Pepe finishes his first Formula E test in Valencia on a positive note.

The CUPRA KIRO team driver completes his first run in the Gen3 Evo, finishing just two tenths off the reigning champion.

Four days of intensive work at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Spanish driver’s career.

"We finished very close to the fastest drivers, and I felt increasingly comfortable with the car. It has been a good first block of work."

Pepe Martí successfully completes his official debut in FIA Formula E during the tests held this week at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.

The CUPRA KIRO team driver finished the four days of training with a best time just two tenths off the reigning champion, showing consistent progress in every session and a rapid adaptation to his new technical environment.

Throughout the tests, the Spanish driver completed a valuable number of laps, which allowed him to familiarise himself with the Gen3 Evo, the most advanced car in the history of the championship.

This car stands out from its predecessors due to its all-wheel drive in qualifying mode, its high level of energy regeneration, and a driving style radically different from that of combustion-engine cars.

The work with the team has focused on understanding the new systems, energy management, and the feel for braking and acceleration, all key aspects in Formula E.

"It has been a very positive test and a good first run. We finished just two tenths off the fastest drivers, the reigning champion, and very close to my team-mate, less than a tenth behind, so I’m very pleased with that."

"We managed to get good performance out of the car and, overall, I felt increasingly comfortable with it. The CUPRA KIRO team has done an exceptional job; we have been improving day by day and adapting to this new car, which is very different from anything I’ve known. I’m used to the opposite: the braking, the acceleration, the all-wheel drive in qualifying mode… everything is so new and different that I’ve had to take it calmly, but I’m satisfied."

"We finish on a very positive note. It’s true that we ended the test in eleventh place, but just over two tenths off the fastest time, and with an ideal lap that would have practically put us at the top," comments Pepe.

The Barcelona-born driver particularly appreciated the team’s progress and the opportunity to gain track time ahead of the official start of the season.

"Expectations for the first race are more cautious; here we’ve had four days of testing and around 18 hours on track, plenty of running, whereas in a real race weekend we barely have three hours to do everything. Even so, I’m very pleased with the work we’ve done. In São Paulo, everything resets; we’ll be starting from scratch, but we’ll arrive prepared and confident."

The test concluded on an optimistic note: the driver has shown good progress, the team has managed to get him up to speed, and the days in Valencia have been fully maximised. Next stop: the official season launch at the São Paulo Grand Prix, where Martí and CUPRA KIRO will be looking to start the campaign strongly.