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Extreme
E 2021
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| Extreme
E 2021 |
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Datum
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Plats |
Land |
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3-4/4
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Desert
X Prix |
AlUla, |
Saudi
Arabien |
| 29-30/5 |
Ocean X Prix |
Lac Rose, |
Senegal |
| 28-29/8 |
Arctic
X Prix |
Kangerlussuaq |
Grönland |
| 23-24/10 |
Amazon X Prix |
Prix: Para |
Brasilien |
| 11-12/12 |
Glacier
X Prix |
Patagonia |
Argentina |
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 Officiell
hemsida |
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21-06-11 Extreme E: South American
races update
Extreme E, the electric off-road racing series, has confirmed today that it is
actively seeking alternate destinations for the final two races in Season 1 due
to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in South America.
Extreme E was due to hold its Amazon X Prix in the Brazilian state of Pará,
October 23-24, before heading further south to the Glacier X Prix in Patagonia,
Argentina, December 11-12, however having monitored the global situation regarding
the COVID-19 pandemic, it has decided to postpone visiting the region until Season
2.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We’ve been closely
monitoring the situation regarding all Extreme E locations for 2021 and have chosen
to make this pre-emptive decision on racing in South America this year. As a new
series embarking on our opening Season, our priority is to deliver a five-race
calendar of events which are safe and responsible for our global participants,
partners and staff to travel to and attend.
“This was not a decision made lightly, however current travel advice and
restrictions have also meant we have been unable to visit the race areas in advance
to undertake the necessary reconnaissance visits, which are especially vital due
to the remote nature of our operations.
“We will of course continue to support our important reforestation and agroforestry
initiatives which are already well underway in the region thanks to the help of
Dr Francisco Olivieira and our partnership with The Nature Conservancy in Brazil.
We would also like to thank the local authorities in Brazil and Argentina who
have been supportive throughout the whole process and we hope we can return in
2022.”
Alternative race locations are currently under exploration and will be announced
in due course. Options include the possibility of the Western Isles, Scotland
ahead of Glasgow hosting COP26 in November.
Extreme E has already completed two of its five X Prixs in its inaugural season
– the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia and Ocean X Prix in Senegal – and
is now in full planning mode for its Arctic X Prix, taking place in Greenland
at the end of August.
Each X Prix event uses its sporting platform to highlight a different issue facing
our planet, and as well as raising awareness of these problems, also highlights
solutions and leaves a long-lasting positive impact in its race locations through
its Legacy Programmes. These programmes include planting one million mangroves
in Senegal, turtle conservation in the Red Sea, the empowerment and education
of children on climate change in Greenland in collaboration with Unicef, and agroforestry
initiatives and reforestation in Pará in partnership with The Nature Conservancy.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-06-02 Ocean X Prix supporting
the Lac Rose community
Extreme E’s Ocean X Prix was won by Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor
and Johan Kristoffersson, making it two wins from two, meaning they maintain their
lead in the overall standings.
The action packed weekend was also the chance for Extreme E to highlight the issues
the world is facing due to the climate crisis and some of the various solutions
on offer.
Following the Ocean X Prix Final, Extreme E staff, guests and drivers including
the likes of Jamie Chadwick, Stéphane Sarrazin, Kevin Hansen and Mikaela
Åhlin-Kottulinsky, came straight off the podium to take part in a beach
clean of the race course, collecting over 100 bags of waste from the sands of
Lac Rose.
Stephan Senghor, Senegalese eco-entrepreneur and Founder of GroupeSenghor which
has worked alongside Extreme E and its Legacy Partner to.org over the past 12
months, said: “Today is a great day for me, it's as if we're closing the
loop because we started here with a beach clean up over a year ago, and we ended
up with the big beach clean up, including teams and series staff together, and
that felt like a good moment for me because it brings the message together.
“We're not here for show, we are here to make some real change happen. This
is the message that Extreme E is conveying, its technology, it's radical sport,
but it's also about care for the planet, and care for the planet comes with action
not just intention. Extreme E has demonstrated that in Lac Rose, there aren’t
many sports where drivers come straight from the press conference to pick up trash
on the beach.
“What Extreme E has done in this area, no event whatsoever has done the same.
My huge thanks to Alejandro and this team, and to Nachson Mimran and his to.org
changemakers who turned this event here in Senegal from a dream into a reality.”
Nachson Mimran, CEO and co-founder of to.org, said: “The to.org team and
I are immensely grateful to Extreme E and all those that supported the Ocean X
Prix over the weekend, accelerating the mission to reduce the effects of climate
change in our second home, Senegal.
“The nation shone brightly on screens worldwide over the weekend, a global
audience was able to witness the spectacular coastline we are working hard to
protect. The to.org team and I offer our thanks to Alejandro Agag, the fantastic
Extreme E race teams and everyone that supported our Legacy Programme initiative
to plant and protect mangrove trees. I can't forget to mention our local implementation
partner in the mangrove project, Oceanium, and our long-term collaborator and
friend, Stephan Senghor, for their tireless dedication to Senegal's environmental
health.”
In the days lead up to the racing, and over the race weekend itself, Extreme E
media and guests were given various insight talks, including the subjects of ocean
health and plastic pollution.
Sheena Talma, Scientific Committee Advisor to Extreme E, said: “Extreme E
is an innovative way of portraying the messages of the climate crisis. For a long
time as scientists we sit in a different world and that means that a lot of our
work and information about global climate change stays within that community,
but I think there's been a big push towards trying to get out of those crystal
palaces and essentially disseminate that information and I believe Extreme E gives
us an extra platform to do that.
“It involves a very different group of people so it's interesting to see
for example during the breaks in the racing broadcast, environmental information
highlighting the effects we are having on the planet versus sporting content.
“One of the things that I spoke about was the fact that we need to consider
this uncomfortable subject and then take action. When we talk about things like
global climate change and the fact that it's actually immediate, not two years
from now and relying on someone else to deal with it, it makes people uncomfortable,
but if we don’t talk about it, find solutions and take action we will all
be in real trouble.
“We have a lot of work to do but I’m really optimistic, there are a
lot of people that are working to try to change mentalities locally, for example
the mangrove project Extreme E is supporting also works with the community on
how to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Extreme E has big ambitions aside from delivering thrilling racing and these are
met through its Legacy Programmes in each country it visits and its collaborations
with some of the most innovative companies in the world to highlight the climate
crisis, support communities and showcase real world solutions.
These companies include AFC Energy that delivers a hydrogen fuel cell to charge
the fleet of ODYSSEY 21s emission-free, Zenobe that has provided a second-life
battery to power the paddock, Henosis masks that have produced biodegradable masks
for the Extreme E team, plus Polymateria that revealed a very exciting LivingLab
in Senegal.
The LivingLab showcased LyfeCycle, a new solution from Polymateria to tackle plastic
pollution, just one of the many issues of climate change. The glass box was filed
with sand from the course and used LyfeCycle products which over the coming months
will biodegrade demonstrating the potential of this plastic that can be recycled,
or will return to nature in a matter of months leaving no trace, unlike normal
plastic, which take thousands of years to degrade and when it does, leaves harmful
microplastics behind that have a detrimental impact of the planet.
Adding a final statement, Sheena Talma said: “I think the question now goes
back to us, what can we do right now to mitigate the effects that we are all having
on the planet?”
While Extreme E’s race locations are in remote corners of the world, everyone
has the power to make a difference, and this is demonstrated through Extreme E’s
Count Us In Challenge, which invites fans to take practical steps on climate change
by pledging to take action to reduce their carbon footprint in support of their
favourite team. Fan pledges for each team are added together in the Challenge
leaderboard, with the winning team claiming the Extreme E Sustainability Award
at the end of the series.
Extreme E’s next event – the Arctic X Prix – takes place from 28-29
August in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to highlight the melting ice cap and the issues
that brings.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21- 05- 30 Two from two for Rosberg
X Racing after dramatic conclusion to Ocean X Prix
Rosberg X Racing teammates Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor reigned supreme
once more at Extreme E’s second event in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal (29/30
May) with the ever-impressive duo overcoming intense pressure from their adversaries
to be crowned winners of the first-ever Ocean X prix.
The pioneering electric SUV, off-road racing series backed up its dramatic curtain-raising
Desert X Prix at the beginning of April by delivering even more spectacular moments
and overtakes against the stunning backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
It was low tide but high drama in the grand final with two of the four cars retiring
at the first corner, that left Rosberg X Racing to extend their championship lead
and Veloce Racing to snatch a surprise result, bouncing back from their disastrous
Desert X Prix.
The tight and technical Ocean X Prix course was a hit with the all-star field
of Extreme E drivers and yielded close racing and several options for alternate
routes which were deployed throughout the two days of competition.
It was Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle LeDuc that took the Super Sector
title, earning an extra five points for his team setting the fastest time of 1m50.891s
- 1.289 seconds ahead of X44’s Sébastien Loeb.
Nico Rosberg, Founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing, said: “I’m so happy
for us as a team to have won in Extreme E for the second time. Two out of two
– wow!!
“You know, it’s not to be underestimated the challenge that was out
there this weekend. It’s so difficult because no one really understands the
cars properly, as you don’t get a chance to test them. So, you have to guess
and figure things out – as a team, we’re really trying to bring a Formula
One approach to Extreme E here which is really helping us a team to perform. It’s
been an amazing team effort, we just kept building it up through the weekend.
And it’s so cool as well that in AlUla, it was Johan that very much did it
at the start and Molly followed on, but today it’s Molly that made the magic
in the final and then Johan brought it home – such a brilliant dynamic which
really underlines the topic of equality which is one of the things that this championship
is based on - that’s fantastic to see.
“The race format here has been a big step forward from AlUla in terms of
development for race excitement – but it’s still early stages and there’s
still a way to go. One needs to analyse again, and I think we keep on seeing more
and more glimpses of such awesome motor racing and this will continue to evolve
into a super spectacle the more we go on. Remember, nobody’s ever done this
before, and you have to be openminded and accept that you are going to learn and
make it more and more exciting each time.
“I love this whole championship and being in the role of team principal -
I’m still as competitive as hell even though I’m not actually driving..
Anyway, we have the two best drivers in the car who are doing a much better job
than I could - and I couldn’t be happier!”
Drama unfolded before the first corner in the Ocean X prix grand Final as GridPlay
winners Veloce Racing opted to start on the third grid slot, but the advantage
was quickly lost as Stéphane Sarrazin was squeezed out at the first gate
dropping back to last position.
JBXE’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky picked up rear-wheel damage before
she even reached the first corner and inevitably was forced to retire the car,
as was Cristina Gutiérrez in the X44 car who came to blows with the Rosberg
X Racing ODYSSEY 21 – in an incident reminiscent of the two Formula 1 World
Champions on-track disputes in 2016 – at turn one and ended her day on the
sidelines.
Molly Taylor and Sarrazin were therefore left to duke it out for the lead, with
the Frenchman closing the gap throughout the lap and ending his stint hot on the
heels of the 2016 Australian Rally Champion.
To ensure officials could safely clear the stricken X44 and JBXE cars, a brief
red flag was deployed, as the intense battle for the lead was put on hold whilst
the drivers made their way into the switch zone.
A standing start restart was initiated as Jamie Chadwick and Johan Kristoffersson
prepared for an all or nothing, one-lap showdown.
A close-fought drag race down to the first gate ended with light contact between
the two ODYSSEY 21s handing Kristoffersson the advantage. Once he had reached
the technical section of the course, the three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion
began to stretch his legs opening up a 15-second advantage to win Rosberg X Racing’s
second Extreme E X prix in succession.
Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “It’s so fantastic to have
won today! Coming here, it felt like we had a lot of work to do over the weekend,
and it certainly didn’t come easy, but with every session we just kept our
heads down and just saw where we needed to improve, and everything totally paid
off in the end.
“It’s difficult to predict anything in Extreme E even when you have
the best laid plan, but the team was awesome, and Johan really did a phenomenal
job too.
“Obviously, we didn’t get to choose our grid position for the final,
so we were where we were and that for me was on the inside, so it was all about
trying to get the track position - I really just tried to get that established
as early as I could and then hold onto it. It’s a steep bank and pretty tight
coming into turn one, and as I went through, I made some contact, but this is
close racing and that can happen.
“A really huge thanks to the team who did an incredible job and to Johan,
equally incredible.
“I’m just really delighted to have won and it’s been an amazing
weekend!”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “I’m super happy
to be Extreme E winners for the second time! Molly executed everything perfectly,
she did an amazing job taking care of the traffic in her lap - I was really impressed
with that. The team also did a fantastic job, I have to say a big thanks to them
for bringing me and Molly up to speed over the weekend, as we really weren’t
the fastest coming into this event but in the end, we were quick where we needed
to be and got good starts, so we couldn’t wish for more than that. It’s
very important as well to keep the car in one piece as you get heavily penalised
if you aren’t able to finish a race – so that in itself can be challenging
as the racing is close here and there’s always the possibility of contact
plus of course there’s the terrain which is hard on the cars – but it
all makes for a great spectacle which is great.
“When I got in the car for the standing start for the final, the steering
was a little bit off, so when I hit hyperdrive early on, it was a struggle to
hold on to it - unfortunately this led to a bit of contact with Jamie which was
not intentional at all. But from there on, the car was working really well, and
I could do what I needed to do. And here we are as winners - happy Days!”
Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing driver, said: “Honestly I’ve just really
enjoyed the weekend. We went into the weekend with a bit of a plan, we needed
the track time, the car wasn’t where we needed it to be at the beginning
and I think we lacked a bit of seat time so our pace wasn’t outright quickest
so we just focussed on our plan.
“This is very different to driving single seaters and I’m constantly
learning and I can’t really underestimate that but I think everyone is, it’s
new for everyone. I’m really really enjoying the challenge and I think the
coolest thing for me this weekend was I nearly had the chance to be racing wheel
to wheel with the likes of Sébastien Loeb and Johan Kristoffersson. To
ever have thought that was going to happen is crazy.
“I think Extreme E’s such a crazy crazy championship that to take P2
with the alternate strategy was great. A massive, massive thanks to the team,
I’m so grateful we’ve managed to get through the weekend and get a podium.
“Over the next three months we will be pushing hard to train, and Greenland
will present a new challenge. I want to be able to jump in anything and be quick.”
Stéphane Sarrazin, Veloce Racing driver, said: “This weekend the plan
was to really not make any mistakes. We’ve improved the set-up of the car
run-by-run and we need milage, we need to learn the car, and the team do also.
We are happy, it’s just amazing.”
“To improve during the weekend we had to look at the various lines and improve
the car and in the end we found a really good line. This stage was really good
as we found a different line to overtake.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE driver said: “Overall performance has
improved greatly session by session working with Kevin has been really good. It’s
a shame to just make it to Turn 1 of course in the Final, but to end in P3, we
are happy with that.
“The first contact at the start really hurt us, after that I felt the car
was really slowing down, after a few hundred metres I heard a big noise and then
it was almost impossible to drive but I tried to take it as far as possible which
gave us P3 in the end.
“I would say we found a much better setting for how we want the car to perform.
Kevin and I have quite similar driving styles, so we want the car to be quite
similar in handling and that’s the way we’ve developed the car in each
session, so I think it’s that work that made us feel comfortable in the end,
and when you feel comfortable and you can rely on the car, that’s when you
can push and be quick.
“Jenson [Button] has approved our performance this weekend so he’s super
happy for us.”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE driver said: “I think Mikaela and I have been a really
good duo this weekend!
“I didn’t have any expectations coming into the event, I just knew we
had to work really hard to be competitive and I think we have done that. For the
past twelve days we have known we are going to race together, and the team has
done a great job to make progress with the car. It was kind of a rough start for
them in AlUla so coming here was almost like starting over so I am really happy
to have helped them this weekend and, in the end, to get a podium which has been
really good. Sometimes it’s about the few hundredths in the races to get
a win or a podium and today was about getting the car as far as possible after
a problem.
“We are all super happy to go home from this weekend with some trophies!
Next stop is Greenland – I’ve no idea at the moment whether I will be
driving in that race yet but I’m certainly ready for more races and I’m
ready for a seat full time if the opportunity comes – hopefully I’ve
proved myself this weekend and would be super happy to continue!”
With the tide coming in on a spectacular Ocean X Prix, the Extreme E fraternity
will return to the championship’s floating paddock – the St Helena –
and head north to Greenland for the Artic X Prix on 28/29 August.
Final Result
1. Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 2 laps
2. Veloce Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick) +14.676s
3. JBXE (Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) DNF
4. X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) DNF
Semi-Final 1
Last but not least, the Semi-Final featuring the fastest three teams from yesterday’s
qualifying did not disappoint. Mattias Ekström aboard the e-CUPRA ABT XE1
utilised the third grid slot to get the all-important holeshot and, with the flat,
damp sand running along the sea underneath him, scampered up the road and into
an early lead.
Meanwhile, Rosberg X Racing ace Johan Kristoffersson pulled off a move similar
to his Saudi Arabian Turn One switchback overtake as he swept around the outside
of X44’s Sébastien Loeb and the pair began to hunt down Ekström.
Coming into the last section of corners, the trio were separated by less than
two seconds as they dived into the switch zone nose to tail. The driver swap spelled
disaster for then-race leaders ABT CUPRA XE as weekend stand-in Jutta Kleinschmidt
was slow away from the box, leaving X44’s Cristina Gutiérrez and Rosberg
X Racing’s Molly Taylor in a drag race down to Turn One with the Australian
snatching the advantage before entering the tight and twisty wooded section.
Try as she might, Gutiérrez was unable to overhaul Taylor despite an inspired
attempt to pass with an alternate line over the ‘Moguls’. Rosberg X
Racing led them home with X44 claiming the other spot in the final and ABT CUPRA
XE were left wondering where it all went wrong.
Semi-Final 2
The middle three qualifiers were all hungry for a place in the final as they lined
up on the grid. JBXE’s Kevin Hansen followed up an impressive Saturday with
a sensational start to get ahead of the duelling Jamie Chadwick and Oliver Bennett.
The XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi driver got alongside the W Series Champion
on the exit of Turn One but Chadwick was having none of it, masterfully defending
to hang on to P2. It didn’t last, however, as a malfunctioning pit limiter
for the Veloce Racing car handed Bennett the advantage in the closing stages of
the lap.
At the driver swap, Hansen passed the reigns over to Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
who hopped in with a healthy 25-second lead, an advantage she held and even extended
crossing the line with nearly half a minute in hand over her rivals.
Further back, Stéphane Sarrazin and Christine GZ were now behind the wheels
of their respective ODYSSEY 21s and still locked in combat. The French racer got
his elbows out, muscling his way into P2, all the while with the persistent pit
limiter issue keeping Veloce team personnel on tenterhooks back at the Command
Centre. JBXE and Veloce Racing progressed to the Final putting pay to their respective
Desert X Prix events.
