Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Kiro Race Co

  • Kiro sign Ticktum and Beckmann

    Kiro Race Co have announced Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann as their 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship driver pairing.

    As the newest team in Formula E, built on the foundations of former competitor, ERT – itself tracing its roots back to the race-wining NEXTEV and NIO outfits.

    Kiro Race Co has eyes on battling back to the front of the Formula E grid, with Ticktum and Beckmann set to be key to the team’s goals starting at the season-opening Sao Paulo E-Prix this weekend.

    Ticktum, who has competed in Formula E since 2022, reached new heights in Formula E by taking a career-best finish of fourth at Misano in Season 10 and holds extensive success out of the paddock.
    With three wins and 11 podiums in FIA Formula 2 and back to back victories at the Macau Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018.

    For Beckmann, the 2024/25 season will mark his first full time campaign racing in Formula E. Although the German driver is more than familiar with the championship and after holding Test & Reserve Driver roles with Andretti and Porsche since 2021, as well as racing at the Jakarta E-Prix in 2023.

    Beckmann has raced single seaters since 2015 and has been a consistent challenger at every level, with victories in FIA Formula 3, podiums in FIA Formula 2 and one win in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

    It’s clear to me that Kiro Race Co is hungry, ambitious, and ready to make a statement in Formula E, and that’s exactly the kind of environment I thrive in as a racing driver. Over the past few years, I’ve learned first-hand that Formula E is unlike any other form of motorsport – the racing is relentless, the on-track battles are fierce, and it pushes you to your limits, demanding absolutely everything from both the driver, and the team. Ahead of a new season, it’s important to have modest expectations, but in a category as wild as this, there are open opportunities every single lap. After a promising pre-season test, I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to convert this attitude into regular top 10 performances. The atmosphere and energy within the team is very positive, and I can’t wait to get the season started in São Paulo.
    Ticktum on the news.

    Joining Kiro Race Co’s ranks for my first full season in Formula E is a dream come true, and I’m excited to rise to the challenge. Although I’ll be a rookie this year, I think I’m coming into the season with a unique experience having seen the evolution from Gen2 to Gen3, and again with the GEN3 Evo, first-hand in my past roles with Andretti and Porsche. At testing, my main goal was to get comfortable in the car and integrate myself well in the team, and overall, the week was very encouraging. The whole atmosphere right now is very inspiring, and it feels like we’re all working in the same direction, with one shared goal. I’m really looking forward to Brazil.
    Beckmann on the news.

    Since announcing Kiro Race Co’s involvement in Formula E for Season 11, we’ve been very transparent with our aims – we want to defy expectations, we want to be consistent top-10 contenders, and we want to redefine what it means to be a racing team. Our driver lineup embodies that mission perfectly. In Dan – who has been described as the best British driver not in F1 – we have an experienced, young athlete who not only has the drive and determination to the be the best, but also has the speed and ability to one day be a World Champion. David’s ambition, meanwhile, is unmistakeable, and although he’ll be a rookie this season, his existing experience in Formula E – which includes two race starts and three seasons as a Reserve Driver – put him in a better position than the majority of drivers who join the series. Season 11 is just the first chapter of our journey in Formula E. There’ll be highs and lows, ups and downs, and we know that success won’t come overnight. We’re only at the start of what will be a long road, but we’re committed to this journey, and we’re excited to see what the coming season has in store.
    Alex Hui, Team Principal.

  • Forest Road purchases Formula E Team

    The Forest Road Company – a Los Angeles-based investment firm – has acquired 100% of the ERT Formula E Team, which becomes Kiro Race Co from Season 11.

    Forest Road brings a wealth of experience investing, operating and advising in industry sectors experiencing growth and transformation.
    As an opportunistic investor with a proven track record in both media and renewable energy, Fore Road is well-positioned to drive significant value for the team and Formula E.

    With the backing of Forest Road, as well as David Kaplan and Bennett Rosenthal, Co-Founders of Ares Management, Kiro Race Co is strategically placed for the long term and will be focused on driving sustained growth.

    David Kaplan will act as managing partner of the team, capitalising on his decades of investing and operating experience to achieve world-class performance.
    Together, this new ownership group brings a unique perspective to Formula E and is eager to leverage its extensive network to attract new partners and increase awareness of electric racing in the United States and around the world.

    The team also announced a technical partnership with Porsche Motorsport. The collaboration will see Kiro Race Co equipped with Porsche’s championship-winning powertrain technology.

    This is truly a historic moment for our team. Bringing a US-based asset management group like Forest Road into Formula E is a testament to the series’ growth and our team’s potential. Their investment allows us to build with confidence for the future and compete at the highest level. We are excited to work with them and Porsche Motorsport to achieve our goals.
    Alex Hui, Team Principal of Kiro Race Co.

    We are thrilled to enter The Formula E World Championship and start our journey as Kiro Race Co. The Championship is at a pivotal moment of maturation from a macro and micro perspective. As the world embarks on a massive transition to electric vehicles, the race product has achieved a significant breakthrough in technology with the fastest accelerating single-seater cars. We are committed to helping Kiro become a leading force in the industry.
    Jeremy Tarica, Managing Director of Forest Road.

    This is a fantastic development for Formula E and for Kiro Race Co. It marks the entry of a sophisticated investor group with a strong track record in the sports and entertainment industry. This investment in the team and its ambitious new owners will help us continue to grow the Championship and make it more attractive to fans and partners around the world.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E.