Citroën’s premium sub-brand, DS Automobiles has announced the creation of a motor sport division, DS Performance. The newly formed division is contributing ‘its technological expertise in Formula E research and development’, to the DS Virgin Racing team. Based at the future PSA Excellence Centre in Satory, the motorsport arm of the brand is headed up by Yves Matton.
Ahead of the second Formula E season, DS Performance has developed the drivetrain of the DSV-01 competition car, including the electric motor and gearbox. DS Performance has also designed its cooling system, rear suspension and transmission, whilst the motor management system was designed in partnership with Magneti Marelli.
“More than a simple R&D laboratory, DS Performance will stand as a true showcase of the technological expertise and avant-garde spirit of the DS brand,” explained Yves Bonnefont, CEO of DS Automobiles. “It was a natural move for us to call on Yves Matton and his teams, multiple WRC and WTCC world champions, to develop the all-electric DSV-01 race car.”
“I am very proud that DS has called on us to succeed in the new challenge of developing the DSV-01,” added Yves Matton, director of DS Performance. “After the work accomplished in the last few months, the success of the initial official tests of the DSV-01 with Sam Bird and Jean-Eric Vergne was a great source of satisfaction for my teams and myself. We are going to support DS Virgin Racing and work together from Beijing to London to add motor sport success to the DS brand’s accomplishments.”
The announcment comes in conjunction with the DS Virgin Racing squad unveiling a new livery for its second season in Formula E (above). Combining DS and Virgin brand identities, the new design represents ‘a dynamic integration of both the DS Automobiles and Virgin colour schemes’. The car continues with its distinctive purple battery cover as well as the red and chrome features from season one, with DS branding integrated on either side of the car.
