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Extreme
E
|
| | |
|
| | |
| Extreme
E 2021 |
| Datum | | Plats | Land |
| 3-4/4 | 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 |
 Officiell
hemsida |
| | |
| Extreme
E 2022 |
|
Datum
|
|
Plats |
Land |
|
19-20/2
|
|
Neom
|
Saudi
Arabien |
| 6-7/7 |
|
Sardinien |
Italien |
| 9-10/7 |
|
Sardinien |
Italien |
| 24-25/9 |
|
Antofagasta |
Chile |
| 26-27/11 |
|
Punta
del Este |
Uruguay |
| Officiell
hemsida |
| | |
| | |
21-12-22 Season 2 calendar unveiled
As the series celebrates the end of its inaugural season, Extreme E has its attention
firmly fixed on 2022 as it unveils its Season 2 calendar.
The sport for purpose championship takes place in off-road locations as part of
its mission to drive awareness of climate change issues, such as global warming,
melting ice caps, rising sea levels, wildfires and extreme weather, whilst promoting
sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “After a spectacular
opening season we are thrilled to be in a place where we can announce our Season
2 calendar.
“All of us here at Extreme E are looking forward to revisiting some of the
amazing race locations from the 2021 season to see for ourselves the positive
impact our electric series has had and to see what more we can bring to the communities
there. We also very much hope to add South America to our list of continents,
and with visits to both Chile and Uruguay planned, it is shaping up to be another
exciting season.”
The third race of the campaign, set to take place in July, could see the electric
off-road series visit either Scotland or the more familiar Senegal. With agreements
currently being finalised, updates on the third slot in the Extreme E race calendar
are coming soon.
Extreme E Season 2 calendar (2022):
February 19-20: Neom, Saudi Arabia
May 7-8: Sardinia, Italy
July 9-10: Scotland or Senegal
September 10-11: Antofagasta, Chile
November 26-27: Punta del Este, Uruguay
The St. Helena – the former Royal Mail Ship – provides the championship’s
floating centrepiece – carrying the series’ vehicles, logistics equipment
and paddock infrastructure as well as playing host to scientific research with
its on-board laboratory, all in a bid to lower the impact of the travel logistics
compared to air travel.
Head-to-head races, known as an X Prix, take place over two days, within an area
no larger than 10km2, with each team fielding a male and a female driver who each
complete a lap of the race course, including a Driver Switch incorporated midway.
Course designers have been tasked with carefully selecting course options, which
provide the most challenging, exciting action, using existing obstacles and features
with elevation changes and jumps, in order to minimise environmental impact.
Race organisers undertake thorough environmental, social and economic assessments
of each location with a local third party, overseen by EY in order to safeguard
environmental protection, social inclusivity and fair practices. These reports
have influenced the way Extreme E operates from water consumption, waste management
and lighting on-site through to land management and ensuring the series races
without a trace after the X Prix has finished.
Additionally, in each location, Extreme E works alongside local experts, governments
and NGOs to implement positive legacy initiatives dependent on regional needs.
Examples of Legacy Programmes in Season 1 have included; the funding of a turtle
conservation project along the Red Sea coastline; the planting of one million
mangroves with NGO TO.org and Oceanium in Senegal; cocoa agroforestry and Amazon
conservation with The Nature Conservancy in Pará state, Brazil; and the
creation of a climate education syllabus for over 3,500 school children across
Greenland with UNICEF.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit -
www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-19 Rosberg X Racing crowned
first Extreme E champions with X44 winners of season-ending Jurassic X Prix
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) are the champions of the first-ever season of Extreme E,
securing the title after finishing fourth in the season-ending Jurassic X Prix
in Dorset, UK.
Despite finishing level on 155 points with Jurassic X Prix winners X44, RXR’s
Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor took the Championship due to having more
X Prix victories over the course of the campaign, with three wins from five events.
Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez finally took their first Extreme
E win at their fifth attempt, as well as five extra points for being fastest through
the Continental Traction Challenge at the Jurassic X Prix, but it was not enough
for X44 to wrestle the Championship lead from RXR.
Jenson Button’s JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E completed the podium places
in the Final by finishing second and third, respectively, while ACCIONA | Sainz
finished behind the newly-crowned champions RXR in fifth.
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR: “It’s fantastic; this has been a new racing
series, new team, and new locations but we’ve worked so hard to get here,
and to be champions really feels amazing. Molly [Taylor] drove excellently today,
managing the challenging conditions and I knew that all that remained for me was
to not make any mistakes and bring the car home safely. We’re delighted to
be champions and look forward to celebrating with the team.”
Molly Taylor, RXR: “It feels amazing to be the first-ever championship winners
of Extreme E. This season has been brutal, racing in some of the most remote parts
of the world in truly extreme conditions but we’ve worked together as a team
and we’re delighted with this result. The nerves were definitely there today
but Johan [Kristoffersson] and I kept our eyes on the final prize, and the whole
team effort across many months has brought us to this point today.”
Nico Rosberg, RXR Founder and CEO, said: “We are so delighted to be crowned
the inaugural Extreme E Champions and I am really proud of the entire RXR team.
The team has worked so hard all season and performed consistently, racing in some
of the world’s most remote locations. To be Champions is such an honour.
“A massive congratulations to our drivers, Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson,
who have been excellent all season. We came into Extreme E to raise awareness
of climate change, and promote sustainability, but also as a racing team, we want
to win and so we will remember this feeling forever.”
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are really happy
with the first Extreme E season. It has not been easy in the middle of a pandemic,
but we have delivered five X Prix events, and the Finale in Dorset produced some
spectacular racing. Since our first event in Saudi Arabia we have had a lot of
eventful and incredible moments ending in a brilliant title decider today.
“I must say congratulations to RXR – they did a great job in winning
the first ever Extreme E Championship. I must also say well done to X44 who were
the victors at the Jurassic X Prix today and really deserved the win after being
the fastest qualifiers at every X Prix this season. We are now looking forward
to what we hope will be a fantastic Season 2.”