Shoot Out
A Shoot Out for the ages saw three top-drawer teams face off in spectacular fashion.
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti United Extreme E and ACCIONA | Sainz XE
Team all endured difficult Saturdays with mechanical gremlins plaguing their qualifying
runs.
Timmy Hansen stole the advantage into the first corner with Sara Price and Carlos
Sainz in hot pursuit. The matador patiently waited for his opportunity and wrestled
the lead away from Hansen before entering the switch zone.
At the driver swap, Laia Sanz ran into trouble failing to successfully connect
her communications cable. Nonetheless, Sanz re-joined in the lead and looked to
have the edge but Kyle LeDuc had other ideas. The 39-year-old fired out of the
switch zone in third place but quickly set about closing the gap to the top two.
LeDuc showed his mettle by slicing through the gap to Catie Munnings and claiming
second place, followed quickly by a spectacular move on Sanz to claim victory
in the Shoot Out.
With the Desert X Prix now done-and-dusted, the cars will be loaded back onto
the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating centrepiece – to set sail
for Lac Rose in Senegal, the setting for the Ocean X Prix on 29/30 May.
Championship Standings
1. Rosberg X Racing(Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 71 points
2. X44(Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 57 points
3. JBXE(Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) 44 points
4. Andretti United Extreme E(Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) 37 points
5. XITE ENERGY RACING(Oliver Bennett / Christine GZ) 37 points
6. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team(Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) 36 points
7. ABT Cupra XE(Mattias Ekström / Claudia Hürtgen) 35 points
8. Veloce Racing(Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick) 31 points
9. Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing(Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) 30 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit -
www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-30 Andra raka segern i Extreme
E
Johan Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor är fortfarande obesegrade i Extreme
E. Rosberg X Racing tog sin andra raka seger när Ocean X Prix avgjordes i
Senegal.
- Fantastiskt! Vi ökar ledningen i mästerskapet, säger en nöjd
Kristoffersson.
Det tyska teamet Rosberg X Racing med svenske Johan Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor
från Australien som förare tog hem den historiska första deltävlingen
i Saudiarabien i början av april. När den nystartade elbilsserien rullade
vidare med omgång två så hade sandöken bytts mot sandstrand
i Afrika.
- En helt ny terräng för oss båda. Vår strategi var att
inte ta stora risker och därmed riskera att bli stående utan poäng.
Kristoffersson och Taylor hade lite svårt att hitta tempot inledningsvis.
I kvalet var man tredje snabbast, men flyttades upp till andra plats efter att
ett annat team fått tidstillägg.
- Vi hade inte bästa pace från början, men byggde fart och blev
snabbare och snabbare under helgen.
Johan Kristoffersson var så långt inte nöjd med starterna och
han fick en tuff uppgift även i semifinalen när han än en gång
hamnade på efterkälken över den långa inledande strandremsan.
Men precis som i Saudiarabien gjorde Kristoffersson en fräck manöver
från ytterspår och vek på insidan av Sébastien Loeb upp
till andra plats.
- Tufft att behöva jobba bakifrån, men jag lyckades göra mitt
där i alla fall.
Ut från förarbytet tog Molly Taylor täten och hon körde sedan
tryggt och säkert hem segern.
- Molly körde hur stabilt och kontrollerat som helst, berömmer Johan
sin teamkompis.
I finalen var det Taylor som inledde och australiensiskan visade sin klass genom
de första svängarna när hon manövrerade ut Cristina Gutiérrez
i team X44.
- Molly gjorde ett fantastiskt jobb som höll emot Cristina där. Hon
har ju ingen tidigare erfarenhet av närkontakt på det här viset,
men det var superbra gjort, säger Kristoffersson om rallyföraren från
Australien.
Två av fältets bilar blev stående i ett tidigt skede och finalen
rödflaggades därför när Taylor nådde byteszonen. Johan
Kristoffersson fick göra en omstart mot Jamie Chadwick i Team Veloce och
hade vissa problem över startrakan.
- Ratten var lite ur läge, men det löste sig och därifrån
fungerade det fint.
Resten av resan blev en ganska lugn tur och RXR- segern var aldrig hotad. Efter
en något krokig väg under helgen hade Kristoffersson/Taylor än
en gång visat sig vara starkast.
- Stort tack till teamet. Vi var inte snabbast från början, men vi
hittade farten till slut.
I sammandraget toppar RXR med 71 poäng, fjorton före team X44.
Extreme E drar nästa gång till betydligt kyligare breddgrader. I slutet
av augusti väntar Grönland.
- Det blir säkert väldigt annorlunda och det är ju det som är
spännande med det här konceptet.
21-05-29 X44 throws down the gauntlet
topping the timesheets in qualifying
Following an epic curtain-raiser in AlUla, Saudi Arabia just eight weeks ago,
expectations were high as the Extreme E fraternity rolled into Dakar, Senegal
for this weekend’s highly anticipated Ocean X Prix (29/30 May). As was the
case at the Desert X Prix at the beginning of April, it was Lewis Hamilton’s
X44 squad that topped the timesheets at the end of Saturday’s qualifying
runs with a resounding statement of intent to the rest of the paddock.
The pioneering electric SUV off-road racing series has hit the beach for the second
stop on its 2021 calendar. The 6.1km Ocean X Prix course runs alongside the stunning
backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and sets the scene perfectly for another dramatic
Extreme E showdown.
Featuring the notoriously bumpy and flowing ‘Moguls’ section, a single
file wooded area and a spectacular start/finish straight running along the beach,
this course has been heralded by the drivers as more technical and closer to their
initial vision of Extreme E. Not only that, but the ‘Super Sector’ -
new for this weekend – awards five points to the driver who sets the fastest
time in the middle sector of the lap over the weekend.
The X44 team were quickest from the outset, with Sébastien Loeb and Cristina
Gutiérrez setting a blistering pace in their opening run of the day. This
was swiftly followed by another pacey outing in Q2 to top the overall timesheets,
after the first day of competition in Senegal.
Sébastien Loeb, X44 driver said: “Today’s qualification was obviously
very good for us, I’m happy with my time and of course Cristina’s driving
was incredible. The track for me was a lot more interesting than Saudi Arabia
and I had a lot of confidence in the car which allowed me to go flat out all the
time. Tomorrow will be a totally different way of racing, and we’re up against
strong teams, so it’s difficult to say what will happen but I know we have
the speed to win so I’m feeling good.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 driver said: “I’m very happy with today’s
result and our performance as a team. We came into the weekend in a good position
so I was confident we could do well but of course finishing top in qualifying
is better than I could have hoped for! The type of track for me was much harder
than the Desert X Prix, and the sand shifted a lot between the two rounds of qualifying
so it was a challenge, but I managed to get a good time and Seb was amazing. We
don’t know what will happen tomorrow but I’m feeling confident and I
can’t wait to get back in the car.”
The only pairing that looked to threaten the X44 car’s seemingly insurmountable
position was the Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing drivers of Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price,
the American duo were ultimately denied a chance at the top spot when LeDuc stopped
on-track with technical gremlins. Mercifully, the 39-year-old managed to reset
his ODYSSEY 21 and get underway once more, but to no avail. They ended qualifying
in seventh position and will once again fail to make it to the final.
Desert X Prix winners Rosberg X Racing kept X44 honest but at the end of the day
were 27 seconds adrift of the summit of the standings. They would have gone quicker
still were it not for hard landing over one of the jumps, pitching Molly Taylor
off-course in her Q2 run, the Australian gathered it up brilliantly and lost only
a handful of seconds in the process.
The updated ABT CUPRA XE line-up of Mattias Ekström and Jutta Kleinschmidt
were also in the mix throughout qualifying with the pairing looking set to challenge
the front-runners before receiving a 15-second penalty. Despite being one of Extreme
E’s official Championship Drivers, Kleinschmidt was still acclimatising to
the series’ nuances, stepping into the switch zone before the ODYSSEY 21
was switched into neutral, denying the team any chance of troubling the X44 squad.
Kevin Hansen’s first competitive laps behind the wheel of the JBXE car confirmed
why the World RX driver was drafted in, going fourth fastest overall alongside
team-mate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
After eight weeks of waiting, Veloce Racing finally got their first official lap
times on the board. Jamie Chadwick was visibly thrilled at the end of her first
run, grinning from ear to ear as she rounded the final corner. Alongside team-mate,
Stéphane Sarrazin the duo set consistent lap times taking minimal risks
with the aim to build their pace throughout the weekend – they did just that
improving by 10 seconds from Q1 to Q2.
The XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi squad, meanwhile, will be delighted
with sixth overall after a noticeable improvement from the Desert X Prix for Oliver
Bennett and Christine GZ, booking themselves the last Semi-Final slot for Sunday.
Each of the bottom three teams looked set to be fighting at the sharp end this
weekend, but it was not to be, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti United and
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team all suffered mechanical problems relegating them to the
bottom of the table.
Timmy Hansen stopped on-track during his first qualifying run meaning it was going
to be an uphill battle for himself and Catie Munnings to make it into the top
six. The Swede managed to get his ODYSSEY 21 restarted but the subsequent three
minutes lost were too great to overcome.
Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz were another pairing that were setting purple sectors
prior to their car ground to a halt in Q1. This time, the problems were not fixable
and the resulting DNF resigned them to the Shoot Out.
Wheel-to-wheel action gets underway tomorrow (Sunday, 30 May) with Semi-Final
1, Semi-Final 2, the Shoot Out and the all-important Final which will see four
cars on-track for the first time in Extreme E.
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United driver said: “It’s been a tough day and
even more disappointing after we were fastest in free practice yesterday. I had
four of five jumps with the same sort of landing and then on the next jump the
car shut down after the landing and I couldn’t get it restarted. It’s
always frustrating when that happens as everything was going pretty well until
that point. Fortunately, after a couple of minutes, I managed to get everything
restarted and at least I could get the car back to Catie but it’s certainly
not been the day we wanted.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United driver said: “The conditions out there are
tough and very different from what we had in Saudi. You could see a huge difference
even in Q2 after the number of ruts from the first quali session. You really need
a lot of confidence with those bumps. We were really unfortunate with the mechanical
issue and luck wasn’t on our side today. We worked with our engineer and
team ahead of Q2 but unfortunately the time lost in Q1 meant we were dependent
on problems for others to be in with a chance of the semi-finals. We’ve still
got the shootout tomorrow so we’ll still be fighting for as many points as
we can.”
Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing driver said: "Today has been a challenging
day here in Senegal but one we have lots to learn from and many positives to take
onboard. I felt we didn’t quite get the balance of the car right in both
sessions, and it’s so difficult to tweak the car set-up for a course layout
that keeps changing with new ruts and driving lines appearing all of the time!
But overall our pace is good and we’re pleased to be through to the semi-finals.
We have a lot of data to go through tonight but we’ll be prepared to go racing
tomorrow.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, added: “It’s been an
interesting start to the weekend for Molly and I in the car, but the team has
done a great job to help us progress to the semi-finals tomorrow. The course is
really technical and is changing with with every lap we complete, which means
we have to expect the unexpected every time we’re out on the course. But
it’s a lot of fun and we have good pace ahead of tomorrow, so bring on the
semi-finals!”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE driver said: “Today was really good.
We are improving session by session - us as drivers as well as the car. We feel
really great, and we are so happy to be in P4 overall. I feel like we are gaining
each time in the car and it’s really working with me and Kevin, we obviously
know each other really well already which makes a big difference. So yeah, I’m
really excited for tomorrow, I can’t wait!”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE driver said: “Qualifying day is over, and I think we can
be really pleased - we made good progress from yesterday and also for qualifying
2, good progress. It’s a huge step forward from the last race to have achieved
P4 today and I believe we are up there with a real chance of challenging RXR and
also APT tomorrow. The team has done a really good job and the guys are continuing
to analyse the data from today, so we are definitely on the right course for progress.
There’s still a long way to go to be at P1 but I mean, it’s my first
race and everything is still really new. I’ve only ever done three laps with
the car on this course so really, it’s all good. Mikaela has done a great
job too and we’ve still got the most important day to come tomorrow!”
Carlos Sainz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, driver: “Things didn’t go well
for us today. Given the current rules of the championship, any issue you encounter
in Qualifying compromises your whole weekend and you miss any chance of making
the semi-finals and the final. It is something that we should look at it in the
future, because it is a shame that we go around the world only to drive four minutes
if you have bad luck in one Qualifying session. I think there will be time to
look at it, but for now we will keep our heads down and have full focus on tomorrow’s
race, where we will try to keep on learning for the future.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver: “It is a shame, because both Carlos
and myself were feeling very well at this track. He did a great job and I was
feeling very confident. It is a shame that we had an issue that prevented us from
finishing Qualifying 1. I took it easy in Qualifying 2, because there was nothing
we could do and the surface of the track was already in a bad state. It is a shame,
because I think it could have been a good weekend.”
Albert Fàbrega, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, Team Principal: “Today was
not a good day for the team. We lost water pressure in Qualifying 1 after a leak
in the radiator and the car stopped on track. It is a real shame, because Carlos
and Laia were driving really fast. We would have definitely made it to the semi-finals
and we were fighting for a podium finish, but this championship is like this and
any problems you encounter on Saturday compromise your whole weekend. We can only
move on and focus on Sunday’s race to wrap-up the weekend on a good note
and test new things that will come in handy in the next few events.”
Mattias Ekström, ABT CUPRA XE driver, said: “Well, I mean it was a bit
different to wake up and find out that Jutta was my new teammate, but I think
she did really well and did her two laps with no problems. And also, for myself,
I pushed as much as I could in Q1 and then on the second one, I was a bit more
careful after other cars had had some problems. Maybe I was a bit too careful,
so we definitely need to find a bit more pace for tomorrow. But in general, I
think we are really happy to be third overall. So tomorrow, it will be a semi-final
against my friends Johan and Sebastian - that will make for a pretty exciting
Sunday!”
Jutta Kleinschmidt, ABT CUPRA XE driver, said: “I have only had one slow
lap around this track here in the sand dunes, so I really didn’t know what
to expect but I had very little time to think about it! I talked it through with
my fellow test and development driver, Timo Scheider, and tried to visualise the
track and make a plan, but actually I had to just get in it and hope to be quick.
I was very nervous. I didn’t want to let anyone down but it was so hard to
know. I am pleased that I was on the pace.”
Sara Price, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing driver, said: “Well, not the day
we planned. It looks like we had a tree limb that pulled out one of the electrical
safety switches above the door and it turned the car off on Kyle. He did a bunch
of trouble shooting to figure it out, and finally got it going to bring the car
around to the switch. I had a great lap but unfortunately what happened was out
of our control. We just didn't have the time with that issue to make it to one
of the semifinal races. Tough way to end the day. Our SEGI TV HUMMER EV was really
good and our laps were fast, but just bad luck. We've got a tough team and we’ll
be back strong tomorrow to try and maximize our points here in Senegal.”
Kyle LeDuc, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing driver, said: “The SEGI TV HUMMER
EV team had a great first round of qualifying; the session went super good for
the team. Then the second session was expected to match that if not best it. We
had a good car with great handling down to the section back in the trees. Unfortunately
things went bad for us there with a limb catching the kill switch on the car.
That was going to be a good run for us as a team. I was able to diagnose three
or four things that could have been wrong and we finally found the problem and
got the car fired up to bring it around for Sara to finish the session. She did
a great job with her lap, but unfortunately the time lost to the issue put us
too far back to make the semis. We’ll go out tomorrow for the shootout and
look to maximize our points for the weekend with a good run.”
Tomorrow’s action gets underway at 12h00 CET, with the Shoot Out and Semi-Finals,
before the Final at 16h00 CET decides who stands atop the podium at the first-ever
Ocean X Prix.
Combined Qualifying Results
X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 21m44.856s
Rosberg X Racing(Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) +27.582s
ABT Cupra XE(Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt) +35.957s laps
JBXE(Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) +40.570s
Veloce Racing(Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick) +1m20.514s
XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi(Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca)
+1m51.605s
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing(Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) +3m56.959s
Andretti United (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) +14m12.212s
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team(Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) +1 lap
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-28 Extreme E hits the beach
with shakedown in Senegal
Preparations for this weekend’s Ocean X Prix (29-30 May) got underway in
Senegal as nine teams and 18 drivers took to the track for the very first time.
An initial exploratory lap in this morning’s shakedown session was swiftly
followed by a practice session in the afternoon, whetting the appetite of those
in the paddock and building anticipation for more action as qualifying kicks off
tomorrow.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “The Ocean X Prix has
an incredible course – I think this is going to be beyond our expectations.
The first event in Saudi Arabia was obviously a huge success but every location
is completely different, so we had no idea what to expect here in Senegal. After
seeing free practice, everything looks absolutely amazing and there isn’t
as much dust, so we're going to see some closer racing. I’m really looking
forward to the first Ocean X Prix and I think I think we're in for an incredible
second race of Extreme E.”
Following today’s sessions, ABT CUPRA XE regrettably announced that Claudia
Hürtgen has been taken ill and is unable to participate further in the Ocean
X Prix. Extreme E’s Championship Driver Jutta Kleinschmidt will take her
place for the remainder of the event.
Kevin Hansen, JBXE driver, said: “It was really exciting to get the call
from the team last week, I'm really honoured. For me it’s a great opportunity,
so I’m really happy to come here and see what I can do for the team and for
sure, if the job came up for the whole season, I would jump at it. I’m here
with some of the best drivers in the world and of course I want to beat them.
There’s a lot of opportunity here with the team, I think we have a lot of
potential and also Mikaela is really fast, which is also great!
“Looking at the videos from Saudi, I think it will be a lot easier here in
some ways, there’s obviously less dust but it’s a much more technical
course. Luckily for me I already had a few laps in the ODYSSEY 21 when I joined
the pre-season testing in Aragon with Andretti last year, but obviously I’ve
had no laps with the car in the sand except for today. I think this course in
Senegal is a bit similar to racing I have done in Andalucía which is a
good thing for me.
“As far as racing against my brother Timmy, no there’s no family divide,
so sorry if that’s disappointing to everyone! We are handling it really well,
for sure it’s a bit strange when we see each other in the paddock –
we are used to racing with each other not against each other. He’s doing
his thing and I’m doing mine, so it will be interesting. And it’s actually
a comfort to have him on the grid, as it’s one driver I truly know the level
of and one I know how to be faster than!”
Christine GZ, XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi driver, said: “This
course here in Lac Rose is completely different to Saudi – I was expecting
dunes like we had there and it to be a bit slower than the desert, but not so.
I’d say the main problem we have here is trying to adapt to the car and it’s
all new as we don’t really have testing at all, but that’s the same
issue for all the teams. The main thing for me is that I do a good job and bring
the car back safely to the team.
