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Xavier Mestelan pinon appointed head of "DS performance", the DS motorsport division

Enrolled in the FIA Formula E Championship under partnership with Virgin Racing, DS Automobiles created in August 2015 its motorsport division, DS Performance.

Xavier Mestelan Pinon is appointed head of DS Performance starting from 1 January 2016.
In June 2015, DS Automobiles announced its engagement in the FIA Formula E Championship, whose races are run by all-electric single-sitter cars at centrally located racetracks in major cities around the world. The two partners join their forces and form the DS Virgin Racing team.

To harness its technological expertise in research and development in Formula E, DS Automobiles set up a motorsport division, named DS Performance. DS Performance engineers have contributed to the development of the drivetrain of the DSV-01, the DS Virgin Racing team's racing car. They also designed the car's cooling system, rear suspension and transmission.
Xavier Mestelan Pinon is appointed head of DS Performance on 1 January 2016.
Xavier Mestelan Pinon, a graduate of the Estaca engineering school, joined Citroën Sport in 1995 with initial duties in customer-competition operations. In 2000 he took charge of operations for Bruno Thiry's Xsara KitCar in the European championship and Sébastien Loeb's car in the Var Rally. It proved a winning combination!


His career ties in closely with the successful performance of the Citroën World Rally Team: he was put in charge of WRC programme operations in 2001, then appointed chassis manager in 2003. He became head of the technical department in March 2005, then deputy director of Citroën Racing in January 2012.

DS Performance is based at Versailles Satory, near Paris, and is part of the PSA Motorsports Centre of Excellence.
PRESS CONTACTS
DS Performance: Marie-Pierre Rossi: + 33 (0) 6 76 87 02 12 - mariepierre.rossi@mpsa.com Adrien da Cunha Belvès: + 33 (0) 6 85 26 27 91 - adrien.dacunhabelves@mpsa.com
The DS brand: Xiaoyan Hua-Schwab: +33 (0) 6 12 13 90 48 - xiaoyan.hua-schwab@driveds.com Marie Guidolin: +33 (0) 6 88 21 65 70 - marie.guidolin@driveds.com
About DS Performance DS Performance is the motorsport division of the DS brand. The experience acquired by DS Performance in the FIA Formula E Championship contributes to the development of electric technologies. The new division will step up R&D in new technologies such as plug-in hybrids and all-electric power that the PSA Group is already working on and that will benefit the DS brand in the long term.

About the DS brand DS is a Paris-based automotive brand officially launched on 1 June 2014 with the stated ambition of driving an upmarket comeback in the French automotive industry. Inspired by the best in French automotive know-how, DS perpetuates the values of innovation and distinction inherited from the legendary 1955 DS. The DS range is designed for customers seeking personal expression. It currently comprises DS 3, DS 3 CABRIO, New DS 4, DS 4 CROSSBACK, New DS 5, DS 5LS and DS 6. DS cars stand out for their remarkable style, refinement down to the tiniest detail, quality materials, and advanced technologies such as the hybrid diesel drivechain, Hybrid 4x4, available on New DS 5. In Europe, they are sold through DS Stores or at special showrooms across the CITROËN dealer network. In China, DS runs a dedicated network of dealer outlets. DS customers enjoy a brand experience that extends beyond the cars themselves to cover exclusive premium services, as through the DS PRIVILEGE club. Sales top 580,000 since the brand came into existence.