With five cars vying for position to get the best traction and grip off the line
in the Jurassic X Prix Final, the start was crucial. It was the Championship contenders
who got the best getaway, with X44’s Gutiérrez flying into the lead
ahead of RXR’s Taylor, with JBXE’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky,
Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s
Laia Sanz fighting for position behind.
As Gutiérrez began to pull away from the chasing pack, the tension began
to grow in the RXR team as Taylor fell into the clutches of those behind, losing
places to Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Munnings to slip back to fourth, just ahead
of Sanz in fifth place. This was dangerous territory for RXR, who needed to finish
fourth or higher to claim the title.
The battle for third place in the standings has been similarly competitive –
with just a point separating JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E ahead of the Jurassic
X Prix. Their closely fought contest continued as Munnings closed in on Åhlin-Kottulinsky,
but there was drama as they both attempted to enter the Driver Switch Zone, with
contact between the pair sending Munnings into a spin. Fortunately, she was able
to get going again and retain third place, such was the pace advantage the leading
trio had over RXR and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team.
The order was maintained after the driver switch, with Loeb preserving X44’s
lead over JBXE’s Kevin Hansen in second and Andretti United Extreme E’s
Timmy Hansen in third.
The stage was set for Kristoffersson and Carlos Sainz Snr. to fight it out for
the title-deciding fourth place finish, but it was a battle which fizzled out
after problems in the Driver Switch Zone meant ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team lost ground.
This gave RXR breathing space in their bid to score the crucial points needed
to seal the championship.
That they did, with a jubilant RXR team celebrating wildly as Kristoffersson crossed
the finish line in fourth to confirm Extreme E’s maiden champions.
Sébastien Loeb, X44: “This has been a challenging championship for
us, but this weekend was the best so far. We came first in Qualifying in every
X Prix, but we kept having bad luck in the Finals so to end on equal points with
RXR after the season they’ve had is incredible and shows what we can do.
“I’m confident we will do even better next year, but for now we will
be celebrating with the team!”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44: “I am so happy - finally we have won an X
Prix! I’m very proud of Seb [Loeb] and everyone in the team. It has been
a tough year, but they all worked really hard and today it paid off.
“A first place race finish and second in the championship is amazing, and
of course congratulations to RXR for such a great season. I can’t wait to
come back next year and see what else we can do!”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE: “As soon as I stepped into the team Mikaela [Åhlin-Kottulinsky]
and I have done everything we can to be as fast as possible because with all the
cars being the same the driving is the biggest part. To be competitive on four
very different courses as part of such a young team, that joined late to the series,
means that I am super proud of our performance.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “It is incredible that we have been
on the podium in the last four rounds. I want to say thank you to the team because
we have been making a step forward at each round and that has brought us here.
I did teach Kevin [Hansen] to drift on ice when he was about 13 and that was key
to this year!
“It is all about details when it comes to performance and since we speak
the same language we can get those nailed and we work together really well.”
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United Extreme E: “It was actually one of the more
simpler weekends of the season and it was straightforward where the line would
be. Of course there was the mud, but it was more about being in the right place
on the track. I enjoyed that and the level of the drivers around this paddock,
male and female, has been really high. We pushed each other hard. I went over
the limit in Quailifying 2 yesterday, so it has been challenging but enjoyable.
“It has been very exciting and it looks like in the world of motorsport it
is going more and more electric.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E: “It was a crazy Final! The visibility
was quite poor on the course. I got pushed a couple of times, and coming into
the Switch Zone I kind of had the line and was then pushed into the ditch, which
was really disappointing when we were fighting for third in the Championship.
“But it was always going to be a crazy race with the amount of water and
mud here, and actually following one of those cars you realise how fast it is
and how on the limit we all are.”
Final Result
1. X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 3 laps (9:20:609)
2. JBXE (Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) (+3.613)
3. Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) (+9.735)
4. Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) (+15.798)
5. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz) (+31.101)
Semi-Final 1
Semi-Final 1 at the Jurassic X Prix was an absolute thriller, as X44 and JBXE
narrowly defeated Veloce Racing to secure their Final spots. JBXE’s Hansen
made a strong start from the middle grid slot to take the lead from Loeb and Lance
Woolridge with all three ODYSSEY 21s running closely together despite the lack
of visibility. After some initial squabbling between the trio, Woolridge dropped
back due to a spin. However, all thoughts of a comfortable run to the Final for
JBXE and X44 were quickly erased due to the pace of the Veloce Racing driver,
who immediately closed the gap to ensure all three teams were nose to tail going
into the Switch Zone at the end of their runs.
Some clever tactical positioning from X44 in the Switch Zone ensured Gutiérrez
was able to get the jump on her rivals and exit ahead of JBXE’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky
and Veloce Racing’s Jamie Chadwick. Despite running closely together throughout
the final lap their positions remained unchanged, ensuring X44 and JBXE secured
their place in the Jurassic X Prix Final. X44 were handed a further boost courtesy
of Loeb, who banked five extra points for the team after going quickest in the
Continental Traction Challenge.
Semi-Final 2
After seeing their title rivals X44 secure victory in Semi-Final 1, RXR rose to
the challenge in the second Semi-Final to claim their Jurassic X Prix Final spot
alongside ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. A rapid getaway from Kristoffersson ensured
RXR shot into the lead, fending off Sainz Snr. and Ekström. As the RXR driver
stretched the gap a fantastic battle ensued behind, as Ekström deployed Hyperdrive
to make the move on Sainz Snr., but the two-time World Rally Champion used all
of his experience to hold off the ABT CUPRA XE driver to retain second. That proved
to be significant, as shortly afterwards the bonnet flew off of Ekström’s
car following one of the jump which caused the Swede to lose pace and drop back.
