Cupra’s absence from Formula E barely lasted the offseason. After splitting with Abt following two seasons, with the German teamnow partnered with Lola and Yamaha, the Spanish brand has now aligned itself with another outfit: Kiro Race Co.
The multi-year deal with the American team, which is making its debut this season after absorbing the former ERT squad, will rechristen it Cupra Kiro, with the car manufacturer’s branding featuring prominently on the car.
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“On behalf of Kiro Race Co, I’m delighted to welcome Cupra as our co-title partner for the 2024/25 season and beyond,” said Cupra Kiro team principal Alex Hui. “Our partnership together marks a pivotal moment in our journey, and Cupra’s bold, performance-driven mentality perfectly complements our ultimate ambition to one day race into history. Our story starts this weekend, and we’re looking forward to showcasing what Cupra KIRO can achieve in Sao Paulo.”
Kiro will run Porsche powertrains this season, aligning Cupra with technology from a fellow Volkswagen brand for the first time in Formula E. In its previous partnership with Abt, the team ran customer Mahindra powertrains.
“Joining Kiro Race Co is the logical next step for Cupra,” said Xavi Serra, global head of racing at Curpa. “By combining our technical know-how and software expertise with the Porsche manufacturer components, we are fully prepared to compete at the highest level.
“Our commitment to Formula E comes from our racing DNA, alongside the format’s ability to give us a competitive platform to develop the future of electric cars.”
The announcement of Kiro and Cupra joining forces comes a day after the team announced Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann as its drivers for the upcoming season, which begins in Sao Paulo on Saturday.