As the 2024/25 ABB FIA FE World Championship has reached the second third of the season, the newest team on the grid, CUPRA KIRO, is beginning to make waves.
Speaking candidly, Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer of Kiro Race Co, sheds light on the challenges, opportunities, and determined spirit fueling their journey so far.
A rapid evolution for Kiro
Few FE teams have undergone a whirlwind transformation like Kiro Race Co in recent months. Reflecting on the journey, O’Hagan states:
“The past six months have been transformational for Kiro Race Co and the level of change we have navigated impacts every single layer of our team. In Formula E, it takes a good 12 months to properly learn and get on top of a car, but we only had eight weeks before hitting the track at the start of the season. Because of that, we had to carefully strategise our approach, starting with the key building blocks and then adding a growing amount of resolution and finer detail.”
He likened their early season to “flying our plane while building it,” emphasising the immense challenge they faced. However, the relatively forgiving cadence of early races has allowed CUPRA KIRO to build momentum steadily. With several top-10 finishes under their belt, the team’s initial focus was simple: progress. Now, entering the busier phase of the season, their sights are set higher.
“We’ve found our technical and operational rhythm, and we’re now in a position from where we can fight. […] We believe that on the right day, we can challenge for the podium. Our target is to score 100 points this season, and to do that, we know that we need to get some big results.”
Currently, the team sits in 10th place with 12 points.
A youthful yet driven driver line-up
Kiro Race Co fields one of the youngest driver pairings on the grid with Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann. Yet despite their relative youth, they have shown strong potential and maturity in their collaboration.
“Dan and David have gelled well together. In terms of combined age, we have the youngest driver pairing on the grid, but despite that, we have a relatively mature dynamic that’s developing,” O’Hagan notes. “Dan already has more than 50 Formula E races under his belt, and with David’s hunger, we have a balance that is pushing them both forward.”
Despite flashes of brilliance from both drivers, O’Hagan admits the team has not yet maximised all their opportunities – something that must change as the championship enters its most intense phase.
“The Monaco E-Prix marks the start of a relentless run in the calendar where we’ll have six races taking place within a month. We’re approaching the business end of the season fast, and that means that there’s no margin for error anymore.“
The pressure is on — but as O’Hagan aptly puts it, “Motorsport is an environment that’s built on pressure and that pressure is a privilege.”
Ambition on and off the track
While Kiro Race Co’s on-track journey has been one of hard-earned growth, the team has made equally big waves off-track. The past few months have seen the team secure backing from new investors at The Forest Road Company, welcome CUPRA as a Co-Title Partner, and strike groundbreaking commercial deals. High-profile additions such as Idris Elba joining their ownership group, partnerships with Porsche on the technical front, and even a collaboration with Marvel Studios, have established Kiro Race Co as a marketing powerhouse.
O’Hagan reflects proudly:
“Season 11 has already been a landmark season for our team, and it’s only April. […] Off-track, we believe we’re leading the way with a creative, dynamic, and unique approach – we’re making things happen, and they’re happening fast.”
Now, however, the goal is to ensure results on the circuit match their aggressive marketing success.
“Our ownership group have very high expectations for us to deliver – and rightly so. Success breeds success, and we are edging closer to that tipping point where momentum can play a big part in performance.”
Currently sitting 10th in the Teams’ Championship, CUPRA KIRO is acutely aware of the challenge ahead.
“Coming into Monaco, we’re 10th in the Teams’ Standings, but we want to achieve far more than that. […] We need to become giant killers – there is no other way. There are no half measures, and no easy points. We’re all in, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes.”
Looking ahead
As the championship intensifies, the coming weeks will define whether Kiro Race Co can transition from plucky newcomers to genuine contenders. With a clear vision, relentless ambition, and a team fully committed to the cause, their journey is just beginning, and the grid has been warned.