As the ODYSSEY 21s approached the switch zone, Kristoffersson and Sainz Snr. managed
to stretch the gap out front with the unfortunate Ekström losing further
ground. The ABT CUPRA XE car was then held in the Switch Zone to check for any
further damage and although the team were able to get going once more it was following
a significant delay. This allowed Taylor and Sanz to comfortably progress into
the Final.
The Crazy Race
Andretti United Extreme E booked their place in the Final after overcoming SEGI
TV Chip Ganassi and XITE ENERGY RACING in a closely contested Crazy Race.
There was action from the outset as all three ODYSSEY 21s jockeyed for position
off the start line as they searched frantically for grip and the best line into
the twisty, narrow sections of the Jurassic X Prix course. It was Andretti United
Extreme E’s Hansen who came out on top in that battle, with Oliver Bennett
and Kyle LeDuc following closely behind for XITE ENERGY RACING and SEGI TV Chip
Ganassi Racing, respectively. LeDuc was not keen on staying behind for long, though,
and made an audacious, aggressive move to overtake Bennett around the outside
and began to close in on Hansen. The Andretti United Extreme E driver was able
to keep LeDuc at bay until the Switch Zone, where it was left to their team-mates
Munnings and Sara Price to battle it out for a place in the Final.
Despite closing the gap on Munnings, Price was unable to make the all-important
overtake. Price tried one final move coming out of The Twins section of the course,
but was narrowly beaten to the finish line by Munnings who scored a crucial Crazy
Race win on home soil.
Championship Standings
1. Rosberg X Racing (155 points – three X Prix wins)
2. X44 (155 points – one X Prix win)
3. JBXE (119 points)
4 .Andretti United Extreme E (117 points)
5. ABT CUPRA XE (100 points)
6. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (100 points)
7. Veloce Racing (77 points)
8. SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing (74 points)
9. XITE ENERGY RACING (63 points)
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-19 Historisk titel för
Johan i Extreme E
Succésäsongen 2021 avslutades med ännu en framgång för
Johan Kristoffersson. I årets sista tävling säkrade han tillsammans
med Molly Taylor den historiska första titeln i Extreme E.
- Det känns fantastiskt att vi får bli de första mästerskapsvinnarna,
säger Kristoffersson.
Rosberg X Racing, med värmlänningen Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor
från Australien, hade bra slagläge inför Jurassic X Prix, den
sista deltävlingen i engelska Bovington, Dorset. Teamet ledde med sexton
poäng före jagande X44 med Sébastien Loeb och Cristina Gutierrez.
- Vi hade ju räknat ut att om de skulle vinna kvalet och vi kom tvåa
skulle det räcka att bli fyra i finalen. Det var det enklaste och säkraste
sättet, men sedan fanns det förstås tusen andra tänkbara
scenarion också.
X44 var snabbast i lördagens kval, men RXR tog hand om andraplatsen och hade
därmed fortsatt bra förutsättningar att knipa jungfrutiteln i den
klimatanpassade elbilsserien.
- Molly var snabb i Q1 medan jag var snabbast i Q2.
Så har det ofta sett ut under året. Den allroundkunnige värmlänningen
och rallyföraren från ”down under” har kompletterat varandra
på ett framgångsrikt sätt.
Under söndagens finalpass på militärbasen i södra England
gjorde Kristoffersson och Taylor sitt jobb i semifinalen, där Johan gav fina
förutsättningar till Molly.
- Jag fick till en riktigt bra start och körde sedan bara på säkerhet.
Alltid lite pirrigt vid förarbytet, men vi lyckades vinna.
På startlinjen i säsongens avslutande final stod fem bilar. För
RXR räckte det alltså att vara sämst fyra för att knipa mästerskapstiteln,
förutsatt att X44 tog hand om segern. Och efter en dramatisk uppgörelse
blev det precis så. Molly Taylor inledde för F1-världsmästaren
Nico Rosbergs team. Hon kom ut som tvåa i starten, men tappade under sina
två varv på den blöta och leriga banan ner till fjärde plats.
- Molly gjorde en jättebra start och körde sedan med resultatet i bakhuvudet,
att bara ta bilen framåt utan skador ifall jag skulle vara tvungen att ladda
för supersektorn, berättar Johan.
Det stod några extrapoäng på spel där, under viss del av
varvet, men så länge fjärdeplatsen var säkrad behövdes
ingen extra attack för de poängen.
När Kristoffersson kröp ner i förarsätet för sitt enda
varv handlade alltså allt om att inte tappa någon placering. Den numera
fyrfaldige rallycrossvärldsmästaren gjorde inga misstag och tog bilen
i mål på den nödvändiga fjärdeplatsen.
- Visst, det har varit en del tekniska problem på bilarna under året,
så man vet aldrig, men det var aldrig supernervöst.
Därmed slutade RXR och X44 på samma poäng, men Nico Rosbergs gäng
tog titeln på fler delsegrar jämfört med tidigare F1-konkurrenten,
Lewis Hamiltons team.
Eftersom det här var första säsongen någonsin för Extreme
E så var det förstås en särskild ära för Kristoffersson
och Taylor att få sluta på topp.
- Ny teamkompis, nytt team och en ny tävlingsform. Klart det känns lite
extra att få vinna då. Vi har vunnit tre av fem event och tar hem
både teammästerskapet och förarmästerskapet. Det har varit
en stor utmaning hela vägen, men vi har fått besöka häftiga
ställen som jag förmodligen aldrig skulle ha åkt till annars,
till exempel Grönland.
För Arvikabaserade Kristoffersson har det även totalt sett varit en
formidabel säsong, till och med snäppet vassare än 2012 då
han tog tre titlar av tre möjliga. Under 2021 blev det fyra titlar på
lika många försök! Han har vunnit SM och RallyX Nordic i rallycross
för familjeteamet Kristoffersson Motorsport under namnet Volkswagen Dealerteam
BAUHAUS. Han plockade hem VM-titeln i rallycross under EKS/JC Racetekniks flagg,
också där på samma poäng som tvåan. Nu blev det alltså
en fullbordad kvadrupel i titlar.
