Opel has confirmed that it will race in Formula E from next season, ending longstanding speculation that the German brand would be entering the all-electric championship.
The news that DS Automobiles was withdrawing from Formula E was widely expected to be followed by the announcement of Opel joining the sport.
Opel will formally enter the championship next season at the start of the new Gen4 regulations, and will be a full factory team, rather than partnering with Stellantis.
In a statement, Jeff Dodds CEO of Formula E, welcomed Opel to the sport, and outlined its credentials ahead of its debut.
“We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E,” he said.
“As a strong German brand with distinctive engineering expertise and a fresh, bold image, Opel brings a long and storied history in motorsport and a new dynamic to the starting grid. Opel’s commitment also shows the importance of Formula E for global car manufacturers in the transition to electric mobility.”
“A new milestone for Opel” in Formula E
Opel CEO Florian Huettl spoke of his excitement at joining the series, highlighting his initial goals for the company.
“Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future,” he said.
“With Formula E moving to GEN4 cars as of the coming season, we see this as the ideal time to join this exciting, all-electric racing competition.
“Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will show what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance, attributes that also apply to Opel’s fully-electric GSE models such as the Mokka GSE and soon the new Corsa GSE.”
With the FE grid now set to revert back to 11 teams with this entry and Porsche’s second team, there is a 12th and final slot that could be filled, with Stellantis still potentially able to fill it with another of its brands, FE looks set for an intriguing start to its Gen4 era.
READ MORE – DS Automobiles to exit Formula E at the end of Season 12
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