Stellantis is shaking up its racing hierarchy—and betting big on a proven engineering heavyweight. Beginning January 31, 2026, Olivier Jansonnie will take the helm of Stellantis Motorsport, succeeding longtime motorsport architect Jean-Marc Finot. For a group whose portfolio spans everything from DS Formula E titles to Peugeot’s renewed Le Mans ambitions, this leadership change isn’t just administrative—it’s strategic.
A Quiet, Calculated Power Move
If the name Olivier Jansonnie rings a bell, it’s because he’s been behind some of the most technically demanding programs in modern racing. A graduate of Centrale-Supélec, Jansonnie arrives with more than 25 years of cross-disciplinary motorsport experience—LMP1, Hypercar, WRC, WRX, Cross-Country, DTM—and the résumé reads like a highlight reel of the last two decades of factory-backed motorsport evolution.
Jansonnie cut his teeth at Peugeot Sport in 1998 before jumping to Mitsubishi in 2003 to lead development of the Lancer WRC—an era when rallying still had a raw, developmental fierceness. As a freelance engineer, he contributed to major projects for Peugeot, including the brand’s 2009 Le Mans victory, one of the last great petrol-era triumphs before hybridization took over the grid.
Then came a pivotal shift: in 2012, BMW tapped him as head of vehicle development for its motorsport division. There, he oversaw aerodynamics, design, and quality engineering—a trifecta of responsibilities that cemented his reputation as one of the most technically versatile minds in the paddock.
In 2016, Jansonnie returned to Peugeot, eventually becoming Technical Director. Dakar challengers, WRX platforms, EV prototypes—if it wore a lion badge and raced, he likely touched it. Since 2020, he’s served as team principal of the Peugeot TotalEnergies endurance program, helping steer Stellantis back into the top tier of global sports car racing.
Now he’ll oversee the entire Stellantis motorsport portfolio in Europe, reporting directly to Emanuele Cappellano, Head of Enlarged Europe and Stellantis Pro One.
A Leader Stepping Aside After Four Decades
The man Jansonnie replaces, Jean-Marc Finot, is no mere placeholder. His fingerprints are all over Stellantis performance culture—from engineering the iconic 205 GTI in the 1980s to greenlighting modern high-performance platforms across Peugeot, DS, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Opel, Lancia, and Maserati.
During Finot’s tenure:
- DS won two Formula E manufacturer and driver titles
- Peugeot re-entered endurance racing, building the radical 9X8
- Citroën, Opel, Lancia, and Maserati motorsport programs were revived
- Customer racing expanded across the group
Finot retires January 31, 2026, marking the end of a career that spans nearly 40 years and some of the most beloved performance vehicles to ever wear French badges.
What Stellantis Says
Cappellano called Jansonnie’s appointment “critical in supporting each brand involved in motorsport,” praising his depth of knowledge while thanking Finot for building a “strong Stellantis Motorsport team, achieving many victories, two world titles, and enabling the development of iconic high-performance vehicles.”
Jansonnie himself struck a forward-looking tone, emphasizing both heritage and innovation:
“Motorsport has always been a cornerstone of the automotive industry… As we enter a new era of global championships, my mission is clear: to keep our brands at the forefront of innovation and performance… Backed by passionate and talented teams, I am ready to take on this challenge.”
What It Means for the Future
Stellantis has quietly become one of the most motorsport-diverse conglomerates in the world. Under one roof sit Peugeot’s Hypercar, DS’s Formula E legacy, Citroën’s rally pedigree, Abarth’s grassroots scene, and Maserati’s newfound racing ambitions.
Jansonnie inherits a motorsport empire at a crossroads—balancing electric championships, endurance hybrids, and customer racing while each brand searches for its post-2030 identity.
If Stellantis wants its racing efforts to turn into showroom excitement—real halo cars that matter to enthusiasts—Jansonnie is a logical, focused choice. Technical, unflashy, respected by engineers and drivers alike, he’s more racer than executive.
And that may be exactly what Stellantis needs.
Source: Stellantis