- Ett helt otroligt år och särskilt att kunna vinna två titlar
med samma poäng som konkurrenterna i VM och i Extreme E. Svårt att
säga vilken titel som smäller högst, men riktig kul att kunna vinna
båda i slutändan.
21-12-18 X44 qualify fastest at
Jurassic X Prix to ensure final-day title decider
X44 kept their championship hopes alive by finishing fastest in Qualifying at
the Jurassic X Prix, setting up a title-decider on Finals day with Rosberg X Racing
(RXR).
The result made it a clean sweep of top qualifier spots for X44’s Sébastien
Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez, who have finished all five X Prix in Extreme
E’s maiden season as the fastest qualifiers.
Their title rivals RXR finished Qualifying for the Jurassic X Prix right behind
them in second place and also lead the way so far this weekend in the Continental
Traction Challenge worth five invaluable points for the victors.
The final Qualifying session of the campaign proved to be the closest fought yet
in Extreme E. Qualifying 1 set the stall out for what was to come as all nine
teams set a time within 45 seconds of each other, with the top five runners covered
by just over 10 seconds.
It was similarly tight in Qualifying 2 with the nine teams separated by just over
35 seconds, while 15 seconds covered the top six runners.
Despite the fiercely competitive sessions it was X44 who came out on top for the
fifth time this season, heading the chasing pack in Qualifying 1 and 2. RXR were
a close second in Qualifying 1 and consolidated their position by finishing fourth
in Qualifying 2 to secure second overall.
Behind the championship challengers and completing the top three were ACCIONA
| Sainz XE Team, who have shown strong pace throughout the Jurassic X Prix weekend.
Carlos Sainz Snr. and Laia Sanz were third fastest in Qualifying 1 and repeated
that feat in Qualifying 2 to book their place in the Semi-Finals.
In fourth place overall were the ABT Cupra XE pair of Jutta Kleinschmidt and Mattias
Ekström. A trouble-free run in Qualifying 1 saw the team finish the session
fourth fastest, but they could only manage sixth in Qualifying 2 after receiving
a penalty for Kleinschmidt missing one of the signage posts on her maiden run
in the session.
JBXE produced a brilliant recovery after a difficult opening Qualifying session
to secure fifth overall. A penalty incurred in Qualifying 1 left JBXE down in
eighth, but a strong Qualifying 2 saw the team able to demonstrate their pace
behind the wheel of their ODYSSEY 21 and finish second to secure fifth a Semi-Final
spot.
Veloce Racing have an all-new driver line-up this weekend, but despite this have
been consistent throughout to claim sixth overall. The returning Jamie Chadwick
and debutant Lance Woolridge have been on the pace throughout, finishing fifth
in both sessions.
Andretti United Extreme E would have felt unlucky to finish sixth in Qualifying
1 despite only being 12 seconds off the leading pace in the session. They started
strongly in Qualifying 2, before Timmy Hansen was caught out by a bump on course
and crashed into the trees, causing bodywork damage to his ODYSSEY 21. Although
gamely recovering and completing the lap, the lost time ensured Andretti United
Extreme E were eighth fastest in the session and seventh overall, meaning they
will go into the Crazy Race.
SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing also suffered difficulties on track which ensured
they will have to fight for a place in the Final via tomorrow’s Crazy Race.
Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price were well in contention after Qualifying 1, finishing
seventh albeit only 15 seconds off the pace-setting time. However, a steering
issue on the team’s Qualifying 2 run saw LeDuc and Price slip back to last
in the session and eighth overall.
XITE ENERGY RACING are the third and final team to make up the grid for tomorrow’s
Crazy Race. Despite showing flashes of speed throughout the session, Oliver Bennett
and GZ could only manage ninth and seventh in Qualifying 1 and 2, respectively,
but still have one more opportunity tomorrow to reach their first X Prix Final
of the season.
Qualifying points classification*
1 X44 (Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 18 points
2 Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 14 points
3 ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) 14 points
4 ABT CUPRA XE (Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt) 10 points
5 JBXE (Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) 10 points
6 Veloce Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Emma Gilmour) 10 points
7 Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) 6 points
8 SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) 4 points
9 XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi (Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli
Zonca) 4 points
*Qualifying points classification is a provisional result
Semi-Final 1: X44, JBXE and Veloce Racing
Semi-Final 2: Rosberg X Racing, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team and ABT Cupra XE
Crazy Race: Andretti United Extreme E, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing and XITE ENERGY
RACING
Driver quotes:
Sébastien Loeb, X44: “We are very happy to be top of qualifying again.
It’s always good to show your speed against the other teams but tomorrow
we have the Semi Finals and Finals and they are a very different type of driving
so hopefully we can get the same success. We will be racing against some incredible
drivers and it won’t be easy on this track but we are a strong team so let’s
see what happens.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44: “It’s amazing to think we have been
number one in qualifying in every race of Extreme E. We have had some bad luck
in the finals that have cost us points so hopefully we have better luck tomorrow,
but it’s great to be able to show how fast we can go. I’m happy that
we were able to choose our grid position for the Semi Final as that will be so
important to give us a head start, and then we will just have to focus and do
everything we can to achieve a podium finish.”
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR: “We’re happy with the overall result. P2
is a really strong position going into the Semi Finals tomorrow and the car feels
extremely fast despite such a challenging course. We will review all of our laps
to make sure we go into the final day tomorrow completely focussed and ready for
what will hopefully be an exciting challenge.”
Molly Taylor, RXR: “I’m pleased with today’s qualifying. The track
is developing and changing the more laps are completed but we kept our runs really
clean and managed the slippery conditions well. Tomorrow will certainly be difficult
but the team is really focussed and we’re happy with the performance so far.”
Carlos Sainz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “So far this is being our best weekend
of the season. We were especially quick when there was more mud on the track.
