TCR World and life

your feelings about the car? “The first time, I drove it on snow and ice in Andorra. For me, as a Swedish guy, on the winter tyres it was fantastic and really great. Later, I was at Circuit Catalunya, on a real racetrack that I know well, and it was nice to feel the grip on the tarmac. It was a very nice pace and now I'm just waiting for the next time we will go again to develop the car and squeeze it to its limits.” It seems that, compared to TCR, the ETCR cars will be even faster... “Actually, I only drove a CUPRA Cup car some years ago, so I cannot really remember and compare, but I think a comparison is not really necessary. For 3 SPOTLIGHT While manufacturer keeps on growing for the upcoming ETCR – the first ever series reserved for electric-powered Touring Cars – CUPRA has named Mattias Ekström as the new e- ambassador for the brand and official driver of the CUPRA e-Racer. Once FIA World Rallycross champion (2016) and twice winner of the DTM title (2004 and 2007), the 41-year-old Swede was officially presented as CUPRA’s ETCR driver by the brand’s CEO Wayne Griffiths during the media day of the IAA Frankfurt International Motor Show, where we met him for an exclusive interview. You've already had a long and successful career in different branches of motorsport, now a new chapter opens in your sporting life: the ETCR. How do you approach it? “It's always nice to face new challenges and for me to join CUPRA and be part of a programme from the early stage is great. I have been racing a lot of different types of cars in my career, but never one with an electric drivetrain, so being involved in the development and to race the e-Racer will be a new, exciting chapter for me.” You have already started testing the CUPRA e-Racer. Where, and what were Mattias Ekström: “Part of the future ofmotorsportwill be electric!” me, it's more that the car will have rear- wheel drive and good power, which will make the show in general very good for the fans. Once all the details are set, we will see how the fans will like it.” There are a lot of people that still look at electric racing as not ‘real’ motorsport. What do you say to them? “I've had a lot of comments since I announced I will be driving an electric car. I think nobody can change the history of motorsport, but I think one part of the future of motorsport is going to be electric. I've said it many times that to be a hater of the future and development will not solve anything. For me, there is a lot of passion for motorsport and if you watch it on TV or YouTube, very often you don't hear the sound of the cars, so for many of the people this is not even relevant. For the people at the track who enjoy the sound of the cars, I do understand they like it, but there is a big problem from neighbours who complain about the noise. I don't want to say that those who complain are taking care of their own interests, but I think we must accept that the future will bring a change and I don't mind to say: let the fans try before they complain. I think the show will be the factor that decides if they like it or not.”