“It’s been really cool being involved in the legacy projects –
I usually always say that racing and ‘saving the world’ don’t really
fit together so this championship has been incredible already for that reason.
Yesterday, meeting the local people here and going to the school and seeing first-hand
how much they can do with so little – it’s incredible. It’s been
very cool to do something away from the racing that also will help make a real
difference to people’s lives – we don’t often get the chance to
do that at all, so I’m really happy about that.”
Carlos Sainz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver, said: “The last time I was
here was 2007 so it’s nice to be here again. It’s a typical sandy area
and the shakedown was pretty exciting for me as after two kilometres the throttle
got stuck on full, so I had to brake really hard throughout – luckily it
was a mechanical problem and easy to fix afterwards – but not so nice to
drive!
“It’s much more technical here than Saudi, more bumpy and the sand is
a lot softer which makes a difference as well. There are a few different lines
here as well compared to Saudi, it’s not so easy to always understand which
line is the quickest but we will work it out.
“Thankfully the problem with the steering we had in Saudi is solved now.
We only have three combinations of springs and one damper so we have to work the
best we can with those and it’s the same for everyone. The important things
start tomorrow!”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 driver, said: “It’s totally different
here to Saudi Arabia so we’ll need to see tomorrow in the qualifying how
quick we can be. The shakedown today was really good for me and I’m getting
a good feeling for the car.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be with four cars racing together
this time, but for sure I think it will be very exciting. I think the terrain
here will be better for us in some ways – of course a lot less dust which
will be a good thing.
“It’s just an incredible experience to be here with the teams and the
drivers. We have still a lot of racing to do this year so it’s a little bit
soon to make any predictions about who will come out on top but we are really
enjoying being part of it.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United driver, said: “This course is challenging.
It’s more technical than what we saw in Saudi Arabia, I think for most of
us it’s more like what we imagined Extreme E was going to be – different
line choices, bumpier and rougher terrain. It is definitely going to be more of
a challenge for us as drivers but also that brings more excitement and we all
thrive off of that. I think we just have to keep in mind that it’s a long
weekend, we need to know where to push and where to back off slightly.
“I really enjoy getting out and seeing more of the countries we’re competing
in. Normally when you go to a different country to compete you just see the track
and the hotel, so it’s been great to experience that side of things.
“It’s really humbling to see a completely different environment and
seeing the impact we’re having with plastic pollution, then as a positive
its really cool to speak to local children and see how they’re mindsets are
changing from previous generations and how inspired they are. To physically see
the mangroves being planted was really special, I think it was an amazing start
to the week and that’s what we’re here for at the end of the day –
to make a difference.”
Mattias Ekström, ABT CUPRA XE driver, said: “Shakedown today was so
exciting, I had a lot of fun. The first lap of a new course is always more exciting
than any other, I think I enjoy it more than any other lap.
“For me, the goal for any race is to win. If you don’t go racing to
win then that’s what they call retirement. In this series, there is so many
fast drivers and good teams so sometimes you have to accept when you get beaten
but the target is definitely to win.
“As everyone knows we had a tough time at the first race but the difference
between having a good weekend and a bad one is very small. Everyone is driving
close to the limit and anyone can crash when they are pushing. Luckily, Claudia
[Hürtgen] was in one piece and our car is back in one piece so we’re
looking forward again.
“I think we had our quota of crashes in Saudi so hopefully we won’t
have any more of those this weekend. I did have a hard landing over one of the
jumps today but if you’re not pushing, you’ll never get any trophies,
you have to be on it and try and improve all the time to make sure you get the
most out of yourself.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “Shakedown was good
for us, the course is very different to the one in Saudi, but all went OK –
we had no issues. Everything resets when you get into a new weekend, so we have
to start from zero again and try to do our best here in Senegal.
“I think we’re going to see much closer racing this weekend. There’s
much less dust here so it’s easier to follow the car in front so there will
definitely be more possibilities for going wheel-to-wheel, I’m looking forward
to that and hopefully we will get into the final and be able to race against three
other cars which will be exciting. This course opens up a lot more options for
overtaking so there may not be as many ‘obvious’ moves like I did in
Saudi.”
Sara Price, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing driver, said: “The team worked really
hard after Saudi – we have a great car and great mechanics. I’m really
excited for this weekend, it’s going to be a bit of a redemption weekend
for us. We want to go out there and be smart, drive smoothly but also be fast.
Obviously Saudi wasn’t the best for us so we’re going to do what we
know we can do and hopefully have a solid weekend.
“We have an incredibly strong team; I think there was one night where Kyle
[LeDuc] and I only got three hours of sleep and we never gave up. This weekend
we’re coming in with a new mindset and trying to make it to the end. I think
we’re in a really good position, we’ve done some team building which
not a lot of teams have been able to do so lots of positives coming to Senegal.
“I love the course here, there’s definitely more opportunities to race
other cars and it’s a lot more technical compared to Saudi. That’s really
exciting for me and its more similar to what I’m used to, plus it doesn’t
get better than racing on the beach. We’ve been talking about how much the
course is going to adapt, I think it’ll get quicker as the weekend progresses
so I’m looking forward to that.”
Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing driver, said: “I feel positive, I think the
main focus for us is now just getting laps under our belts and track time. Obviously,
we need to make amends for Saudi but also not biting off more than we can chew
and taking each step as it comes. I don’t think we can underestimate how
much we need to prepare for a weekend like this. We’ve done the best we can
but there’s so much we can’t anticipate so we just have to soak it all
in while we can and enjoy it.
“Our season starts here really as we have so few points on the board but
from our perspective, with the nature of the series you can’t underestimate
how important track time is. I think it’s definitely risk versus reward,
so we’ll be pushing but I think we also need to be mindful that we need all
of the laps we can get. This is of course very different to W Series, but I love
the challenge and I want to be as versatile a driver as possible and I’m
grateful to Extreme E and Veloce Racing for the opportunity to learn in this discipline.
“I’m really looking forward to the rest of the weekend. I was very conservative
in shakedown and practice but I think it’s nice to start there and build
on that. I enjoyed the track time earlier, there’s a lot of room for improvement
but I love the challenge of this series and we’ll definitely be faster tomorrow.
The pressure is off us a little bit, we’ve made our mistake and now we can
learn and grow together to get a good result – the only way is up.”
Stéphane Sarrazin, Veloce Racing driver, said: “Unfortunately my mistake
in Saudi was a costly one, we didn’t race or learn from the car at the first
race so that was a real shame. The team have done a fantastic job though, they
changed the chassis on Monday and the car was fine today which is amazing. The
car was working fine today with no issues, so we need to be on the pace quickly
to catch up with everyone else. We’re ready for tomorrow and hope to have
good qualifying sessions.
“I can’t afford any more mistakes, it was a small error in Saudi but
it had a big effect so I need to stay on the course and build up my confidence
again. Today was good in that respect, tomorrow should be even better. We’re
taking it step by step.”
Competitive running begins tomorrow (Saturday, 29 May), with Qualifying 1 and
Qualifying 2 being aired at 13h30 and 18h00 (CET) respectively. The Semi-Finals
and Final will then take place on Sunday (30 May) as the Ocean X Prix concludes
with the crowning of its first-ever winner.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-27 Extreme E reveals Ocean
X Prix course
This weekend (29-30 May) Extreme E, the electric off-road racing series will host
its second X Prix – the Ocean X Prix – in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal.
Championship drivers and course advisors Timo Schieder and Jutta Kleinschmidt
have been at the West African coastline developing the course ahead of the driving
action commencing on Friday (28 May) with Free Practice sessions.
Teams will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though a very different challenge
and location to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Here, the race will take to the existing
tracks surrounding the lake, named after, and renowned for its striking pink colour,
caused by algae that thrives within its highly-saline waters.
The Ocean X Prix starts on the beach, running alongside the Atlantic Ocean which
hugs the West African coastline. Drivers will be tempted to look left at the stunning
waves breaking on the beach alongside them, but this fast section will demand
their attention before they turn inland and onto a more technical part of the
course, in amongst the backyard of the dunes.
Obstacles will include a myriad of short, sharp elevation and directional changes
as the drivers navigate their way through the tight and twisty inland sector,
a world apart from the long, sweeping, full throttle sections of the AlUla desert.
There will be less elevation changes than those experienced in Saudi Arabia, more
like four to five metres across a series of dunes, but with more short drops and
sharp rises.
In the middle sector, the route crosses close to the main paddock area and heads
to the other side of the course where the sand becomes softer and will include
more small dips and drops before drivers then enter back out onto the stunning
beach, running alongside the picturesque turquoise sea, which will present some
spectacular images of the Ocean X Prix.
Timo Scheider, Extreme E Championship Driver said: “After Saudi Arabia, which
was a pretty quick course, the aim was to have a more technical layout with more
overtaking possibilities and average to low speed areas, and this is what we have
achieved.”
“We have some tricky areas, so for sure you have to manage your speed and
we still have areas where you have to pay attention to, because if you're too
quick on some stages, you can damage your car, spin or even roll.”
Jutta Kleinschmidt, fellow Extreme E Championship Driver said: “So we love
it, it's very technical and completely different to what we faced in Saudi Arabia.
It's also slower but gives more options for overtaking as there are many racing
lines, which will make the Final very interesting. I expect to see closer racing
and more overtakes.
All-new for the Ocean X Prix is the Super Sector – the middle section of
the course. This new element of the sporting format gives drivers the opportunity
to earn five points for their team by being the fastest driver in that sector
over the weekend. In a slight change to Saudi Arabia, the Final will also feature
four-cars.
This beach and the community of Lac Rose faces a sad plastic pollution issue,
which will be clear and unavoidable to see as teams race, though will really give
the opportunity to demonstrate the impact we as humans have on our planet.
The Ocean X Prix is available to watch via a number of global broadcasters including
Fox Sports in the USA, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte
in Spain, Proseiben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across
most European Markets and SuperSport in Africa. A full list of broadcasters outlining
what will be aired and when it’s available can be found here:
https://www.extreme-e.com/en/broadcast-information#country=SE
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-27 Extreme E making big waves
in Senegal with Legacy Programmes
Extreme E, the electric off-road racing series, will soon be at Lac Rose, Dakar,
Senegal, for its Ocean X Prix taking place from 29-30 May. In preparation for
the event on the West African coastline, Extreme E has been working with local
communities for the past 18 months to implement its Legacy Programmes, which aim
to leave a long-lasting positive impact in the country.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Legacy Programmes are
such a big part of Extreme E, and through these projects we are able to help the
local community, meaning our racing series has impact on both a local, but also
a global level through the awareness we are raising on the climate crisis via
our digital outlets and broadcast partners.
“It's great to see how these projects have developed first hand from our
initial visits all those months ago and show our drivers too, furthering their
knowledge on the environmental plight our planet is facing.”
Senegal was chosen as a location to highlight the issues and solutions around
ocean health which include sea level rise, plastic pollution and rising ocean
temperatures. Extreme E has worked with local social business GroupeSenghor and
its Legacy Partner to.org to support the EcoZone Project based in Lac Rose –
once a tourist hotspot but now facing vulnerability.
The aim of the project is to raise awareness of climate issues and location mitigation
strategies by engaging local people in the creation of a healthy environment.
The ultimate goal is to build a sustainable community through the provision of
guidance, information and resources, empowering self-sufficiency and economic
autonomy.
There have been various phases to this project located at the heart of Niaga,
which started back in June 2020, including launching the EcoBrique Challenge which
tasks the community to create bricks for construction from plastic waste. All
the schools and their 3,000 children in the area joined the campaign creating
more than 6,000 bricks so far. Not only were they created at school, but also
at home spreading the message further to their families, and they have been used
to create a primary school toilet and EcoBrique benches.
The EcoBriques initiative also helps solve a big issue in Senegal – plastic
pollution. By creating these bricks from waste the aim is to raise awareness and
lead to action. The EcoBrique solution prevents littering, stores dry non-organic
waste and reduces risk to marine life (80% of plastics found in the oceans come
from land-based source), all while creating an alternative construction material
that can benefit the community instead of harming the environment.
In addition, there have been major renovation works at two schools and the Youth
Centre including painting, upgrading floors and roofs, plus the creation of gardens
which link the children to the local farmers, as well as planting of more than
600 trees. The local health centre, which was built by Paris Dakar Rally Founder
Thierry Sabine and is used by the entire community, has also benefitted from a
lick of paint plus a reworked solar energy system and new energy efficient light
bulbs.
The local market has been painted and had solar lights fitted making it easier
for those that start work early when it’s dark as previously there was no
lighting at all. A water pump has also been installed reducing the labour intensive
nature of carrying water long distances and increasing cleanliness.
These changes not only improve the communities aesthetics, but through the gardens
in particular allow for circular economy as what is grown can eventually be used
to feed the communities or sold to local hotels. All these works have been completed
by the community encouraging cohesion.
Stephan Senghor, Founder of GroupeSenghor, said: “Our EcoZone project really
focusses on how we can bring a circular economy by offering solutions to reduce
vulnerability and support communities in need. We focus on the three Ps –
People, Planet and Partnership – to raise awareness of the climate crisis,
inform to inspire action, ensure an ongoing community bond and strenghen the social
fabric. I’m really proud of what we have achieved so far and excited to continue
this journey with the support of Extreme E.”
The second initiative was to plant one million mangroves
in association with to.org and local NGO Oceanium. So far, over 500 people including
planters and seed collectors, have planted half a million propagules – a
mangrove bud – covering 60 hectares over a period of three weeks. More than
85 per cent of those propagules are developing into healthy mangroves. The remaining
half a million mangroves will be planted in during the 2021 rainy season. To find
out more and get involved click here.
Nachson Mimran, CEO and co-founder of to.org said: “We are humbled to have
the support of the Extreme E Legacy Programme in our mangrove reforestation and
protection programme, along with local implementation partner Oceanium. The mission
of the to.org Foundation is to address Earth’s most pressing social and environmental
challenges; the reforestation and protection of mangrove is vital in this endeavour.
Mangroves are not only the most effective tree on earth for sequestering carbon,
they also protect against coastal erosion and regulate soil salinity so coastal
communities can farm fertile soil. And they sustain a vast array of aquatic and
terrestrial wildlife, including fish nurseries, ensuring that local communities
have access to the protein their diets depend on. By reforesting and protecting
mangroves, we can combat climate change related food insecurity and economic instability,
addressing two of the leading drivers of forced migration in this region.’’
Charlotte Thomas, Project Manager at Oceanium, added: “Reforestation is everyone’s
business.”
Each of Extreme E’s race locations has a different Legacy Programme, all
with the ambition to support the local community and raise awareness of climate
change. In its first location – Saudi Arabia – Extreme E is supporting
turtle conservation along The Red Sea coastline in association with The Ba’a
Foundation, in Greenland the championship is working with UNICEF to empower young
climate changemakers through an education programme and in Brazil the series is
working with The Nature Conservancy to reforest areas of the Amazon, with the
final initiative in Patagonia to be confirmed.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-25 Extreme E står värd
för Ocean X Prix i Senegal
Nu varvar den nya racingserien Extreme E upp. Efter den dramatiska premiären
i Al-Ula, Saudiarabien startar Extreme E nu nära den senegalesiska huvudstaden,
Dakar, den 29-30 maj. Loppen körs med de helt elektriska ODYSSEY 21 tävlingsbilarna
på Lac Roses bankar – även känd som Lake Retba. Sjön
har lika hög salthalt som Döda havet och vattnets speciella färg
beror på bakterier som utsöndrar röd järnoxid.
Racen kommer att sändas över hela Europa av olika TV-stationer och streamingpartners.
Nytt för denna omgång är Extreme E kommer att visas i Sportkanalen
och på C Mores digitala plattform. Kvaltävlingen inleds lördagen
den 29 maj kl. 13:30 med följande semifinal söndag kl. 12:00 (samtliga
tider i CET). Ocean X Prix avgörs sedan med ett final-race på söndagen
från kl. 16:00.
- Efter de fantastiska scenerna från öppningstävlingen så
är jag övertygad om att ännu fler motorsportfans kommer att följa
tävlingen den här gången. Ryktet har börjat spridas om att
Extreme E bjuder på fantastisk motorsport i fantastiskt vackra miljöer.
De smala offroad-sandvägarna mellan Lac Rose och Atlantkusten är dessutom
en spännande utmaning för förarna, teamen och de moderna ODYSSEY
21 E-SUV:arna, säger Sandra Roslan, projektansvarig på Continental.
I tävlingen mellan förarna är racingteamet Rosberg X totalledare,
där rallycrossvärldsmästaren Johan Kristoffersson och den tidigare
australiska rallymästaren Molly Taylor står för styrningarna.
Rallyvärldsmästarna Sébastien Loeb och Cristina Gutiérrez,
från Lewis Hamiltons Team X44 var etappvinnare i Dakar i år och ligger
bara fem poäng efter. Två respektive fyra poäng bakom Team X44
ligger rallycrossvärldsmästaren Timmy Hansen och den brittiska rallyföraren
Catie Munnings från Team Andretti United, liksom rallyvärldsmästaren
Carlos Sainz och den tidigare Dakar-rallyvinnaren i damklassen, Laia Sanz, från
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team.
Alla team kör E-SUV:ar med namnet ODYSSEY 21. Med en längd på
440 cm, en bredd på 230 cm och en höjd på 186 cm har SUV:arna
i stort sett samma mått som kommersiellt tillgängliga SUV:ar - likaså
hjulbasen på 300 cm. SUV:arna är tillverkade av racingtillverkaren
Spark Racing Technology och har en elektrisk motsvarighet på 550 hk - med
en vikt på endast 1 780 kg. Detta jämfört med en genomsnittlig
Dakar-rallybil som har en motoreffekt på cirka 300 hk och en vikt på
över två ton. Accelerationsvärdena är lika imponerade. Drivs
av två elmotorer och accelererar från 0-100 km/h på bara 4,5
sekunder. E-SUV:arna tar sig också enkelt uppför lutningar på
upp till 55 grader där teamen sätter sin tilltro till det 37 tum stora
däcket CrossContact Extreme E. Däcket har utvecklats av Continental
speciellt för att få ner all kraft i banan på ett säkert
sätt, trots alla utmaningar som de mest extrema klimatzonerna bjuder på.
