A confirmed return for Season 13
CUPRA KIRO has confirmed Jake Hughes and Pepe Martí for Formula E 2026/27. The championship’s announcement on 12 October brings the Briton back to a full-time seat after his spell as Mahindra reserve. Hughes previously raced for NEOM McLaren and Maserati. His first series podium was second place at Shanghai in 2024.
What Hughes brings to the project
In the signing announcement, CUPRA KIRO’s management highlights his one-lap speed and development experience. Those are the team’s stated reasons for the choice, rather than evidence of an established competitive order. APEX’s interpretation: experience becomes useful when driver observations turn into clear priorities and proposed solutions can be checked efficiently on track.
A new design with a familiar identity
Also on 12 October, Formula E reported CUPRA KIRO’s GEN4 launch at the Paris Motor Show. Fluorescent yellow remains central to the design, complemented by CUPRA’s copper tones. The reveal establishes the visual identity and driver pairing. Colours and statements of ambition cannot demonstrate race pace before the cars compete on track.
What changes with GEN4
The new generation’s official specification lists 450 kW in normal race mode and up to 600 kW in Attack Mode, with permanent all-wheel drive. Its competitive debut is scheduled for 2026/27. That power level describes the generation rather than a CUPRA KIRO exclusive advantage. Energy management, tyres and operational execution remain useful reference points for assessing each project.
What to watch during preparation
During testing, a fast lap needs to be read alongside the running programme and conditions in which it was achieved. For Hughes, the sporting question is whether adapting to the new car can also support pace over longer runs. APEX’s archive photograph shows him in the NEOM McLaren at Valencia in December 2022, rather than in the CUPRA KIRO GEN4 car.
