Cupra Kiro has officially partnered up with a brand new team of investors, including Golden Globe awardee Idris Elba ahead of the upcoming Saudi Arabian double header. Among the new partners for the recently rebranded Formula E team there also are Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler, X Games Co-Founder Shaun Neff, former ESPN CEO Steve Bornstein.
New faces at Cupra Kiro
The American owned team had also announced a strong partnership with Spanish automotive brand Cupra. Managing Director Jeremy Tarica commented on the announcement, highlighting the importance of the different perspectives each new investor brings to Cupra Kiro.
“Since we started our Formula E journey, Kiro Race Co has achieved several key milestones, from securing a multi-year, co-title partnership with CUPRA, to a top 10 finish on our competitive debut.”
“Today’s announcement marks the next step in our journey, underscoring our belief in Formula E’s growth potential and our commitment to pushing boundaries. With our exceptional investor group bringing business acumen, cultural renown, and entrepreneurial drive, we are poised to accelerate KIRO’s success and establish ourselves as a leading force in motorsport and beyond.”
Idris Elba explained why he has decided to invest in the newest team on the Formula E grid, a category at the forefront of innovation:
“Formula E is at the perfect intersection by blending sport and global entertainment with sustainability. I’m proud to be joining the grid with CUPRA KIRO at this pivotal moment. The team’s vision for the future, desire to innovate, and commitment to excellence resonate with me on a deep, personal level, and I’m looking forward to playing my part in its journey to the front of the grid.”
Getting race ready
At the same time, drivers Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann are getting ready for the upcoming Saudi Arabian double header, which will see them race for the first time ever in Jeddah.
The British driver hopes that the long break and the hard work done waiting for this round will allow him to pick up from right where he had left during the past Mexico City E-Prix with a top ten finish:
“I’m looking forward to the next race. For me personally, I wish we didn’t have to wait so long but the break has given us some time to go through some data and build upon what we’ve learned from the first two races. So far, we haven’t quite got the package in the right window yet so hopefully in Saudi, after all the work we’ve done, we can hit the ground running.”
“Jeddah is a track I’ve been to before, and it was one of my favourite tracks in Formula 2. The layout for this weekend is slightly different, but I think it’s going to be fun to drive and looking forward to get back in the car and seeing some of the progress we’ve made.”
First night race for Beckmann
The German on the other hand is excited for the upcoming night event and for a chance to recover some points after crashing out in Mexico while running in the top 10:
“I’m really looking forward to Jeddah which is the only night race on the Season 11 schedule. The circuit is very fast, and the track is also new for Formula E, which means that every team and most drivers will have a similar level of knowledge which, as a rookie, should play to my advantage.”
“With a new track comes new challenges but as a double header, we have two races and two opportunities to score the points we were so close to securing in São Paulo and Mexico City. During the season so far, we’ve shown promise as a team, and I believe we can realise our potential this weekend in Saudi Arabia.”