- Extreme E-racingserien är inte bara tänkt att visa upp spännande
motorsport utan vill också rikta uppmärksamheten på de negativa
konsekvenserna av den globala uppvärmningen. Detta genom valet av hotade
biotoper. Lac Rose är en extraordinärt vacker plats som i allt högre
grad riskerar att drabbas av klimatförändringar på grund av sitt
kustnära läge. Lac Rose, som finns på UNESCO:s världsarvslista,
ligger mindre än en kilometer från Atlantkusten. Allt som skiljer sjön
från havet är några sanddyner. Landremsorna blir allt smalare
och tre till fyra meter landmassa går förlorad varje år till
följd av de stigande havsnivåerna. En av de främsta anledningarna
till detta är att Grönlands istäcke smälter. Inför Extreme-E-loppen
i Senegal har organisatörerna bakom racingserien etablerat ett miljöskyddsprojekt
tillsammans med de lokala myndigheterna för att städa upp kuststräckan.
Syftet är att använda det plastavfall som samlas in för att tillverka
eco-stenar som sedan ska användas för att bygga badrum till över
300 skolbarn, avslutar Sandra Roslan, projektledare på Continental.
Alla andra tävlingsdatum 2021 i korthet
Dakar, Senegal 29–30 maj
Kangerlussuaq, Grönland 28–29 augusti
Santarem, Brasilien 23–24 oktober
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego 11-12 december
21-05-24 Extreme E set for Ocean
X Prix
Table toppers Rosberg X Racing hope to keep strong form
New: Ocean X Prix Final will feature a four-car battle
New: ‘Super Sector’ launched for Dakar race with Team Championship points
up for grabs
Ocean X Prix will be available to watch via Extreme E’s website and a host
of global broadcasters listed here
Jennie Gow and Andrew Coley in the commentary box, with Layla-Anna Lee joining
on site
GridPlay to open at 0900 GMT on Wednesday 26 May
The stage is almost set for the second stop on Extreme E’s calendar–
the Ocean X Prix – which takes place this weekend (29-30 May) in Lac Rose,
Dakar on the West African Senegalese coast.
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took victory in the inaugural X Prix last month in the
Saudi Arabian deserts, but with the top
three teams within seven points of each other, the Ocean X Prix promises to
provide thrilling racing action in a region brimming with motorsport heritage.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO or Extreme E said: “I am delighted to be
back in Dakar, a place with a vast motorsport heritage, and I can’t wait
to see our world-class line-up of drivers compete on this latest course we have
devised. The Desert X Prix delivered some truly thrilling racing with a stunning
backdrop and I’m sure Senegal will provide the same.
“But in Lac Rose we find an area suffering at the hands of the climate crisis,
which is the true reason we are here. It doesn’t take long upon arrival to
see one of the biggest issues, plastic pollution, which is affecting the local
community and its marine life. Through our Legacy Programmes, we are supporting
the local community to make change, and I can’t wait to see it for myself
and help where I can.”
Nico Rosberg, RXR Founder said: “The team did an incredible job in Saudi
Arabia to get the win and we’re very proud to be the first X Prix winners
in Extreme E history, but we know we need to stay focused if we are to remain
at the front. The series is already so competitive, but this team loves a challenge,
and we can’t wait to go racing again in Senegal.”
Off-road racing returns to its roots
Situated 37km from the capital, Dakar, the shores of Lac Rose hosted the finish
of the world’s most famous cross-country rally – the Paris-Dakar - on
numerous occasions between 1979 and 2007, and will play host to the Extreme E
Ocean X Prix this weekend.
Out on the course, drivers will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though
a very different challenge and location to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Here the
race will take to the existing tracks surrounding the lake, named after, and renowned
for its striking pink colour, caused by algae that thrives within its highly-saline
waters. The full course will be revealed in the coming days.
Once again, nine teams and 18 drivers will compete, but in a slight change to
the Saudi Arabia race format, the Final will be a four-car battle, with two teams
from each of the two Semi-Finals progressing to the concluding race of the weekend.
Saturday 29 May
Like the Desert X Prix, Qualifying consists of two rounds of time trials. The
team starting order is decided by a draw for Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. All
races feature two laps with the incorporated driver ‘Switch’ feature.
Sunday 30 May
Three races will take place as follows:
The teams will be listed 1st to 9th place based on the total combined time of
each team’s two Qualifying runs.
The top three teams go into the Semi-Final 1, where the top two finishers claim
spots in the Ocean X Prix Final.
The middle three teams (4th, 5th, 6th) go through to Semi-Final 2, where again
the top two progress to the Ocean X Prix Final.
The bottom three teams (7th, 8th and 9th) head to the Shoot Out.
The Ocean X Prix Final features four cars – the top two finishers from each
Semi-Final.
Teams can also benefit from a HyperDrive boost available to each driver on each
lap of the race. Activated when the driver presses a button on the steering wheel,
they will enjoy an extra push of continuous power for a few seconds.
New for the Ocean X Prix is the ‘Super Sector’ – a part of the
course where the fastest driver in that section over the weekend will earn five
points for their team. This ensures that whatever position the teams find themselves
in there is always an incentive to push to the limit as points are up for grabs.
The world-class team and driver line-up below, will all be behind the wheel of
the ODYSSEY 21 – a 550 bhp all-electric SUV charged using zero-emission hydrogen
fuel cell technology.
ABT CUPRA XE - #125 – Mattias Ekström / Claudia Hürtgen
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team - #55 – Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz
Andretti United - #23 – Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing - #99 – Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price
XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi - #42 – Oliver Bennett / Christine
GZ
JBXE - #22 – Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Rosberg X Racing - #6 – Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor
Veloce Racing - #5 – Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick
X44 - #44 – Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez
For each race, teams can select which driver goes first, and decisions are kept
secret until the last minute.
GridPlay
The GridPlay vote will open at 0900 GMT on Wednesday 26 May and close 30 minutes
into Semi-Final 2 on Sunday 30 May giving fans the chance to vote for their favourite
team and influence the starting line-up for the Final.
Teams that don’t make the Final can gift votes to their preferred competitors,
and in Saudi Arabia this meant Andretti United were able to select its starting
spot in the closing race, so every vote really does count.
The Commentary Line-up
The championship’s lead commentators Jennie Gow and Andrew Coley will be
talking through all the action remotely via a London studio and will be joined
by special guest drivers and analysts from the star-studded Extreme E paddock.
Layla-Anne Lee will continue to be the voice of the paddock getting behind the
scenes interviews and first reactions from the drivers.
Why Senegal?
The world's oceans are in crisis. Half of coral reefs and a third of mangroves
and seagrasses have already been lost, leaving coastal communities vulnerable
to erosion, storm damage and food shortages. Crucial fish stocks are on the point
of collapse, threatening not only food security for the human population that
depends on them but the entire food chain. Plastics, oil spills and agrochemicals
are destroying ocean environments and contaminating food chains. Climate change
is causing the heating of our oceans, making them more acidic and bleaching coral
reefs, melting the ice at the poles and endangering the life which they support.
Above all, global warming causes oceans to heat up, and in turn expand, which
puts some islands and coastlines at risk of disappearing altogether. Sea level
has been rising by around 30 millimetres every 10 years.
Extreme E chose Lac Rose in Senegal to highlight these issues.
Lac Rose itself is a vibrant pink due to the Dunaliella Salina bacteria, which
is attracted by the lake’s salt content. The bacteria produce a red pigment
in order to absorb the sunlight, thus giving the lake its unique colour. However,
the water levels have fallen dramatically in the last forty years due to over-exploitation
of salt mining and water pumping.
In addition, plastic pollution is another major issue affecting Senegal, with
the mountain of single-use plastic washing up on the shores growing day-by-day
and threatening marine species and human health. An estimated 32 per cent of all
plastic packaging used globally does not get recycled or disposed of properly
and a staggering 80 per cent of plastic found in the ocean comes from this unmanaged
waste on land. If left unchecked, four billion tonnes of plastic pollution will
enter our land and oceans by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario.
Up and coming conservationist Sheena Talma will join the series in Senegal to
host talks on these issues and support the Legacy Programmes.
Leaving a long-lasting positive Legacy
As with each of its locations Extreme E is launching Legacy Programmes to support
the fight against the climate crisis and the local communities suffering due to
the many issues it brings.
In Senegal, Extreme E is supporting two projects. For the first, the championship
has teamed up with local NGO, Oceanium, which Extreme E identified in partnership
with to.org, to plant one million mangrove trees in Senegal across 60 hectares
with the aim of reforesting mangroves, providing education to local populations
and improving social cohesion.
For the second, the series is supporting the EcoZone Project, a living lab that
addresses the Lac Rose community’s primary needs while preserving the environment
through experiential learning, regenerative agriculture and a circular economy.
As part of this, the EcoBrique Challenge was launched which tasked the community
to create bricks for construction from plastic waste.
Extreme E will visit these projects in the lead up to the Ocean X Prix continuing
to support the important work carried out by the local community.
When and Where to Watch
Shakedown and qualifications will be aired through Extreme E’s official website
– www.extreme-e.com and social channels (@extremeelive on YouTube, Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter and Twitch).
The Finals will be shown in more than 180 countries by 75 broadcasters including
Fox Sports in the USA, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte
in Spain, Proseiben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across
most European Markets and SuperSport in Africa.
A full list of broadcasters outlining what will be aired and when it’s available
can be found here.
All times CET
Friday 28 May
1900 – 1930 CET Shakedown
Saturday 29 May
1330 – 1530 CET Qualifying Round 1
1800 – 2000 CET Qualifying Round 2
Sunday 30 May
1200 – 1330 CET Semi Final broadcast
1600 – 1800 CET Final broadcast
Count Us In
Extreme E has joined forces with Count Us In to launch the Extreme E Count Us
In Challenge - which uses the power of sport, and the excitement of motor racing,
to inspire fans to take practical steps to reduce their carbon footprint and,
in doing so, urge governments, cities and businesses to accelerate progress on
climate action.
Steps range in impact from pledging to walk and cycle more, eating more plant-based
food, to Extreme E’s ultimate goal of switching to an electric vehicle. One
of those steps is use less plastic, which would have a huge impact in Senegal
as the country fights plastic pollution and the issues that it brings.
All steps taken will be added up and the winning team will claim the overall Extreme
E Sustainability Award at the end of the Season.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-20 Nothing to lose for Extreme
E's final three
The top three teams and the middle trio of teams had a relatively straightforward
Desert X Prix when compared to the three teams at the bottom of the table. ABT
CUPRA XE (seventh) scored 13 points, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing (eighth) accumulated
11 points while Veloce Racing (ninth) round out the table with four points after
the opening event of the season. Each of these squads endured challenging weekends
with crashes or mechanical issues hampering their efforts at some stage during
the X Prix.
ABT CUPRA XE’s Claudia Hürtgen was thankfully unharmed after a sizable
barrel roll in Q1 which set a precedent for the team’s weekend. The paddock
witnessed a herculean effort from the team’s engineers and mechanics as they
got the ODYSSEY 21 ready for Sunday’s Shoot Out, only for a collision with
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle LeDuc to call a premature end to both
team’s events.
Thomas Biermaier, CEO at ABT says: “The first event was quite a unique
experience for our team – obviously a little different to what we have hoped
for. But we have seen a strong performance from both Claudia and Mattias on track
and also an amazing team spirit from the crew in the paddock. Based on these experiences
our goal remains the same: We want to have a clean Saturday and then make our
way into the final. Bringing home a trophy from Senegal would be a great reward
for everyone after a tough start into our Extreme E adventure.”
Mattias Ekström is one of the most experienced drivers on the Extreme
E grid. Having raced across multiple disciplines in his career, the double DTM
Champion and 2016 World Rallycross Champion’s knowledge will be invaluable
at another entirely new and unique venue when the teams arrive at Lac Rose, Senegal
for the Ocean X Prix. He says: “I have driven a lot of different race cars
in my career and have to say: Extreme E is pure fun. The track layout in Senegal
with the straight along the ocean front looks amazing and will again create amazing
pictures and action for the spectators in front of their screens.” He continues:
“I was doing the Andalucia Rally to get into the mood and now can’t
wait to arrive for the Ocean X Prix. We have a lot to make up for.”
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Desert X Prix was similarly challenging with
their Q1 time tumbling down the order due to power steering issues, which then
ruled them out of Q2 entirely. With one time on the board, it was only ever going
to be the Shoot Out for the American squad. Following the driver swap, LeDuc was
hunting down the ABT CUPRA XE car before his windscreen was showered with dust.
Unsighted, he was powerless to avoid Hürtgen and the pair were subsequently
out of contention. LeDuc and teammate Sara Price were among the favourites coming
into the weekend, so the outfit has a lot of expectation to live up to in Senegal.
Fledgling outfit Veloce Racing were unable to show their true pace in Saudi Arabia
after endurance racing veteran Stéphane Sarrazin hit a tuft of camel grass
in Q1, sending the car into a barrel roll before the team had finished a single
lap. Sarrazin was understandably frustrated and has learned a lot from the costly
incident. He says: “I think the key with this series is to be patient. You
obviously want to be quick straight away and in Extreme E, every lap counts but
pushing too hard early in the weekend can cause problems as we saw for several
teams in Saudi Arabia.” He continues: “Senegal will be another very
different environment with terrain very few – if any – of the drivers
on the grid have raced on, so everyone will start from scratch again which is
the beauty of this championship. We’ll do our best as always and see where
we end up at the end of the weekend.”
W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick was denied the chance to turn a wheel in anger,
having completed just one lap during Friday’s shakedown session. She will
be looking to gain as much experience as possible during the second round of the
Extreme E championship in order to get up to speed. She says: “Obviously
I didn’t get a lot of time behind the wheel last time out but I feel like
experience doesn’t matter as much as in other championships because each
location is so wildly different to the last. Everything that excited me about
Extreme E initially still applies, I’ve just had to wait a little longer
for it!”
She adds: “I think we need to be realistic with setting goals for the weekend,
we didn’t get a clear picture of where we were in comparison to the other
teams in Saudi Arabia so I think we just need to take it one session at a time
and get the maximum potential out of the car each time we’re on track, we
can’t ask for more than that.”
These three teams will undoubtedly be out to score big points in Senegal to begin
climbing up the leaderboard, but who will make the most progress?
21-05-19 All to play for in the
middle of the table
Like the top of the Extreme
E table, the middle of the standings made up of ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (fourth),
Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team (fifth) and JBXE (sixth) are within a few points
of each other on 26, 20 and 17 point respectively.
Although ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team were in second spot after qualifying propelling
them to Semi-Final 1, they narrowly missed out on a place in the Final coming
third in that session. Both Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team and Jenson Button’s
JBXE team were in the aptly named Crazy Race but missed out on the Final after
being beaten by Andretti United who eventually went on to claim second place in
the last race of the day.
It is still all to play for though, with opportunities for points at the Ocean
X Prix in Senegal from 29-30 May in both the Qualifying rounds and Final so making
your way up the table is a very real possibility that all the teams are relishing.
Albert Fàbrega, ACCIONA | Sainz XE’s Team Principal says: "It
was positive to show our speed from the very beginning, even though we narrowly
missed the Final. We are very excited now to go to Senegal. The Lac Rose in Dakar
is a legendary place in the history of motorsport. Both Laia and Carlos are very
experienced drivers on those conditions. We have been working to improve our performance
and we are hoping we can fight for the podium again.”
Like most of the Extreme E drivers Laia Sanz has been competing elsewhere ahead
of Senegal in the Andalusia Rally, again on four wheels – very different
to her two-wheel Dakar pedigree – but important practice for the upcoming
course at Lac Rose. She says: “It is important for me, because I am continuously
learning when it comes to racing on four wheels, which is not my natural environment.
The Andalusia Rally was very positive for me in my progression on four wheels
and I am convinced that it will come in handy in Senegal, so yes, I am more confident
going into the second event of the Extreme E season. First because I have the
experience of having racing in AlUla and second because of the work that I am
putting in testing and racing in competitions like the Andalusia Rally.”
Second place in the Crazy Race was the driver duo of Brit Oliver Bennett and Spaniard
Christine GZ who had a steady Saudi outing putting them centre of the overall
standings. Oliver says: “I’m really XITE’d to get to the Ocean
X Prix in Senegal. It feels like a long time since we last drove the car so I’m
anxious to get back behind the wheel and keep familiar with this new electric
monster.” He continues: “The overall feeling for this event is positive,
we learnt a lot in the first round and came away feeling confident and with a
good strategy for the season ahead. It’s a new environment, most likely another
extreme one, so we will be as prepared as we can to do battle!”
Meanwhile his teammate Christine GZ - has been competing in other races since
Saudi Arabia and says: “I have been competing at an off-road event to keep
developing my skills and will be testing alongside my teammate Oli in a range
of vehicles before round two of Extreme E. My main goal in Senegal is to have
a ton of fun! “
JBXE driver Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, who was the final driver announced
to the Extreme E line-up after being confirmed in March just weeks ahead of the
first race, is relishing the chance to get back to action. She says: “I’m
super excited for Senegal! Saudi was a challenge for us as we came in late to
the series so we didn't have much time to prepare, but now we have the experience
and knowledge from the Desert X Prix and we've been working closely with Lotus
Engineering to see what we can do with the car.”
She continues: “Saudi was the first time I’d raced on the sand and it’s
going to be sand again in Senegal, although a different course, so I’m really
excited to see a new venue and see how the tyres perform as we had a good run
with them in Saudi. All in all it is great to have the experience from the first
event and I’m looking forward to seeing how the work we have done between
then and Senegal will pay off.”
Only time will tell how Senegal will shake up the leaderboard but it’s safe
to say every team is pushing for that top spot.
21-05-18 Can the table toppers
keep their spot in Senegal?
The very first Extreme E race on the Saudi Arabian deserts of AlUla just six weeks
ago saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) take both the race victory and the lead in the
overall standings, currently sitting pretty at the top of the table on 35 points.
Although X44 crossed the finish of the Final in third they currently sit second
in the overall table on 30 points after amassing more points in qualifying than
Andretti United, who eventually finished second in the Final and now occupy third
place in the overall standings with 28 points.
With just seven points separating the trio, Extreme E caught up with the table
toppers to see how they’re preparing for the upcoming Ocean X Prix at Lac
Rose, Dakar, Senegal from 29-30 May.
One half of the driver pairing, Molly Taylor, from RXR says: “To take victory
in the first-ever Extreme E event was an amazing achievement. Everyone in the
team had worked so hard in the build-up to the event, so for me and Johan to repay
them all with the victory felt so special. The beauty of Extreme E is the extra
buzz you get from racing for purpose, too, and it’s an even better feeling
when you win for purpose!”
After a momentous win, the team has spent the last few weeks analysing the data
taken from the dunes in Saudi Arabia with a view to preparing for the second X
Prix in Senegal, where RXR will attempt to make it two wins from two.
Taylor’s RXR teammate, Johan Kristoffersson, says: “Senegal will be
a brand-new challenge for everyone, but that’s one of the greatest things
about Extreme E: every event is so unique! Despite the differences, we’ll
do our best to improve on our performance in AlUla and aim to be competitive once
again.”
