Xavi Serra: “We hope the ETCR comes back stronger”
Cupra’s Motorsport Director Xavi Serra hopes that the ETCR will return ‘stronger’ after the announcement from Discovery Sports Events that it would not promote the series this season.
“Motorsport is part of Cupra’s DNA and we started our time in electric racing with the development of the e-Racer, the first 100% electric competition touring car in the world,” Serra told TouringCarTimes.
“Later, Cupra joined the FIA Electric World Touring Car Cup from its inception, the first multi-manufacturer electric series in the world.”
Cupra dominated the series, starting as the PURE ETCR in 2021 and partnering Zengo Motorsport, with Mattias Ekström winning the drivers’ title.
For 2022, the series came under the FIA umbrella, with Cupra joining forces with Team EKS and Adrien Tambay heading the way for the Spanish manufacturer.
“We were pioneers in electric competition and we believe we were key into the establishment of the ETCR and, of course, we don’t forget we have a successful history in the series, having won the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships in 2021 and 2022.”
Cupra, which is involved in the complete electrification of their road car range, has also moved towards other electric motorsport series, entering the FIA Formula E world championship this year partnering German squad ABT-
“The ETCR has also allowed us to move onto other electric championships, like the Extreme E and, this season, also in the Formula E, the most important electric championship worldwide, a natural step for us after our successful venture into the FIA ETCR,” added Serra.
The Cupra Motorsport Director highlighted the lessons learnt in the ETCR as the trampoline for the manufacturer’s new ventures, hoping the series will return to the track.
“We have learned along the way from all the championships and competitions we have participated in, but specially from the ETCR, developing its technology from the beginning,” he said.
“Cupra respects the decision from Discovery Sports Events and hopes that the ETCR will return stronger and with a competitive racing format.”
