Farewell to gravel: Citroën enters Formula E
Six years ago, the Citroën team said goodbye to the elite of rallying and then only competed in the second division, and now the gravel specialists are switching to the smooth asphalt. From the coming season, the brand will take over Maserati's place in Formula E and return to a top motorsport class. This also marks the end of the internal "division of labor" within the Stellantis Group. Until now, the Citroën drivers were responsible for the rally division, Peugeot for the World Endurance Championship and DS, the premium brand at Stellantis, competed in Formula E. This means that all races in the series will soon be a (friendly) showdown between the two Group brands.
Citroën still holds the record for the most victories in the manufacturers' classification of the World Rally Championship and has also won the Dakar Rally four times. With the switch to the second rally league, however, this motorsport commitment has increasingly faded into the media background. With the switch to Formula E, those responsible in Paris also want to strengthen the emotional values of the brand. "Formula E is the third largest international platform in motorsport worldwide. Although we are taking over the starting grid from Maserati, we have a different concept and are based at Stellantis Motorsport," explains Citroën boss Xavier Chardon. The involvement in the electric racing series is initially limited to two years, with an option for a further two years.
Just one week after the official announcement of the start in Formula E, the first official tests will follow and Citroën will have its first opportunity to assess its position from October 27 to 30 at the Ricardo Tormo race track in Valencia, southern Spain. The date is an important indicator for everyone involved, as it is the only time the entire starting field will meet before the first race. The season begins on December 6 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
With the entry of the Citroën works team, the series has gained another manufacturer. Porsche, the Indian Mahindra Group, Jaguar, Nissan and DS are also currently competing in Formula E. Nick Cassidy from New Zealand and Frenchman Jean Eric Vergne will compete for Citroën. Cassidy joins the French outfit from Team Jaguar and, in addition to competing in Formula E, will also drive for Peugeot in the World Endurance Championship. Jean Eric Vergne, a two-time Formula E world champion, joins the team. Like his team-mate, he also drives for Peugeot on the endurance circuit. He also holds the record for the most pole positions with 17 qualifying victories. (aum)
More info for topic: Citroen , Einstieg , Formel E
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