This Sunday we will give our very best to reach the final. Our semi-final will
be really challenging, but we will try to make our way to the final of the Jurassic
X Prix.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “We are really satisfied so far with
this weekend. We were faster when there was mud on track, but now the lap times
are improving and all the cars are really tight. I think we have done a good job
so far. With the pace we have, we can fight for a good result.”
Jutta Kleinschmidt, ABT Cupra XE: “It has been a qualifying with ups and
downs for us. We have been the first car out on track in both sessions which is
always a challenge. In the first part I was probably a little bit too careful
while I felt spot on in the session on Saturday. Unfortunately I missed one of
the waypoints and we received a penalty. All possible on race day - that’s
the beauty of Extreme E.”
Mattias Ekström, ABT Cupra XE: “Some good action out there during the
first couple of sessions. The competition gets stronger and closer so that fans
can expect an exciting race day. We have quite a challenge with Rosberg and Acciona
Sainz in our semi-finals. We need to give it our all to make it to the final and
fight for a trophy.”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE: “The qualifying was both up and down for us. We had some
mistakes and a penalty in Qualifying 1, as well as a car that was difficult to
drive. We went to hard work and improved the setup as well as our driving for
Qualifying 2, and it’s great to see us get a P2. We have a good spot on the
grid for tomorrow semi final, and hopefully we can bring it all the way to the
final race of the season.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “We feel great after Qualifying 2
- it is the best qualifying position we’ve had so we’re feeling good
about that. It takes us into the Semi-Finals and we’re confident with the
speed we have in us and the car, but it will be crucial tomorrow to make a good
start in order to reach the Final."
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United Extreme E: “Our pace was really good and everything
felt great in the car but after waypoint 14 I hit a few bumps, lost the rear and
went into the tree losing about 18 seconds. Obviously the time we lost dropped
us right down in Qualifying 2 but we have been able to choose our starting position
so will be fighting flat out to win the crazy race after I take the start. ”
Sara Price, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing: “Being the final car in qualifying,
we knew what we needed to do to get in the top-six and avoid the Crazy Race. The
track was formed in a little better today compared to yesterday and I felt really
good on my first lap. The second lap kept us where we needed to be to pass the
car over to Kyle.
“Unfortunately, really early in Kyle’s lap at waypoint three the power
steering went away fully on the car. It looked like a tough lap for him to through
but he did a nice job bringing the car back around and in one piece. Not being
able to gain time due to the issue, our qualifying results put us in the Crazy
Race.”
Kyle LeDuc, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing: “Sara did what we needed her to
do on the first two laps and put us in a really good position in the standings
heading into the final lap. The start of my lap felt good, went through waypoint
one with no issues, and went into waypoint two under heavy braking and noticed
going through waypoint three that there was no power steering whatsoever. I kind
of got a handle on it and tried to figure out what to do. I thought about a couple
of options to do a hard reset quickly, but I had smelled hydraulic fluid in the
truck and knew it was something in the hydraulic that had let go.
“It is a shame for this team that’s been working so hard. I tried to
bullfight the truck around to at least get us out of the crazy race. But, yet
again, we are in it.”
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-16 Sainz XE Team set the
early pace ahead of Extreme E Season Finale
The course action got underway in Dorset today as the nine teams got their first
taste of the Jurassic X Prix course ahead of Extreme E’s Season 1 Finale.
The 3.8 kilometre course provides a unique set of challenges for the Extreme E
grid, with a mixed surface of clay, sand, gravel and mud dominating the terrain
in Dorset, giving the teams plenty of variables to overcome if they are to score
big points in the final X Prix of the campaign.
The potential threat of rain, a sight so common across the UK at this time of
year, may offer a further test for those out on the course.
After a brief Shakedown session, the pace setters in Free Practice were ACCIONA
| Sainz XE Team who posted a combined time of 10:10:006 to head the standings.
In second were ABT Cupra XE, nine seconds adrift and continuing their recent good
form out on course.
Championship challengers X44 were third quickest, just over 10 seconds behind
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s leading time, and 13 seconds faster than title
rivals and Championship leaders Rosberg X Racing who finished the session in fourth.
XITE ENERGY RACING enjoyed a trouble-free session to complete the top five. Veloce
Racing have a new driver line-up this weekend in the form of returning Jamie Chadwick
and debutant Lance Woolridge, but showed no signs of slowing their speed to finish
sixth fastest.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “Many things can happen in every race,
but we need to be confident. We have been a bit unlucky this season so I am hoping
for more good luck this weekend.
“The season has been great, but challenging – I came from two-wheel
racing and everyone else has plenty of experience on four wheels. I think I am
improving, though, and definitely feel like I have the best teacher in Carlos
[Sainz Snr.].
“The start will be crucial on Sunday and I hope we can continue to do well
for Qualifying.”
Jutta Kleinschmidt, ABT Cupra XE: “It’s completely different out there,
but it is Extreme E after all – we have to face many conditions.
“The challenge has been to find the right speed, particularly over the Knife
Edge section, and that will be key. If the wipers are not working you might not
see anything!
“We had a good Free Practice session, though, and we’re looking forward
to Qualifying.”
Sébastien Loeb, X44: “It felt really muddy out there, but the car
coped well which was great.
“It feels like a rally stage with fast and slow corners, with big jumps,
and overall the course looks great.
“We don’t have a lot to lose – mathematically the Championship
is still possible so we just need to concentrate, push hard, and then we will
see. Hopefully this weekend we can pull everything together to finish the season
as well as possible.”
Molly Taylor, Rosberg X Racing: “It has been great to experience so many
incredible places this season. We are excited to be here and it has been a great
adventure to this point. We just need to keep our heads down and keep doing the
job.
“The terrain is very different to the other courses, mainly down to the mud!
It is cool we have experienced so many different terrains throughout the season.
It’s a lot of fun out there, though, with a lot of sliding around –
it has a bit of everything.
