DS Team France Bolstered by Big-Name Loan Signings for Rio SailGP

DS Automobiles SailGP Team France has returned for the Rio event on April 9, 2026, with a roster bolstered by big-name loan signings.

The team, competing as part of the international championship of F50 catamarans, enters the Rio competition amid a period of significant commercial growth and high-profile investment.

Title Partnership and Technical Context

The team currently operates under the name DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, following the appointment of DS Automobiles as the title partner. This partnership represents the first time an automotive player has joined the competition at this level.

The competition features 13 nations utilizing identical F50 catamarans. These high-performance foiling vessels are capable of cruising at speeds exceeding 100km/h.

Strategic Investment and Backing

The French campaign is supported by a group of high-profile investors. Kylian Mbappé is a founding investor in the team, having provided support through his Coalition Capital fund as part of an effort to back elite French sporting ventures.

Further institutional capital was added on June 19, 2025, when Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment funds acquired a minority stake in the team. Ares is a global player in alternative asset management with a sports investment portfolio that includes:

• Inter Miami CF
• McLaren Racing
• Atlético de Madrid

The entry of institutional capital and strategic management is intended to increase the ambitions of the French campaign.

The investment in our French team by an organisation with a stellar portfolio of first-rate sports properties underlines the strength of SailGP’s global league model

Andrew Thompson, SailGP Managing Director

The inclusion of Ares is viewed as a milestone in the commercial evolution of SailGP, providing the French team with long-term strategic weight and credibility within the professional team model.