CUPRA KIRO stuns at 2026 Sanya E-Prix as Pepe Martí scores second Formula E podium
CUPRA KIRO driver Pepe Martí staged a strong comeback to battle from 18th to the podium at the 2026 Sanya E-Prix
CUPRA KIRO’s Pepe Martí scored a second career podium at the 2026 Sanya E-Prix, with the Spanish racer battling from 18th on the grid to finish third as the FIA Formula E World Championship returned to Hainan island in China for the first time since 2019.
In Qualifying, Dan Ticktum secured his place in the duels from Group B and started the 2026 Sanya E-Prix from fourth after defeating Nyck de Vries in the Quarter-Finals. Pepe, meanwhile, placed 14th but started from 18th due to a grid penalty.
Dan settled into a consistent rhythm at the start of the race and activated his first Attack Mode on lap 10 to rejoin in ninth. He used the extra power to move into the lead but after getting shuffled back into the pack, sustained extensive front-end damage following contact with Mitch Evans when the field bunched up in Turn 6.
Pepe, meanwhile, overtook Taylor Barnard and Norman Nato over the opening laps to move up to 16th before adopting an energy saving strategy. He activated his first Attack Mode to fight up to 12th but sustained extensive rear-end damage in an unavoidable accident in Turn 9 which brought out the Red Flag.
Both Dan and Pepe underwent repairs during the Red Flag and lined up in 18th and 19th for the restart as a result. When the race was resumed, Pepe used his additional energy to move into the top 10 and activated his final Attack Mode on lap 35 to battle forward to fourth before being promoted to third at the line due to a penalty for Antonio Felix da Costa. Dan, meanwhile, finished 15th after receiving a penalty for the collision with Evans which was served during a pit stop.
Pepe Martí, Driver, CUPRA KIRO
“I’m very happy with our performance today. To get a podium after starting from 18th on the grid was unexpected, but the race played out really well. We didn’t expect Andretti to do the strategy that they did, but the pace that they set played into our advantage because we were able to save more energy than the guys at the front. The performance was there, the car was quick, and the strategy was on point today – we took our second Attack Mode at the perfect time because if we had waited until later, we would have lost the final minute under the Full Course Yellow and therefore, missed out on the podium. Everyone in the team did a fantastic job this weekend and continue to work flawlessly week in, week out. I can’t wait for Shanghai.”
Dan Ticktum, Driver, CUPRA KIRO
“Another classic Formula E race today. It was very chaotic, and in a race like that, you just need a lot of luck. We were running well but unfortunately, I hit Mitch [Evans] which was ultimately my fault, but with the concertina effect at tight circuits, the traffic can just stop in front of you and this time, I just had nowhere to go. Without the accident I think we could have been inside the top five, but we’ll head to Shanghai and try to end the year well.”
Russell O’Hagan, Team Principal, CUPRA KIRO
“Today was an emotional rollercoaster. We experienced the highs of Dan’s performance in Qualifying, the frustration of seeing both cars getting caught up in incidents during the race, and then the incredible feeling of standing on the podium again. Results like this are only possible because of the effort of every single person in the team, especially in conditions as demanding as these, and I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved today. With Pepe carrying over his penalty from Monaco, we expected a potentially challenging afternoon, but he drove a superb race and put himself in the right position when it mattered most. The strategy was executed perfectly, and the decision to save our final Attack Mode for the closing stages was decisive. It’s been fantastic to watch his confidence grow race by race, and two podiums in consecutive weekends are a real reward for the work he’s put in. Dan’s result is much harder to take because, once again, he showed he had the pace to fight at the front. He was on course for another strong result before the contact in Turn 6, and it’s equally frustrating and heartbreaking that his performance wasn’t rewarded with points. We know what he’s capable of, and when the results come, it will be incredibly rewarding. I have no doubt that he’ll come back fighting in Shanghai. We were competitive there last season, and after another encouraging display of pace this weekend, we’re excited to see what we can achieve.”
