by Stellantis Announces Citroen Racing’s Entry into the Formula E Championship
Stellantis is making significant changes to its motorsport activities: Citroen Racing will replace Maserati MSG in Formula E. The French manufacturer, traditionally associated with rallying, was deemed more suitable for this role.
Citroen will participate in the Formula E championship starting from the next season. Their return as a factory team is described as
an electric, innovative, and passionate adventure that embodies our values and vision for the future of mobility
.
A teaser video on social media gives a glimpse of the brand’s electric race car, which will be presented on October 20th. The Citroen Racing Formula E Team logo on the Facebook cover raises questions about the brand’s future participation in rallying. A possible exit could coincide with the return of another Stellantis brand, Lancia, to rallying, as the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale might replace the C3 Rally2, which has been used since 2018.
Citroen’s Historical Achievements in Motorsport
Citroen is known for its successes in the World Rally Championship: eight manufacturers’ titles and nine consecutive drivers’ titles during the dominance of Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena between 2004 and 2012. The brand also has four Dakar Rally victories in the 90s with the ZX Rally Raid model.
Outside of rallying, Citroen won the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) three times in a row in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings between 2014 and 2016 with the racing version of the C-Elysée sedan.
Replacing Maserati and the Future of Participation
Citroen Racing will replace Maserati MSG, which entered Formula E in 2023, taking over from Venturi Racing. The Maserati team recently experienced a failed takeover attempt and, despite three victories (one in each season), faced financial difficulties.
Another reason for Maserati’s exit from Formula E was the brand’s new electrification strategy, with less emphasis on electric models under the Folgore brand and the cancellation of the electric MC20 supercar.
Like Maserati MSG, Citroen Racing will use the technical solutions of another Stellantis brand, DS Automobiles, which has numerous victories and titles in Formula E over the last decade. DS is currently managed by Penske, but it is unclear whether it will remain in the championship in the Gen4 era.
Reportedly, Opel may also apply for a Formula E license in the future, aligning with their recently updated GSE performance division.
Citroen Racing will join the grid of 10 Formula E teams next season. Competitors will include Nissan, Ford, Jaguar TCS, Tag Heuer Porsche, DS Penske, Envision, Lola Yamaha Abt, Mahindra, and Andretti.
This move by Stellantis demonstrates a growing focus on electric motorsport and the possibility of resource redistribution among its brands. Citroen’s participation in Formula E could be an important step for popularizing electromobility and technological innovations, while questions about the future of rally programs remain open. The transition to Gen4 race cars could also contribute to the further evolution of the championship and attract new manufacturers.