“We need to have a solid weekend – there is all to play for and we are
looking forward to it.”
Oliver Bennett, XITE ENERGY RACING: “I’ve actually driven here before
– one of my first ever rallies took place here so it is a little bit familiar.
“The mud is deep and slippery, so it is very easy to go off-line, and that
makes it a bit like a home from home!
“From what we have seen so far it is going to be entertaining.”
Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing: “Its good to be back and feels like a long
time since I was in the paddock.
“It has definitely helped my driving to compete in different series –
when I went back to W Series earlier this season I really felt the benefit of
competing in the opening two X Prix.
“I think we can enjoy the weekend. Lance and I are racing without pressure
and a fresh mindset. We’re going to enjoy it and take what we can.”
Lance Woolridge, Veloce Racing: “It is great to finally be here. I’ve
been working closely with the team for the past year and I am really looking forward
to Qualifying now.
“We’ve set a goal of getting into the Final this weekend and hopefully
that can lay some solid groundwork for Season 2 next season.”
There was disappointment for JBXE, Andretti United Extreme E and SEGI TV Chip
Ganassi Racing, though, who finished the session in seventh, eighth and ninth,
respectively, with all three teams encountering difficulties out on the course.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “I expected it to be muddy, but the
start-line was insane!
“Nevertheless, I have been really impressed with how the ODYSSEY 21 handles
the conditions – it should make for an interesting race. Visibility will
be a big challenge and the start will be really tough.
“We want to have a good weekend – our team is based in the UK, while
our team boss Jenson [Button] is also here. We came in late to the series and
did no testing before the season started and so I am really proud of what we have
achieved together. We are now just looking forward to a fun weekend trying to
take the car over the finish line.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E: “It’s a home race for me
and for the team, which is really special for everyone. It’s certainly been
a year to remember.
“Its pretty high-speed out there and quite narrow, which reminds me of rallying.
It’s really fun to drive. The conditions improved as the Free Practice session
went on so Qualifying will be interesting, but I think everyone just wants to
have a good race to end the year now.
“You might see a different approach from me when attacking the Knife Edge,
though!”
Kyle LeDuc, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing: “It’s a good layout and a fairly
trouble-free course, although we did have a couple of issues in practice.
“We’ve got to get people excited and this track should be something
for the fans to tune into. There should be some good spots for racing to get people
hyped.
“The start is going to be massively crucial for us.”
The Finals will be shown in more than 200 countries by 85 broadcasters including
ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels and BT Sport in the UK,? FOX Sports in the
USA, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across
most European Markets.
A full list of broadcasters can be found here: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/broadcast-information
PLEASE NOTE ALL TIMINGS ARE GMT
Saturday 18 December
1000 – 1200 GMT Qualifying Round 1
1300 – 1500 GMT Qualifying Round 2
Sunday 19 December
1000 – 1130 GMT Semi Finals
1200 – 1400 GMT Final
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-16 Jurassic X Prix course
revealed
The final race of Extreme E’s inaugural season, which also marks the Championship’s
return to the UK since the St. Helena departed over nine months ago, will take
place at the British Ministry of Defence Base at Bovington in Dorset.
As the electric off-road series closes out Season 1, the Jurassic X Prix finds
itself running on a 3.8 kilometre course that once again provides a completely
new set of challenges for the nine teams and 18 world-class drivers.
The final event of the 2021 Championship will take on a different racing format,
with the teams battling it out over three laps instead of the usual two. The first
in the driving seat will complete two laps before pulling into the switch zone
and handing over to their team-mate who will cross the finish line.
For this X Prix, Extreme E has decided which drivers will start each round. Free
practice will see all teams starting with their female driver, with their male
counterpart taking on the start of the next round. The drivers will continue to
alternate in this way, resulting in an exciting all-female starting grid for Sunday’s
Jurassic X Prix Final.
A mixed surface of clay, sand, gravel, and mud dominates the course in Dorset,
making grip, or the lack of it, a key feature for the first time this season.
With rain always likely in the UK in December, the course in Dorset should be
a formidable test of the driver’s throttle control as they search for that
all important grip.
A fast downhill start will allow for multiple cars running side by side with some
tight fought battles as drivers consider their Hyperdrive strategy here. Decisions
will have to be made quickly as the wide-open space soon narrows into two tight
left and right 90-degree turns. A second expanse offers another opportunity for
Hyperdrive before once again becoming a bottleneck, narrowing down to single car
width along the tree-lined course.
A long, uphill right-hand turn follows, with the expectation that the ODYSSEY
21 will be drifting sideways throughout before greeting a short jump that marks
the start of two long, fast straights. As the cars venture towards the farthest
point of the course, looming into view will be the most striking feature of the
X Prix.
The 5.4-metre-high ‘Knife Edge’ demands respect as the drivers approach
it head on. With a 23-degree slope, go too slow and it will mean losing precious
time, but go too fast and it could end up being a bumpy ride.
With only a quarter of the course remaining, there are still crucial strategic
choices to be made as the cars head across the last open area. This could be the
final opportunity to use Hyperdrive and steal track position on the fast downhill.
The undulating course then splits and offers two parallel uphill chutes. Left
or right, drivers will make their choice and hope it proves the right one as the
finish line of the final X Prix of Season 1 looms just over the top of the hill.
Championship Driver and course advisor Timo Scheider, alongside fellow Championship
Driver Tamara Molinaro worked with the team on the course design and have also
been testing the course ahead of the racing getting underway.
Timo Scheider said: “This is the first time of the season that we’ve
had super deep and muddy track conditions. Already right at the start we have
very deep mud from left to right, so I think it’ll be quite important to
have a good starting spot. Extreme E has prepared the start line a bit, but sooner
or later this will be destroyed, especially with the drivers doing three laps
instead of two.
"The highlight will definitely be the knife edge, which is the big jump.
