“This Car is a Game Changer”: Pourchaire Gears up For Formula E Step With Opel

Théo Pourchaire is preparing to embark on a new chapter in his racing career, joining Opel GSE Formula E Team for its entry into the all-electric championship.

Interview

27 Oct '26

The Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer made headlines when it announced its arrival in Formula E at a press conference ahead of the 2026 Madrid E-Prix. With decades of motorsport experience spanning rallying, touring cars and endurance racing, Opel is now setting its sights on the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, marking a significant new chapter in the brand’s racing history.

FIRST LOOK: Opel steps into Formula E's GEN4 era with the GSE 27FE

For Pourchaire, the opportunity to represent one of Germany’s most recognisable automotive manufacturers marks an exciting step in his career. Speaking at the unveiling of the Opel GSE 27FE at the Paris Motor Show, the Frenchman shared his thoughts of the team’s new look.

He said, “My first thoughts when I saw the livery, is that it’s a very classy livery that represents Opel at its very best, I love it.

"My favourite part, I would say is the yellow, because yellow is a colour that has been on my helmet since the beginning of my racing career, so I'm matching well with Opel.

"Opel is a very important German manufacturer, and it's a legendary car brand, it's been here for a very, very long time. I'm really proud to be representing Opel, and I'm really happy to see them, in my country, at the Paris Motor Show."

Although the 23-year-old will be a newcomer to the Formula E grid, he is no stranger to the demands of top-level motorsport. The Frenchman has built an impressive résumé across single-seater and endurance racing, establishing himself as one of the most accomplished young drivers of his generation.

His rise through the junior ranks began with victory in French Formula 4 in 2018, followed by the ADAC Formula 4 title in 2019. He subsequently made his mark in the FIA Formula 2, where he claimed the 2023 title with one race victory and 10 podium finishes across his championship winning campaign.

Beyond single-seaters, Pourchaire has made a name for himself in the world of endurance racing, with appearances in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

His Formula One experience has also been an important part of his development. Pourchaire previously served as a reserve driver for Sauber/Stake Formula One Team, taking part in a F1 test in August 2021. He later continued in a test driver role with Alfa Romeo before joining Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team as a development driver.

Now, with a full-time seat on the horizon in the all-electric championship, Pourchaire faces a fresh challenge: adapting his experience to Formula E's next-generation electric machinery while helping newcomer Opel establish itself in the championship.

He said: ‘Working with the Opel family has been a real pleasure so far. I've met a lot of people, the mechanics and engineers, but also the marketing and communications team. It's a lot of new faces, but I'm really enjoying it.

“There's a lot of work behind the scenes: a lot of simulator sessions, a lot of meetings with the engineers and with the mechanics to get to know my cockpit. After all, it's a completely different car for me. It's a new car (for Formula E), and it's going to be like a completely new championship for everyone.

“Of course, it is still the Formula E World Championship, but this car is a game changer. It’s a lot of work behind the scenes with engineers, even with the mechanics, just to get to know my cockpit as well.”

Formula E has been on Pourchaire’s radar for several years. His first taste of the championship’s machinery came in 2022, when he undertook three days of testing in a GEN3 car on behalf of Spark. Since then, he has continued to build on his knowledge of the all-electric championship, including rookie free practice sessions in Jeddah and Berlin with Maserati MSG Racing and more recently, in January 2026, Citroën Racing selected him for free practice sessions in Miami and Madrid.

His performance in Miami earlier this year was particularly noteworthy, the Frenchman finishing the session in second, just 0.093s off the fastest time - immediately demonstrating his potential against a field of established Formula E talent.

That experience has helped prepare him for the next major step: the arrival of GEN4, which promises a significant leap in performance and represents one of Formula E’s most exciting innovations so far. The new machinery is capable of delivering 50% more power in race mode than the GEN3 Evo, with peak output reaching up to 600 kW (816 hp) in qualifying and ATTACK MODE. For drivers making the transition, the increase in performance presents both an exciting opportunity and a steep learning curve.

He asserted, “My first impression about this car is that it's so powerful. The power is crazy. I think it's the race car that accelerates the most that I've tried in my career. It’s also much quicker than the GEN3 in the corners, and it's better looking. It 's going to be a real pleasure to be part of this championship.

"The testing with the new GEN4 car has been going well at the moment. It's a new car for everybody, so a lot of learning, a lot of ups and downs, but we are working really hard with everybody to make sure that we are competitive."