And when asked if RXR thinks it can keep its position at the top of the table,
its Founder Nico Rosberg enthused: “The team did an incredible job in Saudi
Arabia to get the win and we’re very proud to be the first X Prix winners
in Extreme E history, but we know we need to stay focused if we are to remain
at the front. The series is already so competitive, but this team loves a challenge,
and we can’t wait to go racing again in Senegal.”
X44 driver pairing Cristina Gutiérrez and Sébastien Loeb had a great
weekend in Saudi Arabia topping the qualifying standings and heading straight
through to Semi-Final 1, and with a second place finish, progressed to the Final.
But the team is hoping for victory in Senegal.
Sébastien says: “I’m looking forward to racing again in Senegal
with Cristina. In the last race obviously there were things that didn’t go
our way, but we showed that we’re a very competitive team and that we’re
able to get results under pressure.” He continues: “The Ocean X Prix
will be a totally new terrain and we have an incredible group of people working
with us, so I’m excited to go to Senegal and fight again for a win.”
The team has been working hard behind the scenes, analysing the data from Saudi
Arabia to hit the ground running and ensure its drivers are prepared as best as
possible for what they will face at Lac Rose. They have been particularly focussed
on the all-important start which proved vital for the final race position, although
Senegal poses a very different challenge of course.
Cristina added: “I’m really excited to get back in the car and race
again in Senegal. Obviously the final race in Saudi didn’t go exactly as
planned but we got a great result overall and it put us in a good position in
the championship. We learned a lot from the last race and we’re going to
take those learnings and make sure that we’re as competitive as possible.”
When asked about the programmes off the track, she says: “I’m excited
too to visit Extreme E’s legacy projects, and make a positive impact on the
planet while we’re there.”
And in third spot is Andretti United who progressed to the Final after winning
the Crazy Race, named so as only the top finisher made it to the last race of
the day. Catie Munnings certainly proved herself to be one to watch following
her epic three-wheel drive after suffering a slow puncture in qualifying, and
her strength and determination saw her bring the car home in one piece.
It seems she is hoping for a more straightforward X Prix in Senegal. Catie says:
“Saudi Arabia certainly wasn’t plain sailing for us, especially with
the puncture but Timmy and I learned so much and to finish second in the Final
after a tricky start to the event was just awesome. Now we go into Senegal third
in the standings, which is a really strong position to be in. We definitely feel
well prepared and ready to apply what we learned from Saudi at the Ocean X Prix
– and hopefully score another podium!”
When it came to the Final, Andretti was able to select its starting position as
it managed to secure the fan-led GridPlay vote after receiving support not only
from its followers, but also from teams that didn’t make it to the final,
as the rules state they can gift their votes - maybe Andretti United was seen
as the underdog? Whatever the reasoning, they’ve certainly proved that they
are a force to be reckoned with.
Ahead of Senegal, Timmy Hansen has been busy keeping physically fit through lots
of running, even finishing the Wings for Life Run alongside 160,000 others –
virtually of course – to raise money for spinal cord research. He has also
completed some off-road training in the Polaris and supported Catie in her RallyX
Nordic debut in Höljes. He’s also taken some important time off to celebrate
his son Sam’s third birthday.
He says: “I’ve had a productive few weeks continuing with my training,
fulfilling some sponsor obligations and also spending a bit of time with my family
too. It feels good to strike the right balance. It’s been great having Catie
over in Sweden again too - we’ve done a full debrief from Saudi and know
the areas where we can improve. We’re both feeling confident going into Senegal
with a refreshed state of mind.”
The Ocean X Prix starts on 29 May, and as the all-electric SUVs have been at sea
travelling the globe on the series’ floating centrepiece – the St. Helena
– teams won’t be able to start preparations with the cars themselves
until they touch down in Senegal so time is of the essence.
21-05-12 Extreme E's floating centrepiece
arrives in Senegal
Today, Extreme E’s floating centrepiece – the St. Helena – has
arrived in Senegal for its second X Prix – the Ocean X Prix - taking place
at Lac Rose, Dakar from 29 – 30 May.
The St. Helena, Extreme E’s repurposed former Royal Mail Ship, arrived at
Dakar port, having travelled for over four weeks from Extreme E’s championship
opener in Saudi Arabia. Her epic journey has taken her across the Mediterranean
Sea, through the Suez Canal, via Valencia then Gibraltar to finally arrive on
the West coast of Africa.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E said: “I’m pleased to see
that the St. Helena has arrived safely and on schedule in Dakar - her second voyage
as Extreme E’s floating centrepiece is complete.
“St. Helena’s safe arrival means we can now focus on preparing for the
Ocean X Prix later this month, and the next phase of our Legacy Programme, which
includes the planting of one million mangroves along the West African coastline.
As well as bringing our fantastic electric racing series to a place with such
a legendary motorsport history, Extreme E aims to shine the spotlight on the environmental
challenges that Senegal is facing as well as helping local communities.”
Whilst at port in Valencia, the St. Helena collected some important cargo including
AFC Energy’s first upstream green hydrogen fuelling solution. This will work
alongside its existing hydrogen power system to charge Extreme E’s fleet
of ODYSSEY 21 vehicles at the Ocean X-Prix. In addition, sustainable power solutions
company Zenobe loaded a second-life battery on to the St. Helena, which will be
used to power Extreme E’s paddock operations, once again reducing overall
emissions.
And that’s not all. Whilst in Valencia, car manufacturer, CUPRA was also
able to load one of its Formentor e-HYBRIDs - this exciting new model has only
been on the market since March, and this one will be used to transport Extreme
E’s personnel to and from site at Lac Rose.
The repurposing of the St. Helena has been a huge project for Extreme E. Since
her purchase in 2018, she has had a complete internal refit. In addition to building
a science laboratory, there are 62 cabins on board which can sleep up to 165 people,
two lounges, an 80-seater restaurant, a 100-seater exterior deck, an 80-seater
presentation area plus capacity to carry 90 20-foot shipping containers. The ship
uses low-energy LED lights, has low-water consumption bathroom fittings and chairs
made from recycled plastic bottles, collected from the Mediterranean. There is
also a hydroponic system on board in the kitchens which enables the Chef to grow
the ship’s own herbs and garnishes.
The cargo will now be unloaded and transported to Lac Rose in Dakar, Senegal ready
for the Ocean X Prix which takes place from 29-30 May.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-05-07 Sweden's Sportkanalen
joins Extreme E's broadcast menu
Extreme E, the ground-breaking electric off-road racing series, has confirmed
Sweden’s leading channel Sportkanalen as the latest addition to its broadcasting
portfolio. C More, Sportkanalen’s digital channel, is popular throughout
Sweden and will air live coverage of Extreme E’s X Prixs as well as the preview,
review, and magazine shows in both Swedish and English. Coverage of the championship
will also be available on C More’s OTT digital platform.
Sweden currently ranks in the top five leading countries in the world in the uptake
of electric vehicles amongst its population. With an EV market share of 26 per
cent and an increase in sales of a staggering 245 per cent in 2019, Sweden is
making great strides in electric transformation – thanks largely to increased
government incentives to buyers, namely national grants, and tax subsidiaries.
Equally, the Swedish nation loves its motorsport and boasts many exceptional racing
drivers. One of whom, WRX supremo, Johan Kristoffersson has already taken Extreme
E honours when he and his Rosberg X Racing teammate Molly Taylor drove to a sensational
victory at the series opener in Saudi Arabia last month.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer, Extreme E said: “Sweden is a vital
market for Extreme E and I am delighted to welcome Sportkanalen and C More to
our broadcast menu. The population’s increasing usage of electric vehicles
is great to see, particularly as the benefits of electrification are one of the
key pillars of our championship.
“In addition, we also have an impressive cohort of Swedish talent amongst
our driver line up this year. We are thrilled to have the likes of Johan Kristoffersson,
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky , Timmy Hansen and Mattias Ekström on the
grid and I’m confident that this, as well as the ever-important environmental
stories behind our sport for purpose series, will make for a captivating show
for C More and Sportkanalen’s audiences.”
Johan Cederqvist, Head of C More channels and rights said: “Extreme E will
be a strong complement to our other sports rights on Sportkanalen and C More.
People in Sweden have a great interest in motorsport and Extreme E has a natural
place in our portfolio.”
Extreme E has already attracted some of the biggest names in motorsport including
Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, all
of whom have founded teams X44, Rosberg X Racing and JBXE respectively. Button
also makes up the male half of his driver pairing, with his Swedish female teammate
MikaelaÅhlin-Kottulinsky. The gender equal format is a stipulation of the
championship in a bid to encourage gender equality and a level playing field -
a world-first in motorsport.
All 18 Extreme E drivers compete in identical fully electric 550 bhp SUVs. Known
as the ODYSSEY 21, these monster off-roaders can reach 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds,
at gradients of up to 130 per cent.
The cars, along with the rest of the championship’s freight are currently
at sea on Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, as it heads to
Senegal for the Ocean X Prix at the end of this month. The series chose a ship
as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight, but not only that, it
also provides the opportunity to conduct research into various areas of the marine
environment during the global voyage in its on-board science laboratory, which
will be home to a number of scientists during its year long voyage.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-04-29 Download One month until
Extreme E's Ocean X Prix
Today marks one month until Extreme E’s second event – the
Ocean X Prix – which will take place at Lac Rose in Dakar, Senegal on 29-30
May. Extreme E marks the return of off-road racing to one of its original roots,
famous for the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally which debuted in 1978 but which hasn’t
finished in the Senegalese capital since 2007.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “So here we are, just
one month until our second event, the Ocean X Prix. We are all very excited to
be headed to Senegal, in particular Dakar and specifically Lac Rose, which once
marked the finish line to one of the most iconic rallies in the world. We are
pleased to be bringing motorsport back to this region and am sure we will put
on an incredible show.
“But more than that, Extreme E is using its platform to highlight the climate
realities of the area, from rising sea levels to plastic pollution. Not only will
we use our sport to shine a light on all these issues and the solutions we can
all be part of, but we will also be making a positive and lasting difference through
our various Legacy Programmes in the country including planting one million mangroves
and supporting local communities.”
Extreme E has attracted some of the biggest names in motorsport including Formula
One World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg who have founded teams X44
and Rosberg X Racing respectively, plus Jenson Button who has not only founded,
but makes up one half of the JBXE driver pairing. In a motorsport world-first,
teams are required to field both a male and female driver in a bid for gender
equality and a level playing field, with the 2021 line-up including the likes
of Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz Snr., Johan Kristoffersson, Molly Taylor,
Jamie Chadwick and Laia Sanz.
Abdou Thiam, President of the Senegalese Motorsport Federation, said: “When
Alejandro presented his project to me, it was with great enthusiasm that I welcomed
the idea of an international competition on the banks of the Pink Lake.
“Thanks to a long tradition of motorsport in Senegal, this site has hosted
our various national championships and the arrival of many international competitions.
The most famous of these even bears the name of our capital.
“The innovative approach of Extreme E as well as its environmental dimension
projects us towards the future of off-road motor racing. Finally, we are delighted
and honoured to welcome the great names of the motorsport family. As such, we
welcome all the actors of what I hope will be the first edition of a long series
in Senegal.”
Extreme E chose Lac Rose in Senegal to highlight a variety of issues such as rising
sea levels due to global warming which causes oceans to heat up, and in turn expand.
Sea level has been rising by around 30 centimetres every 10 years. Plastic pollution
is another major issue affecting the African country, with the mountain of single-use
plastic washing up on the shores growing day-by-day and threatening marine species
and human health.
The lake itself is a vibrant pink due to the Dunaliella Salina bacteria, which
is attracted by the lake’s salt content. The bacteria produce a red pigment
in order to absorb the sunlight, thus giving the lake its unique colour. However,
the water levels have fallen dramatically in the last 40 years due to over-exploitation
of salt mining and water pumping.
Over the last year, Extreme E has supported two projects, which it will continue
to do beyond the race weekend, in conjunction with its legacy partner to.org.
The first of these legacy projects with to.org, and local implementation partner
Oceanium, is to plant one million mangrove trees. Mangroves pull carbon dioxide
out of the atmosphere and the sediment beneath their roots stores a huge amount
of this carbon. They are also important for coastal communities protecting them
from destructive effects of storms and of sea level, and as nurseries for fish
that provide food. Sadly, over a third of mangroves have been lost, leaving them
vulnerable to food shortages and from storm damage.
As part of its Legacy Programme commitment, Extreme E has already assisted with
the planting of half a million mangroves over an area of 65 hectares. This reforestation
involved nine outings and almost 700 people who supported planting and support
for growing trees, and removal of plastic waste to ensure a healthy mangrove ecosystem.
In addition, Extreme E has been supporting the local community through the EcoZone
Project in collaboration with to.org and GroupeSenghor (GS). Based in Lac Rose,
close to Extreme E’s race location, this project aims to raise awareness
of climate issues and location mitigation strategies by engaging local people
in the creation of a healthy environment. The ultimate goal here is to build a
sustainable community through the provision of guidance, information and resources,
empowering self-sufficiency and economic autonomy.
Nachson Mimran, CEO and co-founder of to.org said: “The to.org team is honoured
to bring our love for Senegal and our passion for sustainability to our legacy
partnership with Extreme E. The reforestation of mangroves – one of nature’s
most effective carbon capture solutions – will protect against coastal erosion,
provide habitats for fish nurseries and marine organisms, and will improve water
quality for local communities by filtering polluted water. We are excited to continue
our mangrove reforestation programme and to advance
to.org’s mission to address Earth’s most pressing social and environmental
challenges.”
Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, is currently en route to
Senegal with the championship’s freight including its fleet of all-important
electric SUVs – the ODYSSEY 21 – which teams will race in a month’s
time to see who will take victory at the Ocean X Prix. Rosberg X Racing currently
tops the leaderboard, but with four X Prixs to go, it is still all to play for.
To minimise local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with
fans instead invited to follow the racing through live TV
broadcast, which includes RTS, ESPN, Fox Africa, StarTimes in Senegal, and
on social media.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-04-04 Rosberg X Racing makes
history as first Extreme E winner following dramatic desert dust-up
Rosberg X Racing duo Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor were the pace-setters
from the outset in Extreme E’s inaugural race weekend in AlUla, Saudi Arabia
(3/4 April), but the pair still had to dig deep in the desert to battle their
way to victory and carve themselves out a piece of motorsport history.
There has been feverish anticipation in the build-up to this weekend’s Desert
X Prix, and the event delivered in every aspect. Following yesterday’s Qualifying
time trials, today, the drivers went wheel-to-wheel for the first time, generating
some of the most spectacular images ever seen in the sport and drawing widespread
acclaim from competitors and fans alike.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We’ve worked so
hard on this for many years, and finally everything has come together this weekend.
It really has been beyond my wildest expectations. If I had written a script for
the perfect weekend, I could not have come up with anything better than what we
have witnessed these past two days – I’ve never seen such extreme racing
in my life.
“This first race weekend will have a huge influence on how Extreme E evolves,
and one of the reasons I feel so proud is that we have built this platform where
female drivers can shine like they deserve. What we have seen from them here is
extraordinary – some incredible talent and courage – and overall, I
think it’s fair to say we have really made our mark. I’m over the moon.”
Ultimately, nothing could stop Kristoffersson and Taylor from storming to the
top step of the podium – not a 60-second penalty for exceeding the 30km/h
limit in the driver switch zone yesterday, nor less favourable grid slots in both
the Semi-Final and Final today. It was a virtuoso display of speed, skill and
superhuman car control in the most challenging of conditions.
Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO, said: “This is insane. I’m
so thankful to the whole team for the effort put in this weekend, which has been
intense and really on-the-edge. Everything has come together so well and everybody
has worked together so well.
“We have a fantastic team of engineers and mechanics, who prepared perfectly
for this first weekend with so many unknowns, and Molly and Johan produced some
phenomenal driving. Neither of them put a foot wrong in really tough conditions,
and they both showed unbelievable speed out there – their performance was
really inspiring and I felt really proud watching them. To come back to claim
victory after a 60-second penalty caused by a technical problem is just awesome,
and they are definitely deserving winners. For the championship as a whole, it’s
really been a good start.”
Shoot Out
The duel for seventh place in the overall classification was fought out between
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) and ABT CUPRA XE (Mattias
Ekström / Claudia Hürtgen), both of whom endured difficult Qualifying
runs. Price initially pulled ahead by using her Hyperdrive power boost, before
Ekström repaid the favour on the exit of Turn One to snatch the lead.
Once the driver switch was complete, LeDuc set about chasing down Hürtgen,
but almost within sight of the finish line, the American – unsighted by the
dust – made contact with his German rival and the pair both ended their weekend
beached in the desert.
Crazy Race
With just one spot up for grabs in the Final, the stakes were high for the three
Crazy Race competitors – Andretti United’s Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings,
Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team pairing Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca
and JBXE duo Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
A demon start by 2019 FIA World Rallycross Champion Hansen saw the Swede already
clear of his adversaries before the trio arrived at the first gate, with Bennett
narrowly sneaking in front of former Formula 1 World Champion Button to snatch
second.
Hansen opened up a 30-second margin before Munnings took over, after which, the
2016 European Rally Championship Ladies’ Trophy winner artfully managed the
gap to safely bring the Andretti United car home. Giampaoli Zonca did a good job
to peg her British rival throughout, with Åhlin-Kottulinsky similarly showing
a strong turn-of-speed on her way to the finish line in third.
Semi-Final
As top qualifiers yesterday, the X44 crew of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina
Gutiérrez opted to start from the right-hand side of the grid for the Semi-Final
– giving them the theoretical inside line for ‘Turn One’. ACCIONA
| Sainz XE Team duo Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz chose the middle slot, with Rosberg
X Racing (Kristoffersson / Taylor) taking up position on the left.
When the action got underway, Sainz got the best launch to edge fellow multiple
FIA World Rally Champion Loeb away from the line, with the pole-sitter briefly
slipping back to third. Loeb then regained the advantage as the battling Sainz
and Kristoffersson both drifted wide, but the Swede was not done yet and neatly
undercut both of his adversaries on the exit of the first gate to seize the initiative.
Kicking up a sandstorm in his wake, Kristoffersson rapidly made his escape as
his pursuers found themselves driving blindly through the dust – and by the
time he arrived at the switch zone to hand over to team-mate Taylor, the Rosberg
X Racing car was almost 13 seconds to the good.
Thereafter, the former Australian Rally Champion continued to eke out the gap,
crossing the finish line just under half-a-minute ahead of Gutiérrez, as
both teams successfully booked their places in the all-important Final. Another
38 seconds in arrears, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team wound up third to slip out of contention.
