Double DTM champion Ekstrom joins Cupra for first Pure ETCR season

Two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom will be part of Cupra's line-up for the inaugural 'Pure ETCR' season

Ekstrom and World Touring Car Championship race winner Jordi Gene were announced as part of SEAT performance brand Cupra's roster for the new series' 2020-21 'demonstration' season, which will start with a Goodwood Festival of Speed time trial.

Cupra is the first brand to formally commit to Pure ETCR, and announced its participation at the unveiling of its new internal combustion engine and electric TCR variants - the respective Leon Competicion and e-Racer models - on Thursday.

Ekstrom, the 2004 and 2007 DTM champion, contested only one World Rallycross Championship round, but joined Cupra as its "e-ambassador", a role that included development work on the brand's e-Racer and other electric vehicles

He was known to have been in talks to join the WTCR grid for 2019, though these did not come to fruition.

"I'm so excited to be a part of this," said Ekstrom.

"The first event will be at Goodwood and from being at the Pure ETCR launch in Paris [on Wednesday], I know it's a great place to be racing."

A development version of the Cupra e-Racer was the first car to be revealed when the ETCR concept was first announced in late 2018.

Though they are yet to commit to the Pure series, which will award a title to constructors, Hyundai and Alfa Romeo TCR builder Romeo Ferraris have previously announced they will design cars to ETCR regulations.

Hyundai has developed an electric Veloster N, which had its first shakedown in August last year, while Romeo Ferraris is building a car based on Alfa's Giulia model.

Its involvement in that project means it will not continue in WTCR in 2020, having contested the previous two seasons under the Team Mulsanne banner.

The Chinese Lisheng Shanghai Racing outfit also announced at the beginning the week its intention to develop a car to the electric rulebook.

The team was responsible for the build of the MG6 Xpower TCR car, which last year competed in a handful of TCR China and Asia rounds, though it was ineligible to score points at these rounds as it was competing with temporary homologation.

It also raced at the inaugural Motorsport Games, in which Motorbase Ford British Touring Car Championship driver Rory Butcher drove one of the cars to a fourth-place finish in the second Touring Car Cup contest.

shares
comments

2012 WTCC champion Rob Huff steps back from WTCR race seat

Munnich Motorsport expands to four-car WTCR entry for 2020

The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59

The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59

Plus
Plus
BTCC
Marcus Simmons

The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59 The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59

Why the new electric tin-top series deserves to be taken seriously

Why the new electric tin-top series deserves to be taken seriously

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Marcus Simmons

Why the new electric tin-top series deserves to be taken seriously Why the new electric tin-top series deserves to be taken seriously

The tin-top champion who doesn't know the meaning of retirement

The tin-top champion who doesn't know the meaning of retirement

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Marcus Simmons

The tin-top champion who doesn't know the meaning of retirement The tin-top champion who doesn't know the meaning of retirement

The phoenix driver who is at peace with his defeats

The phoenix driver who is at peace with his defeats

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Jack Cozens

The phoenix driver who is at peace with his defeats The phoenix driver who is at peace with his defeats

The surprise team orders twisting a world title battle

The surprise team orders twisting a world title battle

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Jack Cozens

The surprise team orders twisting a world title battle The surprise team orders twisting a world title battle

The 'weapon' clash that turned a world title battle bitter

The 'weapon' clash that turned a world title battle bitter

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Jack Cozens

The 'weapon' clash that turned a world title battle bitter The 'weapon' clash that turned a world title battle bitter

How WTCR's last real independent has stayed in play

How WTCR's last real independent has stayed in play

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Jack Cozens

How WTCR's last real independent has stayed in play How WTCR's last real independent has stayed in play

The lessons World Touring Cars must heed from history

The lessons World Touring Cars must heed from history

Plus
Plus
WTCR
Jack Cozens

The lessons World Touring Cars must heed from history The lessons World Touring Cars must heed from history

Subscribe