BMW has confirmed it will enter the fifth season (2018/19) of the Formula E Championship as a manufacturer. 

WITH THE FOURTH race of the 2016/17 Formula E Championship in Mexico City nine days away, BMW has announced its formal registration as a manufacturer for the series has been accepted by the FIA. This paves the way for BMW to enter its own team in Season 5.

In a statement by BMW today, the German car maker said its engineers had already begun working on a Formula E powertrain.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we have taken the first steps,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “If the series continues with this positive development, we want to be perfectly prepared for the potential works entry in season 5.”

BMW said the expansion of its involvement in Formula E, through its i brand is part of the brand’s long-term global motorsport strategy. BMW became involved in Formula E last year via its partnership with the MS Amlin Andretti. BMW Motorsport is supporting MS Amlin Andretti with the provision of works driver António Félix da Costa (PRT).

“Since its inaugural season, Formula E has enjoyed rapid development and is now regarded as a high-level racing series,” said Marquardt.

“BMW i has contributed actively as Official Vehicle Partner from the word go and has left its mark on the series. Other manufacturers have now followed suit. Everyone involved is delighted to be taking steps to get involved on the sporting and technological side of Formula E. Planning is underway to compete with a works team in season 5. This required our registration as a manufacturer. This was completed by the required deadline.”

Following BMW’s announcement, the FIA released the names of the manufacturers who have signed up to compete in the 2018/19 Formula E Championship with BMW and DS the new manufacturers on-board.

• ABT Formel E
• BMW AG
• DS Automobiles
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Mahindra Racing
• NextEV NIO
• Penske Autosport
• Renault 
• Venturi Automobiles

Unlike previous seasons, the drivers will now drive just one car, instead of two, with Spark Racing Technology providing the base chassis and McLaren Applied Technologies the batteries which will almost double in output from 28kW to 54kW

Question: Formula One fans have long-knocked Formula E because it’s not fast enough and is too quiet… but with more and more mainstream car makers becoming actively involved, could it become the new must-watch motorsport series?