electric championship for 2021.

Ford’s EV exploration has already been more a year in the making, according to Ford Performance global motorsports director Mark Rushbrook.

“As try to electrify what we do in motorsports, we’re looking at hybrids as well as full-electric," he told e-racing365. “We do continue to look at all the different options that are available to us.

“That includes regular duologue with Formula E. I talked to them [last] week.

“That does include regular duologue with IMG and FIA for Electric Rallycross; I also talked to them [last week].

Rushbrook said the past year has seen new EV options develop, including ETCR and the soon-to-be-launched Extreme E off-road championship.

While both are options as well, it’s understood Formula E and EWRX remain the leading candidates for the Blue Oval.

“While there’s stability with Formula E and the trajectory they’re on, not all the other series as they’re being proposed; they’re changing," he said.

“We’ve been on this journey in looking for an electrified form of motorsports for a year now. We put it out as a landscape, ‘What are the different options?’

“It’s changed a lot in the last year. We as a company continue to change as the whole automotive industry is changing, with silhouette types and powertrains."

It’s understood Multimatic, which has spearheaded the Ford GT project, has been involved in multiple feasibility studies for the various electrification options, which includes a possible DPi program for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Ford has pledged to invest $11 billion into EV technology in offering 40 hybrid or full EVs for the road by 2022.

“The automotive world is changing; the motorsports landscape is changing," Rushbrook said.

“We do keep a regular look, reviewing that with our senior management. But we will need to make some decisions soon." e-racing365

03/01/18 Ford has ramped up discussions of entering the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, with initial involvement to potentially begin as early as Season Five later this year.

Multiple industry sources have indicated to e-racing365 that the ‘Blue Oval’ is working towards an eventual factory effort in the all-electric championship, to potentially replace its European-based Ford GT program in the FIA World Endurance Championship once its current contract expires in mid-2019.

A well-placed source said that Ford branding “could be seen" from Season Five onwards with a satellite team, citing increased urgency to enter the series amid only a few remaining available manufacturer slots.

Formula E has a rigid 12-team, 24-car maximum entry, with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche already confirmed as the 11th and 12th teams, respectively, to debut in Season Six.

“[Ford is] realizing they should be involved in Formula E to some extent before viable avenues potentially close for it to become involved without difficulty," said the source, who requested anonymity.

Additionally, it’s understood Formula E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag made a trip to Detroit earlier this month.

A Ford representative told e-racing365 they “don’t comment on speculation about future plans" when asked for a statement on its possible Formula E program.

Should Ford commit, it would mark the first American manufacturer represented in the series.

It would also coincide with the brand’s significant investment into electric vehicles, having announced last month that it will pour in $11 billion to offer 40 hybrid or full EVs by 2022.

Dragon Favorite for Future Partnership

Dragon Racing and Virgin Racing appear to be the only two realistic candidates for Ford to partner with should it get the go-ahead for the program.

The Jay Penske-owned Dragon team, which has moved some of its design and research capability to California in recent months, would appear to be the favorite, given the American links.

An additional 13th team has already been ruled out by Agag, as Formula E Holdings Ltd.’s contract with teams stipulates a maximum of 12 entrants, which was designed to create value for the franchise system.

“We have no more entries as a commercial rights holder, so a new manufacturer would have to do a deal with one of the current independent teams," he told e-racing365 last year.

“I know that they [the independent teams] are getting a lot of interest. I expect one or two more [manufacturers] to come in."

Jay Penske’s father, Roger, has links to Ford via dealerships in California and last year expanded its assets with an acquisition of several Ford automotive retail businesses.

One of these was re-branded as Penske Ford Chula Vista through the SoCal Penske Dealer Group. Team Penske has also run Fords in the NASCAR Cup series since 2014.

While there are no business links at all between Dragon and Team Penske, some senior Ford personnel are known to have spent time with Dragon at the Miami E-Prix back in March 2015. e-Racing365