It looks like a wall when you’re going up there and the ODYSSEY just shoots
through the sky. If you are too quick you will take a long time to land, so there
you have to figure out that if you take a lower speed then you can land sooner
and get the traction again."
Racing gets underway on Saturday 18 December and all the action can be viewed
via a host of global broadcasters including ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC
digital channels in the UK.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-13 Extreme E's inaugural
champions to be crowned at Season Finale
This weekend marks the final race of Extreme E’s first season and the Championship
decider as the nine teams go head-to-head in their all-electric ODYSSEY 21s.
Although RXR has led the standings throughout and currently tops the table on
129 points, Lewis Hamilton’s X44 on 113 points could take Championship victory
this weekend. Just behind the top two and in close contention are Andretti United
Extreme E (93 points) and Jenson Button’s JBXE (92 points) as they fight
to round out the top three spots.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Our Dorset race is shaping
up to be a thrilling finale and I can’t wait to see the teams battling it
out on the course for victory at the concluding race of our first season.
“There has been some epic action on some exciting courses, and the route
for Dorset will be no different. With a high chance of rain expected, the drivers
are going to face the new challenge of a wet and muddy course, which could really
spice things up in the Championship battle.
“More importantly, though, throughout our first year we have raised awareness
of the climate crisis facing us all. Our presence in Dorset demonstrates that
environmental issues are close to home, and we will be sure to leave a positive
impact on the Jurassic coast.”
Challenging courses
The final race will take place at the British Ministry of Defence Base at Bovington
in Dorset and as Extreme E closes out Season 1, the Jurassic X Prix will be held
on a course that once again provides a completely new set of challenges. A mixed
surface of clay, sand, gravel, and mud dominates the course in Dorset making grip,
or the lack of it, a key feature for the first time this season. The likelihood
of rain only adds to that challenge.
A fast downhill start will allow for multiple cars running side by side, but the
wide-open space soon becomes a bottleneck and narrows down to single car width
along the tree-lined course, bringing the drivers towards the course’s most
striking feature - the 5.4-metre-high 23-degree ‘Knife Edge’ slope.
Enno Straten, Head of Strategy, Analytics & Marketing Replacement Tires EMEA
at Continental said: “The final race of the Extreme E season once again presents
teams and equipment with unprecedented challenges. We are looking forward to an
exciting last race of Season 1, and are already counting down the days to competing
again together in Saudi Arabia next February for the Season 2 opener.”
The Sporting Format
The Jurassic X Prix continues to follow the same format as the previous two races,
with qualifying taking place on Saturday 18 December. There will be one session
in the morning and one in the afternoon with each team completing the course with
a Driver Switch incorporated. The times recorded across the morning session will
equate to classification points meaning first place receives nine points, second
place eight, third place seven and so on. The same then happens in the afternoon
with classification points awarded on the same scale.
The combined total of these classification points provides the intermediate standings,
and the remaining races will take place as follows:
The teams will be listed 1st?to 9th?place based on the total combined points of
each team’s two Qualifying runs.
Teams placed in first, fifth and sixth progress to Semi-Final 1, where the top
two finishers claim spots in the Jurassic X Prix Final.
Second, third and fourth from Qualifying go through to Semi-Final 2, where again
the top two progress to the Jurassic X Prix Final.
The bottom three teams (7th, 8th?and 9th) head to the Crazy Race, with the winner
reaching the Jurassic X Prix Final.
The Jurassic X Prix Final features five cars.
The ‘Continental Traction Challenge’ was won by Sébastien Loeb
at the Enel X Island X Prix, claiming an extra five points for the X44 team. No
doubt teams and drivers will be striving for these extra points in Dorset.
The nine teams and 18 drivers for the Jurassic X Prix are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE - #125 – Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team - #55 – Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz
Andretti United Extreme E - #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 – Lance Woolridge / Jamie Chadwick
X44 - #44 – Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez
GridPlay
The GridPlay vote, which puts fans in the driving seat, will open at 0900 GMT
on Wednesday 15 December and close at 1700 GMT on Saturday 18 December.
Why Dorset?
Extreme E’s decision to race in Dorset marks a poignant shift from the Championship’s
mission to race in remote, far-away places to highlight the effects of climate
change.
More and more, the climate issues being discussed are starting to occur closer
to home in the UK. The off-road electric series is racing in Dorset to raise awareness
of biodiversity loss by supporting The National Trust for this rounds Legacy Programme.
Legacy Programme – restoring biodiversity
Extreme E is partnering with the National Trust in an effort to improve biodiversity,
which is critical for human existence, economic prosperity and a good quality
of life, and sadly declining at a faster rate than at any time in human history,
particularly in the UK.
The project itself centres around beavers that are nature’s water engineers.
In 2022, The National Trust, with the support of Extreme E, hope to reintroduce
three pairs of free-living beavers to Purbeck, Dorset, from Scotland for the first
time in over 400 years.
Once introduced they will open hundreds of hectares of wetlands that have been
in ecological decline for decades, restoring freshwater fen and pool habitats
for the local wildlife. Soon the beavers will spread beyond Studland and their
benefits will spread with them. As they naturalise the watercourses that have
been canalised over the centuries they will improve water quality and carbon storage
while reducing flood risk.
In addition to releasing the beavers, Extreme E will be working alongside the
National Trust to install protective measures to ensure the beavers don’t
negatively impact local people and businesses and carry out engagement programmes
to educate the public.
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 200 countries by 85 broadcasters including
ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels and BT Sport in the UK,? FOX Sports in the
USA, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across
most European Markets.
A full list of broadcasters can be found here:
https://extremee.count-us-in.org/en-gb/
All times GMT
Friday 17 December
1900 – 1930 GMT Shakedown airs on website and social channels
Saturday 18 December
1000 – 1200 GMT Qualifying Round 1
1300 – 1500 GMT Qualifying Round 2
Sunday 19 December
1000 – 1130 GMT Semi Finals
1200 – 1400 GMT Final
Your Carbon Footprint
One of the aims of Extreme E is to inspire action. The series is making every
attempt to keep its footprint low, and that mantra is something the Championship
encourages everyone to do too via the?Extreme E Count Us In Challenge.
