John Kelly (Waterford)Co.Waterford, Waterford Business Park, X91 CC83 Waterford
Published 25th March 2026
Opel is writing a new chapter in its long and successful motorsport history, taking its commitment to electric motorsport to the next level and showcasing its powerful, all-electric GSE models. Starting from the 2026/27 season, the brand will enter an Opel GSE Formula E Team in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the world’s fastest-growing racing series. Officially announced by Opel CEO, Florian Huettl, and Formula E CEO, Jeff Dodds, at a press conference at the Spanish circuit of Jarama, a four-year contract has been signed.
“Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future,” said Opel CEO, Florian Huettl. “With Formula E moving to GEN4 cars as of the coming season, we see this as the ideal time to join this exciting, all-electric racing competition. Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will show what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance, attributes that also apply to Opel’s fully-electric GSE models such as the Mokka GSE and the soon-to-be-unveiled, new Corsa GSE.”
“We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E,” said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. “As a strong German brand with distinctive engineering expertise and a fresh, bold image, Opel brings a long and storied history in motorsport and a new dynamic to the starting grid. Opel’s commitment also shows the importance of Formula E for global car manufacturers in the transition to electric mobility.”
In 2021, the brand launched the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, the world's first electric one-make cup. Over the past five years, young rally talents have demonstrated their skills in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, with the winner of each season securing a seat in the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team to subsequently contest the Junior European Rally Championship (JERC). With the start of the new 2026/27 rally season approaching, Opel will maintain its pioneer role in electric rallying and this year’s series will feature the new Opel Mokka GSE Rally. The high-performance electric rally car has an output of up to 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Newton metres of torque, more than twice as powerful as the previous Corsa Rally Electric and offering performance at Rally4 level.
Before Formula E kicks off its new and now 13th season, the Opel GSE Formula E Team will make its first public appearance during the official GEN4 launch at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet in April, giving a first glimpse of its look and further updates.
For Opel, participation in Formula E represents the next logical step in all-electric motorsport. The introduction of the GEN4 cars for the upcoming Formula E season is therefore exactly the right time for Opel to demonstrate its own motorsport know-how and return to the circuit with forward-looking technology. GEN4 marks the biggest leap in performance in the history of Formula E. The all-electric race cars will achieve a peak output of up to 600 kW (816 hp) in qualifying and attack mode – a whopping 250 kW (340 hp) more than before. In addition, the fourth generation of vehicles has permanent instead of temporary all-wheel drive, which will provide significantly more grip. This will make Formula E even faster and more exciting. At the same time, the capacity for energy recovery will be increased to up to 700 kW, which will benefit the efficiency and range of the race cars.
While test drives of the new generation of vehicles are taking place across Europe, the Opel motorsport department, headed by Jörg Schrott, is setting up. A team of vehicle, development and strategy engineers and operational management is already preparing for the start of the season. While the Opel GSE Formula E Team is benefiting from Stellantis Motorsport’s extensive experience in developing the GEN4 model, Opel is contributing its German engineering to the new project.
“Opel has decades of experience in classic top-class and amateur motorsport. Our previous activities range from the World Rally Championship to circuit racing, with commitments in Formula Opel, Formula 3 and the German Touring Car Masters (DTM). What began five years ago with the establishment of the first electric rally cup, is now reaching its peak with the participation in the FIA World Championship. Opel is thus taking its commitment to all-electric top-class motorsport to the next level.”, said Jörg Schrott, Opel GSE Formula E Team Principal and Director of Opel Motorsport.
