Opel Aims to Reach the Top in Formula E

Opel has a long history in motorsports, but after the era of Walter Röhrl in the World Rally Championship and the successful run in the DTM, things quieted down at the racing division in Rüsselsheim. And that’s meant quite literally, because Opel combined its commitment to racing with its entry into electric mobility and sent the electric Corsa onto the rally tracks.

Now, as part of the Stellantis Group, the German brand is entering the top tier of the electric division of international motorsports and will soon take to the track in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the first race of the 2026/27 Formula E World Championship season —provided the race takes place, given the conflict with Iran.

Although Opel has been defined as a regional brand within the Stellantis hierarchy, the Opel GSE Formula E Team will compete in the global racing series; however, from the perspective of Chief Marketing Officer Rebecca Reinermann, this is not a contradiction: “Our most important markets are in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. And that’s where many of the series’ races take place. Furthermore, motorsports—like Opel—are gradually going electric, which is why we’re competing there.”

The involvement in the electric racing series is clearly viewed positively by the Opel community. “After we announced our entry into Formula E, we achieved a 94 percent approval rating among Opel fans,” reports Rebecca Reinermann.
Initial discussions about entering Formula E began three years ago, and the decision to join the series was finalized 18 months ago. In addition to Opel, Citroën is also competing in the series, though Opel is fielding its own factory team. “That was important to us,” explains Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. The Citroën team is part of the Monaco Sports Group.

With Mitch Evans, Opel succeeded in signing one of the series’ most experienced drivers. Evans comes from Jaguar, where he has raced for ten years and has racked up the most wins (16) to date. The “only” thing missing from his collection is the world championship title. “I want to play a strong role in Formula E with Opel,” says the New Zealand driver, looking ahead. Alongside Evans, the young Frenchman Théo Pourchaire will be on the starting grid. Opel would have liked to put a German driver in the cockpit, but given the lack of support for young talent, no driver was a viable candidate. The only two possible candidates, Mick Schumacher and Nico Hülkenberg, are competing in other racing series. Sophia Flörsch fulfills the “German element” as she rounds out the team as a test and development driver.

In Jeddah, Opel will be on the starting grid with the latest generation of Formula E cars. The current “GEN4 generation,” according to Schrott, “is a huge step forward compared to its predecessors. “We’re getting closer and closer to Formula 1.” The Opel race car features completely new aerodynamics, hits the track with all-wheel drive, and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 1.8 seconds thanks to its 800 PS powertrain.

This boost in performance has consequences, however, and will no longer be suitable for the city circuits that have been standard up to now. “That’s why, for example, the British race in the new season will no longer take place in London but at Brands Hatch,” Schrott says, looking ahead. In Germany, the race at Tempelhofer Feld will remain unchanged. Opel is heading into the season with a clearly defined goal. “We don’t want to fight for tenth place. We’re entering the world championship to race at the top,” Schrott says, looking ahead. (aum)