FIA ETCR: CUPRA is ready for the title defense mission

Thomas Wachsmuth 5 May 2022 Cupra (Seat Sport SA)

Reading time 7 Min.

When the "FIA ETCR - eTouring Car World Cup" enters its second season, CUPRA will also be at the start again. And the Spanish brand have big plans again as the defending champions have their sights set ahead of the 6th-8th May opener in Pau, France. “We enter the 2022 season as reigning ETCR champions and our aim is to once again win the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles”, says Xavi Serra, Head of CUPRA Racing.

CUPRA is ready

Electric racing series for touring cars starts its second season

CUPRA wants to defend both titles in 2022
Proven forces and new faces in the squad
Download fact sheets with all information about the season

For this, CUPRA 2022 relies on a mixture of proven forces and new faces. The challenger brand is working together with EKS this season, the racing team of reigning champion Mattias Ekström is the new CUPRA partner. In addition to the Swede, Jordi Gené, Tom Blomqvist and Adrien Tambay will be in the four CUPRA e-Racers. "The new collaboration with a team that has as much experience and success as EKS is absolutely fantastic and I am very proud of our new driver line-up", says Xavi Serra. "We already had a strong quartet last year, but this year we've taken it to a new level."

FIA ETCR: CUPRA is ready for the title defense mission

Guarantee of success CUPRA e-Racer with 500 kW (680 hp)

As in the previous year, the trump card in the fight for the title is the CUPRA e-Racer. A standard drive is used in the FIA ETCR, the corresponding drive packages are supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) and Magelec Propulsion. The CUPRA e-Racer is powered by four electric motors on the rear axle, fed by a liquid-cooled 65 kWh battery. The all-electric racing car delivers a combined maximum output of 500 kW (680 hp) and a maximum torque of 960 Nm. A top speed of 270 km/h is therefore possible with the e-racing car. The CUPRA e-Racer was further developed over the winter, as changes can be made to the chassis. The current model is very similar to the 2021 version.

It's a vehicle that will bring a smile to the face of even a seasoned racer like 43-year-old Mattias Ekstrom. "The CUPRA e-Racer is a fantastic car that also has its challenges, which I really like", says the Swede. “The power that we immediately have available on the rear axle is amazing. But we don't use slick tires so controlling grip and power delivery is key. If you're not careful, you can easily overheat the tires or spin in corners. You have to be very precise to get a good lap.”

Because the competition never sleeps. As in the debut season, in addition to CUPRA, Hyundai Motorsport and Romeo Ferraris have also committed to the FIA ETCR and are also entering four electric cars each. “I expect a very, very tough season with great and fair fights. I think the championship will be evenly balanced this year as many drivers have what it takes to fight for the ETCR crown.", says Xavi Serra. And Mattias Ekström also knows “that winning the title in 2022 will not be easy. We'll have to fight hard for every single point and our opponents won't let us get away with mistakes.".

Race format has been adjusted for the new season

But the racing format adapted by the world automobile association FIA is demanding and invites mistakes. On a race weekend, six cars each are divided into two different groups - "Pool Fast" and "Pool Furious" - which determine the overall winner in the same tournament format. Points are collected in each lap, and the driver with the most points from the two pools "Fast" and "Furious" is the "King of the Weekend" at the end. At the start of two qualifying sessions – in which the maximum output of 500 kW (680 hp) can be called up – the best lap time counts within a pool as a benchmark for qualifying for the quarter-finals. There, the three fastest from qualifying form a group, the other three cars form the second.

Power surges over 40 seconds create excitement

After qualifying, given the available power of 300 kW (408 hp), power boosts, the so-called "power-ups", are an important element of the race format. This gives drivers the opportunity to access the maximum output of 40 kW (500 hp) for a specified period of up to 680 seconds. The CUPRA e-Racers and all other emergency vehicles recharge their batteries between the races at the "PURE ETCR Energy Station". The batteries can be charged from 10 to 90 percent of their total capacity of 65 kWh in just one hour.

Via the "Battles" to the DHL Super Final

In the quarter-finals, battles lasting a maximum of 15 minutes are held. The two fastest drivers from group one reach the semi-finals, as does the winner from group two. The trio then battle it out in another 15-minute 'battle' in the semi-finals for first, second and third spots in the DHL Super Final. The remaining three pilots from the quarter-finals compete in the second semi-final for places four, five and six for the Super Final. There, at the end of the tournament, 20 minutes are all about victory and other important points in order to become "King of the Weekend".

“I really like the new format. It's easier to understand and the fans can now follow what's happening better.", says Xavi Serra. “The strategy for the weekend will be different as the newly introduced qualifying with maximum power laps can have a big impact on the whole event. You have to be fully involved right from the start.”

Spectacular event as part of the "Pau Motors Festival"

The FIA ETCR is not only about motorsport, but also about sustainability and electromobility. It is therefore no coincidence that the temporary, 2,76-kilometre-long "Circuit de Pau-Ville" street circuit was chosen as the venue for the start of the second season. Because the joint race weekend of the "FIA ETCR - eTouring Car World Cup" and the "WTCR - FIA World Touring Car Cup" as the "Pau Grand Prix" is a main attraction as part of the "Pau Motors Festival". The event is not only intended to celebrate motorsport, but also to focus on sustainability in motorsport and to show the challenges of mobile change.

“Electromobility in general is critical for the entire automotive world that is transitioning to electric or alternative fuels”, says Mattias Ekstrom. “It's a very exciting time for motorsport with so much innovation and modern technology at play. CUPRA is doing a great job here too, not only by competing in Extreme E and the FIA ETCR, but also by using that knowledge for road car production. The CUPRA Born is the best proof of that and there is a lot more in the pipeline.”

Eurosport broadcasts the FIA ETCR

A total of seven race events are planned for the second season of the FIA ETCR. Fans in Germany can follow the races on TV or in the live stream because Eurosport is broadcasting the electric racing series. The opening event from Pau runs on Eurosport 1 and in the Eurosport Player.

The race calendar of the PURE ETCR 2022

6th-8th May: Pau-Arnos, France
20-22 May: Istanbul Park, Turkey
10th-12th June: Hungaroring, Hungary

17-19 June: Circuito del Jarama, Spain
8th-10th July: Circuit Zolder, Belgium
22nd-24th July: Autodromo Vallelunga, Italy

7th-9th October: Inje Speedium, South Korea

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