Marti to continue with Cupra Kiro in Formula E

Cupra Kiro has announced that Pepe Marti will remain for another Formula E season following his debut campaign with the team. 

Marti joined the American-flagged outfit ahead of last season after two seasons in Formula 2, replacing David Backmann, who managed just one point in 16 races during the 2024/25 season. Marti went on the score 66 points, and took podium finishes in Monaco and Sanya as the team secured eighth in the team's championship, its best finish since the 2017-18 season when it was known as Nio Formula E Team.

“I’m very excited to continue with Cupra Kiro for the 2026/27 Formula E season. I’ve felt a huge amount of support and trust since joining the team, and together, I think we’ve built something really positive during my rookie year. 

“Formula E has been an incredible learning experience, and I feel that I’ve grown a lot as a driver over the course of the season. To have achieved top three finishes, led races, and become the first Spanish driver to stand on the Formula E podium is something I’m very proud of, but I also feel like we’re only just getting started. Cupra Kiro has big ambitions for the future, and I’m excited to be part of the journey for GEN4. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve next season.”

After a huge crash in his debut race in Sao Paulo, Marti scored his first points in only his second start in Mexico City, despite being hampered with a 10-second stop-and-go penalty, making him Formula E's second-youngest points scorer. He led a race for the first time on home soil in the Madrid E-Prix, and with third in the first race of the Monaco E-Prix, he became only the fifth Spaniard to secure a podium in the history of world championship single-seater motorsport after Alfonso de Portago, Fernando Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa, and Carlos Sainz Jr.

“Continuing our relationship with Pepe for the 2026/27 season was a very straightforward decision,” said Cupra Kiro team principal Russell O’Hagan. “Since the moment he joined the team, he has consistently impressed us with his talent, work ethic, and maturity. As a championship, Formula E can be particularly demanding for rookie drivers, especially at the end of a generation cycle, so our priority was always to allow Pepe the time and environment to develop without unnecessary pressure. 

“The reality is, however, that he exceeded our expectations almost immediately and showed consistent performance across the season. Watching Pepe grow over the course of the season was incredibly rewarding. He’s developed his understanding of Formula E’s nuances at an impressive rate, grown in confidence with every race, and delivered performances that have demonstrated exactly why we believed in him in the first place. 

“We firmly believe he’s one of the sport’s brightest young talents and ambassadors, and that he has all the attributes to become a major force in Formula E. We’re incredibly proud of everything that Pepe has achieved during his rookie season, and the team’s role in getting him up to speed – it was a big group effort. 

“We’re equally excited that he’ll continue his journey with Cupra Kiro as we enter GEN4. We’re only at the beginning of what we believe we can achieve together.”

Marti now becomes Kiro’s first driver confirmed ahead of the GEN4 era, where the team will continue to use Porsche powertrains, with his teammate Dan Ticktum’s future uncertain. While he has tested with lola recently, RACER understands the door isn’t fully closed on him remaining at Kiro.