#France #Le Castellet #Geely Préface TCR #Santiago Urrutia #Geely Starray EM-i

Geely Preface TCR Triumphs at Kumho FIA TCR World Tour

In a remarkable weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Geely Group Motorsport and Geely Cyan Racing showcased their racing expertise, securing three podium finishes at the third round of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour. Santiago Urrutia maintained his championship lead, demonstrating the prowess of the Geely Preface TCR under the challenging conditions.

Despite the intense summer heat, the team managed to prove the exceptional performance of the Geely Preface TCR, a race car designed on the same CMA platform as Geely's conventional vehicles. This engineering approach enables consumers to enjoy racetrack-level driving dynamics in their everyday lives. Local hero Yann Ehrlacher clinched a strong second place in the opening race, while Ma Qinghua and Santiago Urrutia added to the team's success by securing two podiums in the subsequent race, underscoring a competitive and thrilling weekend.

Geely's commitment to its distribution network in France recently came to fruition as the company launched an exclusive Discovery Tour for local dealers, resulting in signed agreements for 60 sales points. This initiative aims to build a nationwide distribution and service network, collaborating with local partners to strengthen the brand's presence in the French market. In tandem with these efforts, the Geely Starray EM-i has garnered the 'People's Choice PHEV Award' from Les Numériques, one of France's leading digital media outlets. This recognition adds to Geely's growing credibility within the European market.

To meet the demands of European consumers, Geely has introduced two flagship models: the fully electric E5 (known as Geely EX5) and the plug-in hybrid Starray EM-i, both achieving top results in Euro NCAP crash tests with five-star ratings. The chassis and powertrain systems have been purposefully calibrated by research and development teams in Sweden and Germany, ensuring high performance and safety suitable for European conditions.

Notably, Geely is utilizing a tri-dimensional operational system that integrates global R&D, local customer service, and region-specific marketing. Recently, a delegation of French dealers visited Geely's advanced manufacturing facilities and comprehensive safety laboratories in China, further solidifying mutual trust in their partnership.

Through successful products, an expanding distribution network, and continuous achievements in motorsport, Geely's brand perception among European consumers has significantly transformed. They now recognize Geely as a global automotive brand with distinct European development capabilities. Geely is firmly committed to participating in the TCR series throughout the season while simultaneously enhancing its presence in European retail and advancing regionally optimized vehicle technologies.

This strategic focus will undoubtedly bolster Geely's core competitiveness in the growing market for alternative powertrain vehicles in Europe, demonstrating the brand's dedication to innovation and excellence in both automotive performance and consumer satisfaction. As the season progresses, Geely looks forward to further successes both on the racetrack and in the marketplace, continuing to establish its footprint across the European automotive landscape.