JAGUAR is to return to the world of motor racing - but this time with a single seat electric car.

The company will be fielding a team in next year's FIA Formula E Championship and has formed a partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering to develop the all-electric racing car.

Nick Rogers, group engineering director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: "Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio and Formula E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies.

"The Championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions."

Jaguar Land Rover has worked with Williams before and the high tech company was involved with the development of the Jaguar C-X75 plug-in hybrid concept car.

Jean Todt, president of the FIA said: "The FIA is pleased to welcome Jaguar as a new manufacturer to enter the FIA Formula E Championship. We built this series to offer an alternative competition for manufacturers to step into the sport and develop road-relevant electric technologies.

"The choice of Jaguar to come back to motor racing with Formula E is a proof of success."

The Formula E Championship has already attracted several big names from F1 including drivers Bruno Senna, Jacques Villeneuve and Lucas di Grassi and is held at racing venues across the world.

The current series is under way now and kicked off in October in Beijing. It is due to finish in London in July.

Jaguar will be joining the line up for the 2016/2017 series and will be announcing team details later.