Final
As winners of the fan-led GridPlay vote, Andretti United had the luxury of choosing
their starting spot for the Final. Hansen duly plumped for pole position on the
right, with Kristoffersson lining up in the middle for Rosberg X Racing and X44’s
Loeb taking up the third grid slot on the left.
Hansen replicated his lightning launch from the Crazy Race as Kristoffersson focussed
his efforts on fending off Loeb for second, before employing the same tactic that
had served him so well in the Semi-Final to sweep wide going into Turn One and
undercut compatriot Hansen on the exit in a sensational switchback move.
The three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion then wasted no time at all in stretching
his legs, as Hansen settled into second and Loeb – grappling with power steering
problems – trailed behind the pair in third. Kristoffersson handed the car
over to Taylor with a half-minute advantage, and whilst Munnings would go on to
narrow the deficit slightly over the course of the second lap, the Australian
always had the situation under control and wound up just over 23 seconds clear
at the finish.
Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “What an amazing start to the
season! It feels a bit surreal, with so much anticipation and preparation leading
into the weekend and we all came here not really knowing what to expect. It was
definitely extreme. It was the first time we had experienced terrain like that,
and on every lap, the course was changing – there were so many different
variables to deal with. We just wanted to make the most of the little time we
had in the car – every single kilometre.
“We had a small issue in the pit-lane during Qualifying, but aside from that
we were the quickest in every session. You have to be fast when it counts, be
smart when it counts and take the big moves when it counts, and for it to all
come together when it mattered was really special. Huge thanks to Johan –
his opening laps were just insane – and the team has done such an incredible
amount of work behind-the-scenes.
“It’s pretty cool to be part of this journey at the start of something
that I think has an amazing future. This series is really throwing the traditional
rule book out of the window and starting afresh, and I think everyone will agree
it was spectacular to watch. The male drivers we have here are the best in any
motorsport category in the world, so it’s an awesome opportunity for us female
drivers and a real investment in the development of female racing talent. This
is just a dream come true all-round.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “First of all, huge
congratulations to the team. We had some minor issues but we came here very well-prepared,
which made our life so much easier out on-track. This sport isn’t only about
the drivers; it’s about the team giving us the tools to do the job. With
such a limited amount of track time, you need to have confidence that the car
will do what you ask of it – and the Rosberg X Racing guys did an amazing
job to give Molly and myself such a great car.
“Molly performed fantastically; it was her that made the difference in the
first Qualifying session. When you’re in the lead, you need to strike the
right balance between backing off too much and risking too much, which is a new
learning experience in this situation.
“In the Semi-Final and especially the Final, I really didn’t want to
be in the dust after seeing some of the on-boards! Those first 30 seconds of the
race are what you are really working for, when the adrenaline is pumping the fastest
– we’re all adrenaline junkies here, and that’s the feeling you
really want. It’s been such an amazing team effort overall, and I’m
just super happy and already looking forward to the next event in Senegal –
after a few weeks off first!”
Hansen and Munnings completed a remarkable recovery for Andretti United following
the team’s Saturday struggles, when a puncture in Qualifying had threatened
to derail their weekend altogether.
Catie Munnings, Andretti United driver, said: “I just don’t have the
words – I’m smiling so much! Timmy [Hansen] is my absolute hero, just
a legend. His starts today have been incredible, which has made my job easy and
all about bringing it home. With the puncture back at the beginning of Qualifying,
who would have thought we would be here in second place now? The hard work paid
off and we managed to turn our weekend around.
“Extreme E offers an amazing platform for female drivers, and it’s super
cool to be racing against such fast girls. It’s been really nice to see everyone
coming together, encouraging each other and creating a competitive environment,
and all of us – men and women alike – have been learning on the job
and having a great time while doing it.
“I’m super happy with the start to the season. This is a massive moment
for my career and one I will remember forever. It’s been such a journey just
to get to this point with a big build-up and no-one really knowing what to expect,
so to finish with a great result makes it even more special. We know we can be
faster, too, so we’ll get our heads down now and come back stronger in Senegal!”
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United driver, said: “This feels amazing. After Q1,
this kind of result really felt a long way off. What a performance by Catie in
Qualifying to keep the car on-track with the puncture; she brought our ODYSSEY
21 home and with a good time, too. That was a key moment for us this weekend.
We were still the underdogs, but it felt like it all came together in the Crazy
Race, which was a ‘must-win’.
“I think GridPlay was very important for us in the Final. That allowed us
to choose our starting position and from there, I got way more traction than the
others and could pull a gap straightaway. Obviously I’m a bit disappointed
that we couldn’t keep the lead, but Johan [Kristoffersson] pulled a mega
move into the chicane so congratulations to Rosberg X Racing. I’m still really
happy to finish second in the first-ever Extreme E event. Catie and the whole
team did a fantastic job throughout.
“Senegal next time out will be a completely different proposition, and almost
like starting from zero again. With so many high-profile teams and drivers, we
will have to be on our toes and work even harder. Massive congratulations to Alejandro
Agag and the entire Extreme E organisation; to pull this idea off at such a high
level is astonishing. It has exceeded any expectations that I had, and I’m
excited to see where this championship will take off to. I think Extreme E has
an incredibly bright future.”
After topping the timesheets at the end of Qualifying, Loeb and Gutiérrez
ultimately completed the podium in third for X44, consistently losing time due
to their power steering failure in the Final.
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 driver, said: “The whole weekend has been
really good, and it all just came down to some bad luck in the Final with the
power steering breaking. There was nothing we could do about that, so we have
to be pleased to finish third.
“I’m very happy to be in such a great team. I spoke to Lewis [Hamilton
– X44 Founder] during the weekend and he gave me a lot of advice and tips,
and now I’m looking forward to going to Senegal to try to win. Extreme E
offers such a great opportunity for female drivers to race directly against so
many legends of the sport, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
Sébastien Loeb, X44 driver, said: “It was a good weekend overall,
scoring some good points, finishing on the podium in the first event of the season
and leaving sitting second in the championship. For sure, we expected to do better
in the Final, but entering the first corner, we lost the power steering –
and without that, a car this big and heavy is just so difficult to drive and it
became a hard battle to keep it on the track.
“That was a bit disappointing, but for the rest I’m happy with the weekend
and the team did a great job. The main thing is that we showed that together,
we can fight for the win. Both Cristina and I were very fast, so I think we have
a good chance for the rest of the season.”
Final Result
Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 2 laps
Andretti United (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) +23.73s
X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) +1m38.09s
With the Desert X Prix now done-and-dusted, the cars will be loaded back onto
the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating centrepiece – to set sail
for Lac Rose in Senegal, the setting for the Ocean X Prix on 29/30 May.
Championship Standings
Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 35 points
X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 30 points
Andretti United (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) 28 points
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) 26 points
Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team (Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca) 20
points
JBXE (Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) 17 points
ABT Cupra XE (Mattias Ekström / Claudia Hürtgen) 13 points
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) 12 points
Veloce Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick) 8 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-04-04 Historisk seger för
Johan
Johan Kristoffersson skrev under påskdagen ett stycke motorsportshistoria.
Tillsammans med teamkamraten Molly Taylor tog han hem segern i den första
deltävlingen av Extreme E.
- Stort grattis till hela teamet för allt arbete de har lagt ner för
att kunna placera oss högst på prispallen, summerar Johan.
Elbilsserien Extreme E avgörs under extrema förhållanden och första
tävlingen gick av stapeln i spektakulär saudiarabisk ökenmiljö.
Inte oväntat handlade det mycket om sand och damm, något som Kristoffersson
och Taylor i Rosberg X Racing visade sig behärska väl.
Redan i första kvalomgången på lördagen satte duon sin standard
och var snabbast.
Även i andra kvalet var RXR-teamet raskast, men i samband med det obligatoriska
förarbytet blev det problem med bilens hastighetsbegränsare. Taylor
och Kristoffersson tilldelades en bestraffning på en minut och slutade därmed
trea totalt i kvalet.
- Vi hanterade problemet med tidsbestraffningen, teamet höll sitt fokus och
vi levererade en fantastisk semifinal och final.
I söndagens semifinal handlade det mesta om att få en bra start för
att slippa åka i damm. Kristoffersson inledde för RXR och gjorde från
sitt ytterspår en mästerlig manöver mot rallylegenderna Sébastien
Loeb och Carlos Sainz. Därifrån kunde han enkelt kontrollera situationen
och gav australiensiskan Molly Taylor ett utmärkt läge att förvalta
fram till seger.
I finalen ställdes Kristoffersson än en gång mot Loeb samt Timmy
Hansen. Hansen var snabbast iväg från startlinjen, men värmlänningen
upprepade sitt segerrecept med attack från ytterspår och ett eget
spårval in i första kurvan.
- Bilen kändes fantastisk och racingen var spännande i början av
de två racen så jag är verkligen glad att jag och Molly kunde
ta hem den här segern för hela teamet och för alla våra fantastiska
fans, säger Johan.
Med en halv minuts ledning efter Kristofferssons styrning, kunde Molly Taylor
ta över och föra Rosberg-teamet fram till en historisk första seger
i serien. Taylor öste beröm över sin lagkompis:
- Jag måste säga tack till Johan för hans fantastiska omkörningar
i semifinal och final. Han förde vår Odyssey 21 till en fantastisk
position, vilket gav mig möjligheten att bara fokusera på att ta bilen
i mål.
Teamets grundare, Nico Rosberg, var av förklarliga skäl mycket nöjd
med premiärhelgen.
- Jag är så tacksam mot alla i RXR för allt jobb vi har lagt ner
inför tävlingen och under helgen. Den här segern har vi tagit tack
vare ett fantastiskt lagarbete och jag tycker att Johans och Mollys prestation
i bilen bekräftade det. Våra förare har inte satt en fot fel och
har visat upp otrolig fart, säger den förre formel 1-världsmästaren.
Rosberg lyfter också fram förarnas engagemang i miljöfrågan,
en viktig del av den nya racingseriens syften.
- Jag är väldigt stolt att ha båda två som ambassadörer
för våra insatser på banan, men också för deras engagemang
att skapa medvetande om och vidta åtgärder för att skydda vår
planet.
Extreme E handlar om att genomföra miljöanpassad racing och att uppmärksamma
miljöer där klimatförändringarna har stor effekt. Nästa
tävling ska lyfta fram havsmiljö och avgörs i Senegals kustområde
i slutet av maj. Inför den tävlingen leder Kristofferssons team mästerskapet
med fem poäng.
20-04-03 Dazzling
desert duel as Extreme E gets off to spectacular start
Extreme E had promised to bring the show in AlUla this weekend (3/4 April), and
the opening day of the Desert X Prix did just that with jaw-dropping competition,
stunning backdrops, high drama throughout including a heartstopping roll and a
sensational scrap to top the Qualifying timesheets – one ultimately won by
X44 duo Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.
The pioneering electric SUV off-road racing series has ventured into the heart
of the Saudi Arabian desert for its inaugural X Prix, and the challenging, high-speed
8.8km track layout – laid out in the midst of a breathtaking otherworldly
landscape – was designed to push drivers and cars absolutely to their limits.
It did not disappoint.
Winding its way spectacularly between canyons, through ravines, across deep sand
dunes and punctuated by 33 waypoints, the rock-strewn course was bumpy and undulating
in equal measure, with steep climbs offset by ‘The Drop’ – a 100m,
45-degree descent likened by some competitors to tackling a black ski run. For
almost everybody, it represented a journey into the unknown – and it produced
some memorable action.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I think the first day
of Extreme E has been absolutely fantastic. I have been blown away by the action
and the images – there was just so much to look at. It was even better than
we expected, and the feedback on social media has been amazing – and this
was only Qualifying! I really think we are onto something huge here.”
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team ended the day at the summit of the standings following
a stirring duel against Nico Rosberg’s eponymous Rosberg X Racing outfit,
as the two Formula 1 World Champions renewed battle in the desert dunes and mere
fractions-of-a-second separated the leading drivers.
Three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson and former Australian
Rally Champion Molly Taylor combined to set the pace in the first Qualifying session,
with the former showcasing his effortlessly smooth style and the latter demonstrating
her famed car control as she artfully held on to a wild ‘bucking bronco’
moment along the way.
The Swedish/Australian pairing again posted the fastest time in Q2 – stopping
the clock just under five seconds quicker than their X44 rivals – but a 60-second
penalty for exceeding the 30km/h speed limit in the driver switch zone would cost
them the top spot.
That elevated Loeb and Gutiérrez to the head of the overnight order. The
French nine-time FIA World Rally Champion recovered well from an early error that
required him to gather up a slide after hitting a dip, while his team-mate –
the first female Spanish driver to finish the legendary Dakar Rally in the car
category – increasingly hustled the ODYSSEY 21 as the day progressed.
Sébastien Loeb, X44 driver, said: “We’re very happy to have finished
Qualifying in first place. Today went really well and the whole X44 team did a
great job with the car in difficult conditions. We were the first drivers to get
out onto the track so it was hard to know what to expect in the first Qualifying
round, but obviously our strategy paid off and we achieved the time we needed
to. Tomorrow is a new day and the standard of the other teams will be really high,
so we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing and pushing to win.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 driver, said: “We’ve had an incredible
day, but it was also very challenging! We haven’t been able to spend any
time in the car for the last few months so it was difficult to get used to it
again, but we managed to fight and achieve a good time. To have finished first
in Qualifying and have our car still in great condition is amazing; we’re
really happy, and we can’t wait to go again tomorrow. We know the other teams
are not going to be easy to race against, but we are confident and ready to go.”
Two-time FIA World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz might be the oldest driver in the
field, but there was no lack of commitment from the 58-year-old on his first representative
run for the ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team following a power steering pump failure during
yesterday’s shakedown. The Spaniard impressively pegged Loeb throughout Q2,
as his team-mate Laia Sanz – a 13-time Women’s Trial World Champion
– demonstrated her rapid learning abilities on four wheels to secure second
place for the squad.
Carlos Sainz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver, said: “Considering it is only
the first day of racing, in general we are pretty happy. We set the second-fastest
time overall and we scored good points. Tomorrow we will be in the first Semi-Final,
from where only two teams will reach the Final. We will try to do a good job.
The goal for Sunday is to make it into the Final. We know it will be tough judging
by the lap times we have seen today, but the team is in good spirits. The start
will matter a lot. It will be the first race we do with all the cars starting
side-by-side in the dust, so it will be interesting...”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver, said: “Today was a positive day.
There were many unknowns before Qualifying, but we were further ahead than I had
expected and I am happy. It was a busy day, but we made it through quite well.
Maybe I played it a bit safe in the first Qualifying, but we improved the car
for the second session and the times were faster. Extreme E is particularly tricky
because you have to be competitive from the very beginning and it is difficult
to adapt that fast, but my feeling in the car has improved and we are heading
in the right direction. The goal for Sunday is to do a good Semi-Final to finish
in the top two, because that would put us into the Final, which would be a great
result for this first weekend of racing.”
Rosberg X Racing did enough to hold onto third spot overall once the penalty had
been applied, seeing Kristoffersson and Taylor safely through to tomorrow’s
main Semi-Final.
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “It’s been an intense
start to the weekend but the team has done a great job to help us go P3 in Qualifying,
score strong points and put us into the Semi-Finals for tomorrow. Molly and I
are both learning more about the car every time we head out on the course, and
we have a lot of feedback to run through with the engineers to make sure we are
in a strong position to go racing.”
Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “It’s been a strong start
to the weekend for RXR, and I’m happy with our performance. The course is
changing a lot during the sessions because of the ruts and new tyre tracks that
are appearing, so every lap feels different to the last and is a new challenge.
We had some wild moments in Qualifying 1, but we managed to keep it pinned to
go fastest and have a strong run in Qualifying 2 to make it through to the Semi-Finals
tomorrow.”
Andretti United was similarly right on the front-running pace, but a puncture
in Q1 cost the team time and prompted a heroic effort from Catie Munnings, who
completed much of her lap with the car crabbing as the right-rear tyre dangled
precariously off its rim. That restricted the Briton and Swedish team-mate Timmy
Hansen to fourth overall and means they will need to navigate their way successfully
through tomorrow’s ‘Crazy Race’ if they are to reach the Final.
They will be joined in the Crazy Race by Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team (Oliver
Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca) and JBXE (Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky),
neither of whom had trouble-free days. The former picked up a 75-second penalty
for speeding in the driver switch zone, while the latter lost time with a brief
on-course stoppage after hitting a bump in Q1.
A promising run for Button and Åhlin-Kottulinsky in Q2 was then undone by
penalties totalling just shy of three minutes for a switch zone infraction and
speeding, although the 2009 F1 World Champion’s team was dealt a get-out-of-jail-free
card by even greater problems for three of their adversaries.
Following a difficult Friday, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s woes continued
into today in Saudi Arabia, with a power steering issue requiring Kyle LeDuc and
Sara Price to physically wrestle their ODYSSEY 21 to the end of Q1 – a situation
that the former described as ‘a fist fight’ inside the cockpit. Further
gremlins then prevented Price from even reaching the start-line in Q2, meaning
she and LeDuc will be restricted to the ‘Shoot Out’ tomorrow.
Other teams in the wars were ABT CUPRA XE – whose female driver Claudia Hürtgen
thankfully emerged unharmed from a sizeable barrel-roll almost within sight of
the Q1 finish line – and Veloce Racing, with Stéphane Sarrazin’s
roll enough to rule the British outfit out of the remainder of the weekend.
Alejandro Agag: “There were some heart-in-the-mouth moments today, particularly
for ABT CUPRA XE and Claudia Hürtgen. I think it’s safe to say we are
all pleased to see her walk away from the crash – it is a testament to CBMM
Niobium and their robust and tough chassis, which was put to the ultimate test
today and delivered.”
Sunday’s racing will get underway at 09h00 local time, with the Shoot Out,
Crazy Race, Semi-Final and Final (13h00 local time) set to determine who will
walk away with the honour of being crowned Extreme E’s very first X Prix
winner.
Combined Qualifying Results
X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 21m55.998s
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) +41.097s
Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) +50.825s
Andretti United (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) +1m08.536s
Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team (Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca) +3m14.734s
JBXE (Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) +4m54.880s
Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) +2 laps
ABT Cupra XE (Mattias Ekström / Claudia Hürtgen) +3 laps
Veloce Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Jamie Chadwick) +4 laps
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-04-02 The stage is set: drivers
prepare for action following shakedown in Saudi Arabia
Shakedowns are complete and the scene is set for the inaugural Extreme E event
in Saudi Arabia this weekend (3-4 April), the Desert X Prix in the books and drivers
excited to take to the course to see who can claim first bragging rights.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “This is a very special
day. Extreme E was such an out-of-the-box idea that many people didn’t think
it would ever happen – even I didn’t know if we would get to this day.
