CUPRA has signed former DTM ace Mattias Ekström as its official driver and brand ambassador, as the Spanish car marque prepares for the inaugural season of the all-electric E-TCR series.
Ekström has a long and decorated history in touring car racing, having made his début in the 1997 Swedish Touring Car Championship. The Swede graduated to the DTM in 2001, competing for 17 consecutive seasons before leaving the series full-time at the end of the 2017 season.
Ekström lifted the STCC title in 1999, the DTM title in 2004 and 2007, and the FIA World Rallycross title in 2016, as well as taking three victories in the Race of Champions.
Having run his own team in the FIA world Rallycross Championship, Ekström will now partner with CUPRA as he continues his long association with the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG).
The 41-year-old will be presented as a CUPRA brand ambassador at the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show next month.
“Joining CUPRA is a natural move for me,” said Ekström. “After a career dedicated to the racing world where I had explored all combustion engine formats, I wanted to transition to electric racing with CUPRA, which has been a pathfinder in this segment since its creation.”