Citroen enters Indian motorsport with JK Tyre Racing Championship partnership

New Delhi: The JK Tyre National Racing Championship, one of India’s oldest and most recognised motorsport events, has found a new partner this season. Citroën India has stepped in as the Official Car Partner for the 28th edition of JKNRC, marking its first significant foray into the Indian racing circuit.

The announcement was made in Chennai on August 28, with the French automaker confirming that its cars will be part of the championship across various roles, including safety cars and demonstration runs. The move ties Citroën’s long global motorsport history to India’s growing racing ecosystem at a time when motorsport is steadily expanding its base of fans and participants.

Citroën’s racing story dates back to the 1930s with the "Rosalie” C6F endurance car, and later to its rally icons such as the ZX Rallye Raid, Xsara WRC, C4 WRC, and DS3 WRC. The brand’s dominance in the World Rally Championship under Guy Fréquelin and nine-time champion Sébastien Loeb remains legendary, with nine Drivers’ Championships and eight Manufacturers’ titles to its name.

Racing, for Citroën, has long been more than a showpiece. Many everyday technologies — advanced suspension setups, disc brakes, and engine tuning methods — first proved themselves in extreme competition before making their way into production cars. By entering JKNRC, Citroën is placing that DNA in the middle of India’s most visible racing stage.

JK Tyre has been running the National Racing Championship for nearly three decades, giving India its premier circuit-racing platform. The 2025 edition began at Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore in August and will end with a grand finale at the same track in November. For years, the series has been the entry point for young drivers hoping to make it to international motorsport.

Sanjay Sharma of JK Tyre Motorsport stated that bringing Citroën on board adds a global racing legacy to the Indian paddock, and is expected to create a bigger draw for spectators and racers alike.

Citroën’s cars will not just sit on the sidelines. They will be used as safety cars, showcased in dynamic stunt and drift performances, and integrated into fan engagement activities at the circuit. For motorsport enthusiasts, this means that Citroën’s vehicles will be visible across multiple aspects of race weekends, offering audiences a closer look at how modern cars handle under extreme conditions.

The timing of this partnership is crucial. Motorsport in India is on the rise, with events like the Formula E Hyderabad E-Prix and the return of international rally stages putting the country on the global map. Collaborations like this one between Citroën and JK Tyre underline the potential of India as a motorsport hub, blending fan engagement with opportunities for young racers.

Now if only the Govt revives the Buddh International F1 Circuit, we will be golden.