Today McLaren has announced that it has secured an option to race in the FIA Formula E championship starting in 2022. While the announcement doesn't ensure that they'll take advantage of the grid spot, it does give us an indication of the direction that McLaren plans to take future supercars in. Formula E has grown from a fledgling racing series that many thought wouldn't make it past the first year to a seriously important development tool for many high-powered brands like BMW, Audi, and others. It offers to all entrants the chance to try out bleeding-edge EV technology and push it far beyond what it would have to handle when bundled in a street-legal vehicle.
McLaren Wants To Take The Next Step In EV Development
By securing this grid spot, McLaren provides a "vote of confidence in the championship" says Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle. That's a good indication that the latest stream of hybrid-powered vehicles from McLaren is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the future direction of the British supercar builder. This is a logical next step for McLaren which already supports racing in Formula 1, the World Endurance Championship, and IMSA.
Source: McLaren