In these COVID times, it would have been impossible to organise this event without
the incredible support of our hosts and our teams, and I must thank Saudi Arabia
for welcoming us. We are getting ready for something amazing this weekend.
“I call Extreme E the biggest experiment ever seen in motorsport, and this
weekend is like a test and race all at the same time. We have an amazing line-up
– if you add up all the world championships on the grid amongst drivers and
team owners, there are more than 40 in total. Then we have the gender equality
aspect and the major innovation of the Command Centre, which sees us putting all
of these rivals together in the same room. It’s incredible, and these electric
SUVs are going to put on a great show. We’re ready to race!”
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile
& Motor Federation, added: “Motorsport is very important to us. We have
a big population that likes motorsport and entertainment, and have been working
with Alejandro since 2017 on Formula E, which marked our first major international
motorsport event. We are very honoured to be working with Alejandro and his team
again on such an ambitious new project. We are from the desert and have the best
place for rallies, so to combine electric technology with rallying means Extreme
E really fits well with our plans for sustainability and the future in Saudi Arabia.
“We are blessed to have different types of scenery and landscapes in Saudi
Arabia, and this is one of the most spectacular areas. We wanted to share what
we have, especially here in AlUla and also play our role in making the environment
and the world safer. We are on a mission to safeguard our planet and preserve
it for future generations, and this aligns very well with Vision 2030 and showing
people around the world both our heritage as well as where we are heading.”
All 18 competitors had the opportunity to sample the 18km course – centred
around three canyons in the vast desert surrounding AlUla – behind the wheel
of the ODYSSEY 21, giving them their first taste of what the weekend will have
in store. In-between the two sessions, a number of them participated in a live-streamed
press conference to offer their thoughts on the series and the action ahead.
Jenson Button, JBXE driver, said: “It’s exciting to be here, with so
many great teams and drivers from around the world. It’s very special to
be a part of this. It’s been great to share the dirt with those guys, although
my world championship obviously came on asphalt, so it’s been a bit of a
shock! I’ve done a bit of off-roading before in a rally car, but nothing
like this in the sand and the ODYSSEY 21 is a very different vehicle – I’ve
never previously driven four wheel-drive. It’s certainly extreme. You’re
playing with the steering wheel the whole time and the course is insane!
“I like the idea of individual qualifying, because we can really push the
car to the limit and get a feel for what it can do. My team are doing a fantastic
job and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they progress through this
season. I’m definitely not ready yet – it’s going to take a bit
of time and we’re constantly learning, which is what I want to do –
but it’s a great experience and I’m really enjoying it. It gives me
a big rush of excitement.”
Sara Price, Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing driver, said: “I’m so honoured
to be here – in the world of off-road racing, you have no idea how big this
is. It’s pretty incredible to have the whole of our industry watching us,
and when somebody told me this morning that I was making history as the first
driver to take to the course, it’s just crazy and so cool. It’s already
been such a journey and an adventure. I’m very grateful and glad to be a
part of something that means so much.
“I’ve been very lucky in my career to get a lot of opportunities to
hop into some incredible machines, but I never had a money tree in my backyard
so could never afford to do much testing. I think that’s made me very good
at adapting quickly to different vehicles, which is exactly what we’re doing
here in Extreme E – it’s all about having minimal time, jumping in and
figuring it out as fast as you can. I think my off-road background is definitely
a positive, but it’s going to be a challenge for everyone.”
Stéphane Sarrazin, Veloce Racing driver, said: “It’s incredible
to be contesting the first-ever Extreme E event in such an extraordinary setting.
This is a great opportunity to be part of something shaping the future, because
there’s no question for me that electric is the future for motorsport.
“All the drivers here have amazing experience – they’re all top
drivers. Maybe I have a small advantage on the electric side from Formula E, so
I need to ensure I make the most of that. My team-mate Jamie [Chadwick] is really
fast and we spent some time together at my rally school in France where she improved
a lot on the gravel. Her background is obviously in circuit racing, but she’s
very open-minded and keen to learn and we have a very good relationship.”
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United driver, said: “Both on a professional level
and personally, this is a huge adventure. It’s about something bigger than
ourselves, the race car is cool and the course is fun. It’s obviously very
different to the testing we did last year, but the car feels great and seems to
suit the track very well. To go racing without much practice time is just the
kind of challenge I love. The level of adrenaline is very high.
“My team-mate Catie [Munnings] has been really good to work with. She’s
still young and is taking a massive step up now to four wheel-drive, but she has
a lot of talent and a great attitude. I’m also proud and very lucky to be
representing two such massive motorsport names as Andretti and United. It’s
an incredible team, and I will do everything I can not to let them down. We’ve
all tried to prepare as well as we can and this is where it counts, which is very
exciting. Ok, I haven’t participated in 15 Dakars or whatever it is like
[Carlos] Sainz, but I will certainly do my best...”
Mattias Ekström, ABT CUPRA XE driver, said: “I’ve got many reasons
to be happy being here. The older you get, the wiser you get and my main priority
is to enjoy it all and have a good time. Extreme E is all about short, fast action,
making it perfect for Cupra as such a cool brand, and obviously ABT as an organisation
know how to win.
“After driving the track this morning, I think it’s fair to say the
second sector is the tricky one, with different lines and blind crests. I think
the biggest difference will be made there. The excitement will come when you have
to squeeze the limit of the laps in qualifying and the races. It will be critical
to really focus, nail your preparation and then go out and smash it – because
if you don’t do that, you won’t reach the final.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver, said: “I’ve got such a mixture
of emotions. I’ve always been a fan of Carlos [Sainz – team-mate] since
I was very young, so you can imagine how excited I was when he called me. He’s
very professional and super competitive, so I’m sure I have the best teacher
possible and can learn a lot from him.
“It won’t be easy up against all these champions and the other drivers
all have much more experience than me on four wheels, which adds a bit of pressure.
Coming from bikes, I have very little prior experience behind a steering wheel
and no experience of electric technology, but I’ve been testing with Carlos
which helped me to feel a bit more confident. I do feel a little bit at home here
from my Dakar experience on the sand, but I have two more wheels to get to grips
with so I definitely need time. This is a huge learning curve for me, and I have
to adapt very quickly.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “We did a recce of the
track yesterday; it looked spectacular and challenging then, and when I got out
there with the race car today, it lived up to all of those expectations. It’s
going to be very competitive with a lot of experienced teams, but Nico [Rosberg]
has assembled a team with a bunch of winners and the guys have done a fantastic
job with the car – everything was spot-on, which let me go out and do my
thing on-track.
“The driving itself is quite different to what I’ve been used to overall.
Some elements I can take from rallycross, some from rallying and some from circuit
racing, so I think I can use bits and pieces from what I’ve done in the past.
There’s so much that is new for everyone in the paddock so we have to try
to adapt, and that will be the key to the championship this year. I think the
team and drivers that adapt the fastest will have a good chance. Let’s see
what we can do tomorrow when we finally go racing.”
Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO, said: “Since my F1 career
ended, I’ve been focussed on sustainability and when Alejandro Agag called
me and told me about Extreme E, for me it was the perfect match. To combine my
passion for racing and sustainability in the same project is awesome. We’ve
been out this week helping turtles and removing plastic from the beach, and of
course that’s not big impact on its own but what we want to do is raise awareness
of the problems the world is facing and show that we care.
“We are here to compete to win and I’m really happy to have Johan [Kristoffersson]
and Molly [Taylor] on-board. I love how they work together and seeing that team
collaboration. In my career, my team-mate was always my biggest enemy in the world,
whereas here it’s all about helping each other. That’s a new dynamic
in the team and it brings a lot of positivity, which both drivers really embrace.
“I will try the car myself at some point, but I want to show my respect and
don’t want to make Johan look too slow, haha! Although yesterday when I saw
that drop in the course, I thought I’m quite happy to be in the team boss
role rather than in the car!”
Carlos Sainz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team driver, said: “I’m happy to be
here and trying this new way of motorsport. It’s a great opportunity and
I want to approach it a little bit more relaxed. It was really interesting to
spend time with the scientists on the ship, helping us to better understand what
is going on in the world with global warming, CO2 and the coral reefs. When somebody
explains it to you with the clarity that they did, it’s clear we need to
do something and the message that comes out from this championship needs to be
strong.
“On the racing side, it has been a difficult day for me with not much time
to discover the car [following a power steering pump failure], so we couldn’t
learn much. That means I’ll go directly into qualifying tomorrow and I’m
sure I will encounter some surprises on my first run, but I’ll push as much
as I can. At the end of the day, it’s not just me – it’s a combination
of both drivers. Laia [Sanz – team-mate] has done really well on two wheels
and has a great approach. Her experience of driving a car is minimal, but I think
she has great potential and can learn quickly. I will support her and try to teach
her as much as I can.”
Sébastien Loeb, X44 driver, said: “Extreme E is a completely new universe
for me in every aspect, from the electric side to teaming up with a female driver.
It’s a new era for motorsport, and I’m happy to be a part of it from
the start. I’m proud that the best F1 driver in the world today took me as
a driver for his team and I will do my best to enjoy it and fight for podiums
and wins.
“Today was about trying to get a feeling for the car and the track and generally
gaining experience. The car worked well with no major problems. It’s very
different here to the test at MotorLand Arágon last year, which was much
twistier; here, we have fast sections and crests and it’s not easy to keep
the car straight, but everything is going well so far.”
The competitive action gets underway tomorrow (Saturday, 3 April), with four qualifying
time trial sessions from 09h00 local time. Sunday (4 April) is then reserved for
the semi-finals and final, which will culminate in the crowing of Extreme E’s
very first X Prix winner.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-03-29 Nu kan äventyret
börja - Följande nio team startar i den första Extreme E-säsongen
Tre Formel 1-världsmästare deltar i tävlingen med egna team
Den första racingserien med en manlig och kvinnlig förare
Snart inleds den nya offroad-racingserien Extreme E där nio team ska tävla
mot varandra med eldrivna SUV:ar på några av de mest avlägsna
platserna i världen. Den sista annonserade föraren är den tidigare
Formel 1-världsmästaren Jenson Button, som bildat teamet JBXE.
Nu har de nio teamens fordon och utrustning körts ombord på fartyget
St. Helena för resan över Medelhavet till det inledande loppet i Saudiarabien.
Alltifrån verktyg, de från Continental specialutvecklade däcken,
TV- och radioutrustning samt en vätgasbränslecell för utsläppsfri
laddning av fordonen finns också med ombord.
JBXE-teamet: Jenson Button och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Jenson Button kommer själv att sitta bakom ratten på ODYSSEY 21 för
JBXE-teamet. Vid sin sida har han Continentals testförare och ambassadör
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky som under de senaste åren framgångsrikt
tävlat i Scirocco R-Cup i Tyskland och i rallycrossdisciplinen. 2015 deltog
Mikaela i den nyetablerade Audi Sport TT Cup och startade sedan i juniorklassificeringen
av ADAC GT Masters 2016 samt i Audi Sport Racing Academy 2017. Därefter,
år 2018, skrev sedan Mikaela historia när hon blev den första
kvinnliga föraren att vinna en tävling i serien Scandinavian Touring
Car Championship (STCC).
Rosberg X Racing-teamet: Johan Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor
Nico Rosbergs Rosberg X Racing-team består av den trefaldige världsmästaren
i rallycross Johan Kristoffersson från Sverige samt Molly Taylor, en 32-årig
australienska som för närvarande är den enda kvinnan som har vunnit
Australiens nationella rallymästerskap. Vid 28 års ålder var
hon också den yngsta mästaren i Australian Rally Championships historia.
X44-teamet: Sébastien Loeb och Cristina Gutiérrez
Lewis Hamiltons X44-team består av Sébastien Loeb och Cristina
Gutiérrez. Fransmannen Sébastien Loeb debuterade i rally-VM 1999
och har sammanlagt tagit nio VM-titlar, 79 VM-guld och samlat ihop mer än
1 600 VM-poäng vilket gör honom till den mest framgångsrika
rallyföraren i historien. Cristina Gutiérrez har startat i alla
Dakar-rallyn under de senaste fem åren och tagit sig i mål varje
gång. 2017 avslutade hon sitt debutlopp på femte plats i rookieklassen
och var också den första kvinnan från Spanien som avslutat
ett Dakarrally i bilkategorin. 2021 blev hon den andra kvinnan i Dakarrallyts
historia att vinna en etapp.
Veloce Racing-teamet: Stéphane Sarrazin och Jamie Chadwick
Stéphane Sarrazin och Jamie Chadwick kommer att starta för Veloce
Racing-team som bildats av bland annat den nuvarande Formel E-mästaren
Jean-Éric Vergne. Fransmannen är en mångsidig motorsportförare
med erfarenhet som både Formel 1-testförare samt från GT-,
rally- och sportbilstävlingar - han är också en av pionjärerna
inom Formel E. Den brittiska racerföraren Jamie Chadwick är en utvecklingsförare
för Williams i Formel 1. 2019 vann hon MRF Challenge Formula 2000 och är
nuvarande innehavare av W Series-titeln.
Chip Ganassi Racing-teamet: Kyle LeDuc och Sara Price
Kyle LeDuc och Sara Price kör för teamet som är känt från
IndyCar-serien och samarbetar med GMC HUMMER EV i Extreme E. Amerikanen Kyle
LeDuc har stor erfarenhet från offroad och är nuvarande Pro-4-mästare
och världsmästare (COR). Sedan 2008 har han vunnit sju Pro-4-mästerskap
i Lucas Oil Offroad Racing Series (LOORRS), tagit totalt tre LOORRS Challenge
Cup-vinster, två Pro-4 World Championships och har två gånger
utsetts till LOORRS Driver of the Year. Han har också tävlat i flera
Trophy Truck-lopp med stor framgång och 2016 vann han Baja 1000.
Sara Price är en nittonfaldig vinnare av US Motocross Championship och
den första sponsrade kvinnan där – under varumärket Kawasaki.
Hon har också vunnit medaljer i motocross vid X Games - den största
extremsport-tävlingen i USA. Hon har även tävlat i Terracross
Championship och US Super Truck Championship.
Andretti United Extreme E-teamet: Timmy Hansen och Catie Munnings
Andretti Autosport och det brittiska racingteamet United Autosport har gått
samman och bildat ett gemensamt team för Extreme E. Då amerikanerna
är Formel E-förare från början så har de stor erfarenhet
av elmotorsport och kan också dra nytta av sin offroad-erfarenhet från
American Rallycross Championship. United Autosport har nyligen tävlat i
FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series och Michelin Le Mans
Cup. Timmy Hansen och Catie Munnings delar plats i ODYSSEY 21 för Andretti
United Extreme E. Catie Munnings är en brittisk rallyförare som 2016
vann FIA European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy. 2018 kom hon tvåa
totalt med fyra säsongssegrar och år 2019 vann hon damklassen i Liepaja
Rally. Svensken Timmy Hansen är regerande världsmästare i rallycross.
Hispano Suiza Xite Energi-teamet: Oliver Bennett och Christine Giampaoli Zonca
Hispano Suiza är en spansk biltillverkare. Lagets titelsponsor är
den brittiska energidryckstillverkaren Xite Energy. Oliver Bennett och Christine
Giampaoli Zonca kör för teamet. Den brittiske föraren Oliver
Bennett debuterade i British Rallycross Championship 2016 och har tävlat
i Rallycross World Championship (WRX) sedan 2017. Christina Giampaoli Zonca
är en rallyförare med bakgrund från Italien samt Kanarieöarna
som debuterade i rally-VM 2016 (WRC). Samma år vann hon damklassen i spanska
Gravel Rally Championship. Hon har deltagit i offroad-tävlingar i USA och
Mexiko sedan 2017. Förra året kom hon på tredje plats i T2-klassen
i Andalucia Rally.
Acciona | Sainz XE-teamet: Carlos Sainz och Laia Sanz
Carlos Sainzs team-partner är det spanska företaget QEV Technologies
- specialister inom elektrisk mobilitet. QEV har koppling till Formel E sedan
slutet av 2014 genom dotterbolaget Campos Racing. Precis som Jenson Button så
sätter sig Carlos Sainz, tvåfaldig rallyvärldsmästare,
fyrfaldig VM-tvåa och fyrfaldig vinnare av Dakarrallyt, själv bakom
ratten i Acciona | Sainz XE-teamet, som han varit med och grundat. Den spanske
motorsportlegendaren kommer att köra tillsammans med Laia Sanz som har
över 30 mästerskapstitlar i olika internationella trial-, enduro-
och terrängtävlingar. Hon är femfaldig vinnare i enduro-VM för
damer och tiofaldig vinnare av Dakarrallyt i damklassen.
ABT CUPRA XE-teamet: Mattias Ekström och Claudia Hürtgen
ABT Cupra XE är ytterligare ett tyskt lag i tävlingen. ABT Sportsline
är ett av de mest framgångsrika tyska motorsportteamen med erfarenhet
av Formel E och med segrar i Super Touring Car Cup, DTM och ADAC GT Masters
- tre av de viktigaste tyska racingserierna de senaste åren. Mattias Ekström
och Claudia Hürtgen är förarna för teamet där svenske
Mattias sedan 17 år tillbaka kört för just ABT Sportsline i
DTM. Han har vunnit förartiteln två gånger. Tillsammans med
sitt eget EKS-team har han också framgångsrikt tävlat i rallycross-VM
med en världsmästartitel från 2016. Sedan 2019 har han samarbetat
med spanska CUPRA om deras elektriska framtid på tävlingsbanan. I
likhet med Mattias Ekström har även Claudia Hürtgen många
års erfarenhet från motorsporten. Med framgångar i olika touring-
och sportbilsserier samt deltagande i flera långdistanslopp är tyskan
en av Europas mest framgångsrika kvinnliga förare. Hürtgen startade
nyligen i ADAC GT4 Germany och i 24-timmarsloppet på Nürburgring
– för femtonde gången.
Översikt
Extreme E är först ut med jämställda team bakom ratten.
Båda förarna kommer turas om att köra och de ackumulerade tiderna
läggs sedan samman. Samtliga team har en identisk utrustning: SUV:en ODYSSEY
21 med 37-tums CrossContact Extreme E-däck. Däcken är utvecklade
av Continental, speciellt framtagna för tävlingen för att kunna
hantera 550 hk på ett säkert sätt - under alla de tuffa förhållanden
som väntar.
Tävlingsstarten kommer att sändas live av ProSieben MAXX och Sky
Deutschland.
