CUPRA KIRO arrives in Jakarta with renewed confidence and ambitious targets as Formula E prepares for the opening round of the season’s final chapter, with just five races remaining in the 2024/25 championship battle.
The Indonesian capital marks Formula E’s return to the country for the first time since 2023, presenting CUPRA KIRO with another opportunity to showcase the pace that has seen them emerge as genuine contenders on street circuits. Fresh from breakthrough performances in Tokyo and Shanghai, the team is targeting a return to the podium whilst pursuing their season goal of reaching 100 points in Season 11.
Building on recent success
CUPRA KIRO’s momentum has been building steadily following their maiden Formula E podium in Tokyo. The Shanghai double-header demonstrated the team’s growing maturity, with Dan Ticktum delivering one of the standout performances of the season in Round 10. Starting from 21st position, Ticktum executed a masterful recovery drive, utilising Pit Boost and Attack Mode strategically to fight his way into podium contention.
A dramatic final corner battle saw Ticktum narrowly miss out on third place by just 0.3 seconds, but his fourth-place finish secured 12 valuable championship points. The following day proved more challenging, with heavy rain and a shortened qualifying session leaving both Ticktum and teammate David Beckmann starting from the back of the grid. Despite poor visibility and limited opportunities for advancement, Ticktum fought through to 16th whilst Beckmann finished 20th.
Jakarta’s unique challenge
The Formula E race in Jakarta presents a distinctive set of challenges for CUPRA KIRO, with the Indonesian capital’s notorious heat and humidity testing drivers and machinery to their limits. The narrow street circuit layout places premium importance on qualifying position, with overtaking opportunities at a premium once the race begins.
They said name an iconic trio: forget the sugarbabes, these guys pack the extra spice. 🔥#JakartaEPrix #FormulaE pic.twitter.com/GuG0dfyzru
— CUPRA KIRO (@KiroRaceCo) June 19, 2025
For CUPRA KIRO, the track characteristics align well with their demonstrated street circuit strengths, offering hope of replicating their Tokyo success. The team has also been boosted by the recent announcement of Bianca Bustamante joining as Development Driver on a multi-year agreement, adding further depth to their programme.
Hui aims for consistency
Team Principal Alex Hui, emphasised the significance of this crucial phase. “Jakarta is the beginning of the end game this season, and from now, the real fight begins,” he said.
“We came into this season with a clear strategy – we wanted to learn fast, build momentum, and then most importantly, deliver when it matters. Now, with just five races left, we’ve shown that we can fight at the front and consistently challenge for big points.”
“Over the remaining three weekends, every moment counts, and the margins are incredibly small, but our motivation is at an all-time high. The conditions in Jakarta will push everyone to their limits in a mental, physical, and technical sense, but it’s only when we’re at the edge that we truly find out what we’re capable of. We’re ready to throw everything at this final stretch.”
Drivers perspectives
Dan Ticktum, acknowledged the environmental challenges whilst expressing optimism about the circuit layout. “Jakarta is going to be a difficult one with the weather. The humidity is almost unbearable, but I’m looking forward to getting back to more of a conventional Formula E circuit,” he stated.
“A lot of street circuits are quite awkward and don’t have much flow, but Jakarta is quite nice because it has that flow with a few fast corners. It’s a very fun track to drive, I’m looking forward to racing there, and hopefully, we can grab some more points.”
David Beckmann, brings personal history to the weekend, having made his Formula E debut at the circuit. “Jakarta is a special event for me because I did my first-ever Formula E race there back in Season 9,” he recalled. “I really enjoyed the track, the atmosphere, and the experience and I’m excited to be back in Indonesia again. Because of the humidity and high temperatures, the race is physically tough, and it’s important to be in good shape to deliver a good result.”
“The track is also very narrow which makes overtaking difficult, so qualifying position will be key. Our target is to replicate our one-lap race from Race 1 in Shanghai, and we’ll take it from there.”
