Preview: CUPRA KIRO set for 2025 Monaco E-Prix double-header
CUPRA KIRO prepares to take on the legendary Circuit de Monaco as the FIA Formula E World Championship's 2024/25 season continues
When it comes to motorsport, Monaco needs no introduction. For almost 100 years, the Principality has echoed with a fanfare of racing heritage and sporting glory, and this weekend, CUPRA KIRO will experience its legendary streets for the very first time.
Marking the fifth race weekend of the FIA Formula E World Championship’s 11th season, the 2025 edition of the Monaco E-Prix is an event unlike any other, with the Principality holding a double-header event of two separate races over one weekend for the first time in history.
With form in-hand from Miami, the highly anticipated return of Pit Boost, and with the continuation of its innovative partnership with Marvel Studios to promote Thunderbolts*, CUPRA KIRO is primed to tackle the crown jewel of Formula E’s 2024/25 calendar.
Discover The Circuit
As one of the most iconic venues in motorsport, Monaco serves up a challenge that is both technical and demanding, and with fabled corners including Sainte Devote and the Grand Hotel hairpin, it’s a circuit that’s as unforgiving as it is thrilling.
Despite holding a reputation as a circuit that is difficult to overtake on, Formula E has consistently proven that anything is possible, and with countless bold moves in recent seasons, has shattered the myth that track position is everything.
Still, Qualifying will remain crucial this weekend, especially for Saturday’s Pit Boost race, but strategy is king in Formula E and effective Attack Mode usage will be just as important.
As the world saw at the Miami E-Prix, drivers who wisely manage their energy can easily expose weaknesses in their rivals very late in the race, setting the stage for what will be a spectacular double-header.
Last Time Out
CUPRA KIRO enters the Monaco E-Prix fresh from a points-paying performance in Miami, where Dan Ticktum battled to a hard-fought seventh place finish in a gruelling peloton-style race at Homestead.
The team entered its home race following an intensive development window during the Spring break, and the benefit immediately showed as David Beckmann progressed to the duel stages of Qualifying to secure his best starting position of the season.
Unfortunately, contact and a subsequent puncture and suspension damage ruled the German out early and left Dan as CUPRA KIRO’s primary challenger in the race, but by building a good energy advantage, he unleashed his pace to devastating effect.
He activated Attack Mode late on and moved up the order to eventually claim seventh after a handful of rivals fell afoul of late Attack Mode infringements. This gave CUPRA KIRO its third points finish in five races.
Hear from CUPRA KIRO
Alex Hui, Team Principal, CUPRA KIRO
“The Monaco E-Prix is one of the most iconic races on the calendar, and since moving to the full circuit in 2021, Formula E has delivered more action and excitement in Monaco over the past four years than Formula 1 has this century. As a double-header event, this weekend also marks the start of a very intense run where, with two long-haul double-headers in Tokyo and Shanghai, we’ll complete one-third of the season in the space of just 30 days. During a stretch like this, momentum will be critical. Everyone in CUPRA KIRO has put in an incredible amount of hard work so far this season, and our weekend in Miami showed first-hand that we have turned a corner in our performance. If we can maintain our current form in Monaco, I’m confident that we can deliver a good result – one that could serve as a springboard for the rest of the year.”
Dan Ticktum, Driver, CUPRA KIRO
“We have a big weekend this this week in Monaco – it’s the race that every driver wants to win. We’ve prepared well as a team, and this week, I’ve been doing a small road trip down to Monaco with a friend. I feel well rested, and I’m really looking forward to it. So far this season, not all of the races have come together for us, and I think Miami could have been a lot better than it was if it wasn’t for the Red Flag. At this stage of the year, we need a breakthrough and a bit more luck. In the first race on Saturday, Qualifying is going to be very important and on Sunday, I think we’ll see more of a peloton-style race. I’m looking forward to this busy part of the season, getting into a rhythm, and getting some big results and big points.”
David Beckmann, Driver, CUPRA KIRO
“Monaco is a legendary circuit, and I can’t wait to race there this weekend. I first raced at Monaco in 2021 when I was competing in Formula 2, and it was a very special experience. It’s always an honour to race at such an iconic track. We’ve been making constant positive progress from race-to-race this season, and from Jeddah to Miami, I think we took a big step forward in performance. I’m confident that we can take this momentum with us to Monaco, and because it’s a circuit I’m familiar with, I should also have a smaller learning curve in comparison to other races this season. I’m looking forward to hitting the track, and hopefully, we’ll be able to deliver on our pace and potential.”
Russell O’Hagan, Chief Operating Officer, CUPRA KIRO
“The Monaco E-Prix represents a natural transition point for us as a team this season. We’ve worked very hard to catch up over the opening five races and now, in the second phase of the year and with 70% of the season still to go, we need to start living up to our full potential. Monaco is a circuit that both of our drivers know well, with David racing there in the past, and Dan winning there in Formula 2. Having this existing knowledge, especially for David, will be very beneficial throughout the weekend which, as a double-header, will give us two good opportunities to score points. With Pit Boost returning in Race 1, I think we’ll see two very different races from Saturday to Sunday, but after a very thorough preparation, all we need to do now is execute. We know where we want to be at the end of this season, but to get there, we need to slay some giants. We have the opportunity to do that every weekend and now, we need to maximise that chance.”
Jon Wilde, Commercial Director, CUPRA KIRO
“We’re very excited to continue our collaboration with Marvel Studios to promote Thunderbolts* this weekend. Running our special edition livery for a second event isn’t just a sequel – it’s a statement which shows that our partnership is far more than a one-off moment. When we unveiled our livery in Miami, it marked the first activation of its kind in Formula E, but by featuring it for a second event, we’re achieving what is an industry first in World Championship motorsport. From Idris [Elba] to MrBeast, and now to Marvel, the start to CUPRA KIRO’s Season 11 has been huge, and we don’t want to stop until we’ve to torn up the traditional motorsport playbook and rewritten it.”
Follow The Action
Action for the Monaco E-Prix – the second double-header event of Formula E’s 2024/25 season –will commence on Saturday 3 May and will continue on Sunday 4 May, during which two races will be held in the Principality.
To find out where to watch the Monaco E-Prix in your home country, click here.