Tävlingsdatum 2021
AlUla, Saudiarabien 3–4 april
Dakar, Senegal 29–30 maj
Kangerlussuaq, Grönland 28–29 augusti
Santarem, Brasilien 23–24 oktober
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego 11–12 december
21-03-12 Continentals ambassadör
och testförare Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky nu klar som förare i
den nya racingserien Extreme E
Med bara 22 dagar kvar till starten på den nya offroad-racingserien
Extreme E så avslöjar nu de sista lagen sina förare som kommer
att ta professionell motorsport med el-SUV:ar till världens mest avlägsna
platser. Jenson Buttons JBXE-team presenterade tidigare idag vem som ska tävla
tillsammans med den förra världsmästaren i Formel 1 - nämligen
svenska Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. De senaste åren har Mikaela framgångsrikt
tävlat i Scirocco R-Cup Tyskland och i rallycross-disciplinen. Redan 2015
deltog hon i den nyetablerade Audi Sport TT Cup. Hon startade sedan i juniorklassificeringen
av ADAC GT Masters 2016 och i Audi Sport Racing Academy 2017, innan hon bytte
till Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC) 2018, där Mikaela skrev
historia som den första och enda kvinnliga föraren att vinna en tävling
i serien.
Som Continentals testförare och varumärkesambassadör har Mikaela
Åhlin-Kottulinsky redan spelat en nyckelroll i utvecklingen av CrossContact
Extreme E-däck, som samtliga tävlingsfordon är utrustade med. Mikaela
är både stolt och glad över att nu även få chansen
att medverka i själva huvudtävlingen.
- Det gläder mig verkligen att gå med i JBXE-teamet tillsammans med
Jenson Button, det känns som en dröm! Inte bara får jag tävla
med en så fantastisk förare, vi båda tror verkligen på
seriens plattform. Extreme E är mer än bara motorsport, det är
en sport för ändamål som vi kan använda för att visa
upp elektriska fordon och motivera människor att ompröva sina åsikter
om konsekvenserna av klimatförändringen. Om vi kan göra denna tävlingsserie
spännande, innovativ och intressant att följa så kommer viljan
att göra både stora och små förändringar att växa
- detta till förmån för hela vår värld, säger
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
Det som gör Extreme E så speciellt är tävlingens val av platser
nära hotade livsmiljöer. Seriens avsikt här är att öka
medvetenheten om klimatförändringar bland både motorsportfans
över hela världen, samt bland politiker, lokala myndigheter och befolkning
där ambitionen är att uppmuntra till ökade ansträngningar
för att begränsa den globala uppvärmningen till 1,5 grader Celsius.
Som grundare och huvudsponsor för tävlingsserien är Continental
väldigt glada över att se Mikaela nu ta en plats i startfältet.
- Då Mikaela var inblandad redan i teststadiet fick hon lära sig om
däcken och fordonen före alla andra. Hon var riktigt positiv över
serien från allra första början och insåg direkt att vi
hade startat något som skulle kunna generera en positiv medvetenhet om klimatpåverkan.
Och - hon är verkligen en fantastisk tävlingsförare, säger
Sandra Roslan, ansvarig för Extreme E-projektet på Continental.
I tävlingarna, som kommer att sändas live över hela Europa, kommer
samtliga team att starta med en identisk teknisk utrustning: en el-SUV med namnet
ODYSSEY 21 utrustad med 37-tums CrossContact Extreme E racingdäck vilka har
utvecklats speciellt för serien av Continental.
Översikt över alla tävlingsdatum för 2021
AlUla, Saudi Arabia 3-4 april
Dakar, Senegal 29-30 maj
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 28-29 augusti
Santarem, Brazil 23-24 oktober
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego 11-12 december
21-03-12 Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
joins JBXE
Extreme E’s latest addition to the teams line-up – JBXE - has today
confirmed Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky will join Jenson Button, the team’s
founder and driver, in the cockpit.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky is no stranger to Extreme E, as test driver for the championship’s
Founding Partner, Continental. In that position she has played a pivotal role
in developing the CrossContact Extreme E tyre, which is fitted to all the electric
SUVs named ODYSSEY 21.
In recent years, the Swedish driver has successfully competed in the Scirocco
R-Cup Germany and in the rallycross discipline. In 2015, she took part in the
newly established Audi Sport TT Cup. She also started in the junior classification
of the ADAC GT Masters in 2016 and in the Audi Sport Racing Academy in 2017, before
switching to the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship in 2018, where she made
history as the first, and only woman ever to win races in that series.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE driver, said: “I am delighted to be
joining the JBXE team alongside Jenson Button, it feels like a dream come true.
“Not only do I get to race with such a fantastic team mate, but we both really
believe in the platform of the series. Extreme E is more than just another motorsport,
it is a sport for purpose which we can use to showcase electric vehicles and motivate
people to rethink their views on the consequences of climate change. If we can
make this racing series exciting, innovative and interesting to follow, the willingness
to make big and small changes will grow – for the benefit of our world and
everyone on the planet.”
Jenson Button, Founder and driver, JBXE said: “I am delighted to be welcoming
Mikaela to JBXE and to have her as my teammate. She brings with her some fantastic
experience behind the wheel and her work with Continental and Extreme E to this
point clearly demonstrate what an asset she will be to the team.
“In Mikaela I also have no doubt we have an incredibly valuable ambassador
to represent JBXE, and Extreme E as a whole, in the fight to raise awareness of
climate change and to help implement the Extreme E Legacy Programme projects along
the way.”
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I am delighted to see
Mikaela selected for the JBXE team and officially welcome her onboard the adventure
as our latest Extreme E driver. Her work with Continental has been integral to
helping create the championship tyre, and whilst she is the latest to join the
party, I’m sure that her previous knowledge and her early experience in the
car will help her get stuck in quickly.
“Mikaela and Jenson are certainly going to make a strong driver pairing and
I can’t wait to see them racing in just 22 days at our first X Prix in Saudi
Arabia.”
Mikaela’s signing to JBXE completes the Extreme E driver line up for the
opening Season race, following confirmation that Team Techeetah is postponing
its entry into the series.
The team, owned by the Indonesian Indover Group, has cited the COVID-19 pandemic
the deciding factor in the decision, with global travel restrictions meaning they
couldn’t get to Europe to test their car and drivers or make the necessary
preparations required. Team Techeetah remains committed to competing in Extreme
E in a later race and will update on its future competitor status in the coming
weeks.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky joins a stellar line-up of drivers from a wide range of
motorsport disciplines including the likes of Jamie Chadwick, Timmy Hansen, Sébastien
Loeb, Carlos Sainz Snr. and Molly Taylor. All are set to compete on the deserts
of AlUla in Saudi Arabia from 3 – 4 April, across what promises to be two
days of thrilling racing in a format likened to ‘Star Wars pod racing meets
Dakar.’
But Extreme E isn’t just about racing, it is a sport for purpose, and through
sport the series is highlighting the varying environmental issues affecting the
planet and the biggest emergency of our time - climate change. In addition to
raising awareness, the series will also support Legacy Programmes in each of its
five race locations leaving a long-lasting positive impact.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-03-04 One month until Extreme
E series crowns its first ever race champion in Saudi Arabia
Extreme E’s first ever race is just one month away, and with ten teams ready
to compete, fielding a legendary line-up of champion drivers, the series is gearing
up for an epic opening weekend of action when it all kicks off in AlUla, Saudi
Arabia, 3-4 April.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Wow, just one month
to go until Extreme E’s race weekend, and what a spectacular place to start
our adventure.
“The St. Helena ship is on her way to Saudi Arabia, and it all feels very
real. This momentous moment is the culmination of years of hard work and planning,
and I know AlUla will capture our audience when they get to see this incredible
place, such a special setting for our first race.”
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said:
“Saudi Arabia is a country where motorsports is beyond a passion for millions
of people. We are a motorsports obsessed nation, with a long and proud history
of hosting some of the world’s most famous rallies, and of our own drivers
participating internationally. We have been honoured by Extreme E choosing the
dramatic natural landscape of AlUla to host its maiden race in April and we can’t
wait to offer all of our support to ensure it goes down in history as an unforgettable
new chapter for motor-racing.
“With the challenges and regulations around COVID-19, it is through the unwavering
support of the Crown Prince that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is able to still
host iconic sporting events like Extreme E at this time, as we continue as a nation
to pursue the ambitions of the Saudi Vision 2030 quality of life programme.”
There are ten teams signed up for Season 1 including three owned by current and
former Formula One World Champions, with Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson
Button founding X44, Rosberg X Racing and JBXE respectively. Joining those teams
will be ABT CUPRA XE, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, Andretti United, Chip Ganassi Racing,
Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team, Team TECHEETAH and Veloce Racing.
The Extreme E driver line-up brings together champions from a variety of motorsport
disciplines spanning single-seaters to rallying, rallycross, Dakar and sportscar
racing: Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen (ABT CUPRA XE); Carlos Sainz
and Laia Sanz (ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team); Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings (Andretti
United); Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price (Chip Ganassi Racing); Oliver Bennett and Christine
Giampaoli (Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team); Jenson Button (JBXE); Johan Kristoffersson
and Molly Taylor (Rosberg X Racing); Stéphane Sarrazin and Jamie Chadwick
(Veloce Racing); and Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez (X44).
Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile
and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), said: “We’re only three months in
but 2021 has already been a monumental year for motorsport in Saudi Arabia, with
our second Dakar Saudi held in January and our third Formula E race weekend in
February. Next, we combine what makes those two events so special – the unrivalled
yet testing beauty of our vast desert landscape, and clean energy racing –
in hosting Extreme E’s first ever event. It’s a challenge we are excited
to rise to and a racing series that we are immensely proud to launch in the epic
surroundings of Al Ula.”
Not only will Extreme E bring short, sharp wheel-to-wheel racing to a global audience
through its more than 40 international broadcasters, it has a wider purpose –
to highlight the climate emergency affecting everybody worldwide. Through motorsport,
the series will showcase electric SUVs racing in some of the most remote corners
of the planet that have all been damaged by climate change.
Each destination has been chosen with a different environmental issue in mind:
the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia will highlight desertification, the Ocean X
Prix in Senegal rising sea levels, the Arctic X Prix in Greenland the melting
ice cap, the Amazon X Prix in Brazil deforestation and the Glacier X Prix in Patagonia
glacial recession.
The vast goals of Saudi Vision 2030 have driven considerable investment by the
Kingdom into hosting some of the world’s biggest sporting events. The ambition
is to introduce millions of Saudis to sport and promote wider sporting activity
nationwide to ensure a healthier, more active population.
Phillip Jones, Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Destination Management and Marketing
Officer, is looking forward to offering AlUla’s vast desert landscape for
the inaugural Extreme E X Prix.
He said: “As a newly developing tourism destination, AlUla is uniquely positioned
to get the foundations right from the outset. There are many initiatives underway
in alignment with our 12 key strategic principles to develop a responsible tourism
destination that focuses on safeguarding the natural and cultural landscape, sustaining
eco-systems and wildlife and light-touch tourism experiences.
“Our intention is to future proof the destination for the enjoyment of future
generations of visitors and residents and the Extreme E platform offers us a perfect
opportunity to tell the world about our vision for AlUla. Not forgetting the great
entertainment value of this exciting race.”
Members of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee have been working with the championship
over the last two years to ensure the series leaves a long-lasting positive impact
in each location through Legacy Programmes, which include planting one million
mangroves in Senegal and reforesting 100 hectares of the Amazon rainforest in
Brazil. The Legacy Programme plans for Saudi Arabia will be revealed in the days
leading up to the first race.
The Desert X Prix, AlUla, kicks off on Saturday 3 April with the qualification
rounds, and the final plays out on Sunday 4 April. Extreme E X Prix races are
not open to fans to attend in person, but qualifications will be shown live on
the Extreme E website, with the Finals broadcast live on MBC in the Middle East.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-02-12 T-minus 50: First Extreme
E race weekend approaching apace
2 February 2021, London: Extreme E’s first race weekend is just 50 days away,
and with ten teams signed up, fielding a legendary line-up of champion drivers,
the series is gearing up for an epic weekend of action in Saudi Arabia on 3-4
April.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Wow, just 50 days to
go until our first race weekend. I’m delighted and proud we have got to this
point despite everything that has gone on in the last year. Our adventure now
truly begins, with the St. Helena departing on her voyage in a matter of days.
This is the culmination of a number of years of hard work, and I really can’t
wait to see all the cars, drivers and scientists at our first event in Saudi Arabia.”
There are ten teams signed up for Season 1 including three owned by current and
former Formula One World Champions, with Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson
Button founding X44, Rosberg Xtreme Racing and JBXE respectively. Joining those
teams will be ABT CUPRA XE, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, Andretti United, Chip Ganassi
Racing, Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team, Team TECHEETAH and Veloce Racing.
The Extreme E driver line-up brings together champions from a variety of motorsport
disciplines spanning single-seaters to rallying, rallycross, Dakar and sportscar
racing: Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen (ABT CUPRA XE); Carlos Sainz
and Laia Sanz (ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team); Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings (Andretti
United); Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price (Chip Ganassi Racing); Oliver Bennett and Christine
Giampaoli (Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team); Jenson Button (JBXE); Johan Kristoffersson
and Molly Taylor (Rosberg Xtreme Racing); Stéphane Sarrazin and Jamie Chadwick
(Veloce Racing); and Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez (X44);
with three driver spots still up for grabs.
It is safe to say they are all extremely eager to go racing.
Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing said: “It’s incredibly exciting
with just 50 days to go. I’m training hard everyday and getting myself in
the best condition possible come race day. Speaking with Stéphane [Sarrazin]
it’s clear we are both fully prepared mentally and physically to kick off
the series in Saudi Arabia and give it our all. We’re both so excited to
race in this part of the world, not only to experience its beauty and terrain
but also to raise awareness of the impact of climate change in the region.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Driver, Rosberg Xtreme Racing added: “I'm not sure
where all the time has gone! But, it is super exciting to be 50 days away from
the start of the Extreme E season in Saudi Arabia. All the team at Rosberg Xtreme
Racing have worked so hard with me and Molly [Taylor] to prepare for the first
race and we can't wait to get started.”
Not only will Extreme E bring short, sharp wheel-to-wheel racing to a global audience
through its more than 40 international broadcasters, it has a wider purpose –
to highlight the climate emergency affecting everybody worldwide. Through motorsport,
the series will showcase electric SUVs racing in some of the most remote corners
of the planet that have all been damaged by climate change.
Each destination has been chosen with a different environmental issue in mind:
the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia will highlight desertification, the Ocean X
Prix in Senegal rising sea levels, the Arctic X Prix in Greenland the melting
ice cap, the Amazon X Prix in Brazil deforestation and the Glacier X Prix in Patagonia
glacial recession.
Members of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee have been working with the championship
over the last two years to ensure the series selects locations all affected by
climate change and leaves a long-lasting positive impact through Legacy Programmes,
which include planting one million mangroves in Senegal and reforesting 100 hectares
of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
The next key milestone is the imminent departure of the series’ floating
centrepiece, the St. Helena, which will carry the championship’s cargo and
will set sail from Liverpool, UK, in a few days for its maiden Extreme E voyage
to Saudi Arabia.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-01-25 Extreme E confirms Jenson
Button as team owner and driver
Extreme E today welcomes its third Formula One World Champion to the series in
the shape of Jenson Button, who will not only own a team – JBXE – but
will also be one of the team’s two drivers.
Arguably Button’s biggest move since leaving Formula One in 2017, his entry
to Extreme E signifies his latest venture in the world of motorsport. Over the
past three years, the Briton has successfully tried his hand at many other disciplines
and championships including the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Le Mans
24 Hours, British GT and Super GT, which he won with Team Kunimitsu in 2018.
While much of his racing career has been spent on the smooth asphalt of the race
track, Button has always had a passion for off-road racing. His late father, John
Button, was a leading rallycross driver in the 1970s and ‘80s, claiming the
runner-up spot in both the British Rallycross Championship and Lydden Hill Rallycross
Championship in 1976.
Always a driver looking to explore different racing challenges, Button first experienced
off-road racing himself in 2019 while contesting the Baja 1000, one of the most
gruelling races of all time, where competitors take on the Baja California Peninsula
and its tough terrain and extreme heat.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E said: “I’m thrilled to
welcome another major name in the world of motorsport in Jenson Button. He is
one of the most popular drivers in the business and Extreme E will give him the
opportunity to live out one of his long-held passions, to compete at the highest
level in off-road racing.
“Jenson, alongside his peers, will give further weight to our mission to
raise awareness of the global climate crisis, while doing what we love –
racing. It’s going to be fantastic to see the biggest names in motorsport
on the starting line in Saudi Arabia in April – it is set to be an incredible
form of entertainment, but with a strong and purposeful message around our planet.”
Extreme E, starting April 2021, will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments
around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental
issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and
human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes
the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future for the
planet.
Jenson Button, Founder of JBXE, said: "JBXE has been a long time coming and
I'm both delighted and proud to announce its formation and entry into the inaugural
Extreme E Championship. I caught the off-road bug a few years back which led to
me entering my own team in a few races including the Mint 400 and even the Baja
1000 and I absolutely loved it! It was around the same time I first heard about
the plans for Extreme E which I've followed with great interest and what Alejandro
Agag, Ali Russell and the team have managed to create is nothing short of incredible,
and thanks to them and our partners Apater Capital and Pipt we get to be a part
of it.
“In Extreme E they've created a product that will offer first class racing
and entertainment to the fans, but also serves to highlight the impact of climate
change. Whilst we will of course compete to win on track, as a collective we will
also work to maximise awareness whilst racing in places that have been damaged
or affected by climate change over the years. Alongside the awareness piece, Extreme
E themselves are committing legacy initiatives at each destination which help
protect already damaged ecosystems impacted by climate change.
“On track I’m delighted to say there are some world class opponents
to go wheel-to-wheel with and Extreme E is a world-first which sees true equality
with male and female drivers both as teammates and as opponents out on track.
“On that note I still have the exciting task of appointing and announcing
my co-driver which will take place in the coming weeks and then all focus will
turn to the opening race in Saudi Arabia."
Extreme E is now home to ten World Champions, including Button’s fellow Formula
One World Champion team owners Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and in its drivers
Extreme E has three World Rallycross Champions (Johan Kristoffersson, Timmy Hansen
and Mattias Ekström), two World Rally Champions (Sébastien Loeb and
Carlos Sainz), a Women’s Trial World Champion (Laia Sanz) and a Pro-4 World
Champion (Kyle LeDuc) - they collectively hold over 40 World Championship titles.
In addition to this list, Jamie Chadwick is the reigning W Series Champion, and
Molly Taylor is a former Australian Rally Champion.
JBXE is the tenth team in Extreme E, joining Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti
United (USA), ABT CUPRA XE and Rosberg Xtreme Racing (Germany), Team TECHEETAH
(Indonesia), Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Spain),
and fellow British teams Veloce Racing, and X44 (UK).
Extreme E’s first Season kicks-off in Saudi Arabia from April 3-4, 2021.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
