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feature dan ticktum Cupra Kiro season 11

Ticktum tees up potential for strong Tokyo weekend

FEATURE 17 May 2025 4 Mins

On the rain-drenched streets of Tokyo, Dan Ticktum delivered one of the standout performances of his Formula E career, clinching a fifth-place finish. This not only marked his best result of the 2024/25 season but also CUPRA KIRO's best result to date in the all-electric championship.

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feature dan ticktum Cupra Kiro season 11

^{Words: Aisha Daulay}

Rain, risk, and rewards

Now in his fourth season in the championship, Ticktum has always been seen as a promising driver, but the series posed challenges that kept him from unlocking his full potential. His rookie campaign in 2022 with NIO 333 was impressive, as he scored his first points in Rome and reached the Duels in the final race in Seoul. However, despite these early successes, Ticktum struggled to break into the upper ranks.

The following season didn’t quench his thirst for more, but it was in Season 10 that Ticktum truly began to find his rhythm. At Misano, he started from P16 and seized on every opportunity as the race unfolded into chaos. By Lap 26, he was inside the top 10, with his then-teammate Sergio Sette Camara just behind.

In the final laps, Ticktum fought his way past Mitch Evans, and when Jean-Éric Vergne received a penalty for a collision with Nick Cassidy, he moved into fifth. A post-race disqualification for Antonio Félix da Costa handed Oliver Rowland the win, Jake Dennis second, and Guenther third, while Ticktum secured fourth, his best result in Formula E to-date.

However, this season has seen Ticktum’s best form yet, including a strong eighth-place finish in the opener in Sao Paulo and consistent top-10 results, highlighted by a strong performance in Monaco, where he qualified third.

By the time Formula E returned to Tokyo, Ticktum’s newfound consistency was clear. Starting from P7 in the rain-soaked, tricky conditions, he wasn’t expecting much. Oliver Rowland, starting from pole, was aiming to extend his championship lead, but the early moments of the race mirrored last year’s drama, with Edoardo Mortara briefly challenging Rowland for the lead at Turn 1.

As the race unfolded, Ticktum remained calm and focused, aware that he had everything on his side to prove a point. With Guenther’s hopes of replicating his phenomenal win from last season dashed early on, Ticktum kept his head cool and avoided the mid-race chaos that affected several drivers, including a collision between Nyck de Vries and Mitch Evans.

"Overall, the race was pretty well. The first part of the race, up until the Red Flag, and just after, it was a bit of a lack of fortune and some other teams being very quick with taking ATTACK MODE straight away, and I think that was very clever," Ticktum said.

"Then we sort of panic reacted a couple of laps later, and got no fortune out of that two minutes of ATTACK MODE, so that was a bit of a mistake from the strategy side but the rest of the race was spot on."

In the final laps, Ticktum had worked his way into fifth. When Stoffel Vandoorne recovered from an early spin to take the win for Maserati, Ticktum held his position, passing Mortara in the process and securing a solid result. Vandoorne’s victory may have stolen the headlines, but for Ticktum, the Tokyo E-Prix was still deeply meaningful. "The pace was supposed to be great but we did a test item, something different to the wet in Monaco, and obviously the car was very fast in the rain," added Ticktum.

"We reversed it and made a change, and the pace felt really good in the race. So the car’s strong in the rain. Like I said, in those six-eight laps I obviously undercut a few people and just strong.

"It’s been a lot of work so far this year to get to the results. I appreciate how everyone’s been working really hard. It’s still a small team but growing, and everyone’s doing a great job."

Looking Ahead

The journey for Ticktum and CUPRA KIRO is still in its early stages, but the British driver’s newfound consistency, combined with the team’s improving form, sets the stage for more competitive performances. While the championship title may still be out of reach for now, Ticktum’s steady rise and growing confidence make him a serious contender for a podium soon.

He added, "For me, if I’m being brutally honest, if we got everything right I think I could’ve gone with that train at the start instead of dropping back and maybe we could’ve gone forward and stayed P6 and gone with the people ahead. That’s the only other thing and I genuinely think I have the pace to win."

With several races remaining, the big question is no longer "if" Ticktum will reach the podium, but "when." Given the drive he’s shown so far, it’s clear the best is yet to come.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Tokyo E-Prix Rounds 8 and 9

After making its debut last season, Formula E returns to the streets of Tokyo. Last season was just the one event, now there's double the action across Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 2025 - make sure you don't miss a moment.

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.