At the recent London E-Prix, an important chapter in the history of Formula E came to a close with DS Automobiles’ final appearance. From DS Virgin Racing to DS Penske, via the triumphant years with DS Techeetah, the French manufacturer has left its mark on the championship’s evolution, going out on a high note with Taylor Barnard’s victory in the final race.
It is difficult to separate the history of DS Automobiles from that of Formula E, and vice versa. When the French manufacturer joined the championship in 2015, the series was still only in its second season. DS itself was a very young brand – it was launched in June 2014 – and the trajectories of both the brand and the championship would evolve in parallel. For DS, the aim was to turn electric racing into a technological testing ground and use Formula E to accelerate the development of the brand’s future electrified cars. For the championship, the aim was to grow by attracting as many manufacturers as possible, and this is how the whole venture experienced significant growth.
