Cupra arrives in Extreme E with Abt, Ekström first driver

The Extreme E continues to attract players in thermal motorsport. A week after the founding by Lewis Hamilton of his team, it is the Spanish brand Cupra which announces its arrival in association with the German preparer Abt.

CUPRA…joining Extreme E with ABT in 2021!#ExtremeE | @CUPRA | @ABT_Sportsline pic.twitter.com/pUjjzMEjsK

- Extreme E (@ExtremeELive) September 15, 2020

The first confirmed pilot is not a newcomer, since it is Mattias Ekström, world champion of rallycross (World RX) in 2016 and expert of the German Touring Championship (DTM, two titles with Abt).

“Cupra and Abt are pioneers in the field of electrification, advances Alejandro Agag, founder of the electric SUV series. This arrival marks a new step in the right direction, that of initiating a profound change in the automobile market. »

It is not Dr Werner Tietz, Executive Vice-President for Research & Development for Seat, who will contradict him. “The decision to become the first general manufacturer to get involved in Extreme E, and to strengthen our cooperation with Abt, is proof that we share the vision of a world of high-performance cars reinvented through electric technology. »

As a reminder, Cupra has also positioned itself as the first manufacturer aligned in Pure ETCR, the electric touring car championship whose debut is planned for the end of 2020 via demonstrations.

As for Mattias Ekström, he is happy to reunite with a team he worked with at Audi in the DTM. “It’s like coming home. 20 years ago, the DTM represented a great challenge that we achieved together. Now the time has come for a new adventure. I find the concept of the Extreme E ingenious. »