It’s as simple as visiting the website, taking a step to reduce carbon emissions
for example using public transport, eating local, even buying an electric vehicle,
and it’s these steps that add up to a big difference. Not only do they reduce
individuals carbon footprint, which collectively makes a change, but they also
encourage governments, cities and businesses to do the same and accelerate progress
on climate action.
The team at the top of the leaderboard that has the most steps taken - currently
X44 - will receive the Sustainability Award at the end of the season.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-09 Extreme E reveals Jurassic
X Prix Legacy Programme
Extreme E is supporting the National Trust for its Dorset Legacy Programme in
an effort to improve biodiversity in the UK.
The National Trust is a charity founded in 1895 to protect and conserve important
landscapes, habitats and historic sites. As one of the largest landowners in the
UK, almost 250,000 hectares and 780 miles of coastline fall under the Trust’s
protection and care to help people and nature thrive.
One such place is Purbeck Heaths in Dorset, where the National Trust has worked
in partnership with six other landowners to create the UK’s first ‘super’
National Nature Reserve. Spanning 8,231 acres, the reserve brings together 11
essential wildlife habitats and includes iconic reserves such as Hartland Moor,
Arne, Brownsea Island and Studland and Godlingston Heaths.
In 2022, The National Trust is hoping to reintroduce beavers to Purbeck, in the
wetlands at the heart of the Studland’s dune system. This is just one of
a number of projects across the reserve aimed to restore natural ecological processes
and help this already special landscape become even richer in nature and more
resilient to future threats such as climate change.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “Through our Legacy Programme
and the Jurassic X Prix, we aim to highlight the issues surrounding biodiversity
in the UK. We are delighted that our work in Dorset will see us support the National
Trust, who are planning to reintroduce beavers to the area.
“We have made it to the final race of the very first season, which will take
place on MOD land at Bovingdon, and I think I speak for everyone at Extreme E
when I say how proud I am of all that we’ve achieved this year, both on and
off the course, with support for important projects such as this.
“I’m excited to see what we can achieve alongside an organisation with
such high standards of conservation and curatorial care which has been recognised
throughout the world.”
Biodiversity and well-functioning ecosystems are critical for human existence,
economic prosperity, and a good quality of life. And yet, biodiversity is currently
declining at a faster rate than at any time in human history.
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, sitting in the
bottom 10 per cent globally and last among the G7 group of nations. Only 50.3
per cent of biodiversity remains in the UK, with 15 per cent of the species remaining
said to be threatened with extinction.
David Brown, Landscape Partnership Manager at the National Trust, said: “Next
year we hope to release three pairs of beavers in the wetlands around Little Sea,
to improve the biodiversity of Studland’s dune system and the surrounding
area.
“Beavers are nature’s water engineers. Once introduced they would open
hundreds of hectares of wetlands that have been in ecological decline for decades,
restoring freshwater fen and pool habitats for other wildlife. As they naturalise
watercourses that have been canalised over the centuries, they would improve water
quality and carbon storage while reducing flood risk.”
Extreme E’s support will enable the National Trust to install protective
measures to ensure the beavers do not negatively impact local people, businesses
or farmers, and to carry out engagement programmes with the local community.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-02 Veloce Racing reveals
new driver line-up for Jurassic X Prix
Veloce Racing have announced a new driver line-up for Extreme E’s season
finale, the Jurassic X Prix, taking place in Dorset, UK, on 18-19 December.
Newly-crowned W Series champion Jamie Chadwick returns to the driver line-up,
having competed in the opening two X Prix of the season for the team. She will
be joined by South African cross country ace Lance Woolridge who replaces Stéphane
Sarrazin.
Woolridge steps up to the race seat for the first time having spent 2021 fulfilling
his role as Reserve and Development Driver and advising the team at several X
Prix this season.
As a double South African Cross Country Series (SACCS) Class T Production Vehicle
title winner in 2018 and 2019, and runner up in the headlining FIA SACCS category
this season, the South African boasts an impressive off-road resumé with
a huge amount of experience in disciplines similar to Extreme E.
Chadwick, meanwhile, returns to the Extreme E grid following a successful W Series
campaign which yielded four wins from eight races, as well as the eventual 2021
crown, confirming her status as one of the world’s most prominent female
motorsport stars.
Aside from a brief test in France in November, the Jurassic X Prix marks the first
time the 23-year-old will drive the ODYSSEY 21 in anger since the Ocean X Prix
(29-30 May) in Lac Rose, Senegal. Chadwick clinched a podium at that event and
will be hoping for a repeat performance at the season-ending Jurassic X Prix.
Rupert Svendsen-Cook, Team Principal, Veloce Racing, said: “I think I can
speak for everyone at Veloce when I say we’re really excited to have two
such talented drivers behind the wheel for the Extreme E season finale –
and our home race – in Dorset later this month!
“Lance [Woolridge] has been doing a fantastic job as our Reserve and Development
Driver this season as well as having a great year racing in South Africa, so we're
delighted to give him his chance. Then of course we welcome back Jamie [Chadwick]
who won Veloce’s first-ever title in the W Series back in Austin last month.
After what has been a year of intense development for the team, we are well placed
to end our season on the right note.”
Ian Davies, Team Manager, Veloce Racing, said: “We’ve been hugely impressed
with the work Lance has done for us this year. He’s been a huge asset to
the team, so we have total confidence in his abilities ahead of Dorset.
“Likewise, Jamie has had an incredible year in W Series and scored our first
podium in Senegal let’s not forget, so she certainly knows her way around
the ODYSSEY 21. Together, these two drivers are going to be a potent combination.”
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-12-01 Extreme E partners with
Project Everyone to raise awareness of global sustainability goals
Sport for purpose championship Extreme E has teamed up with Project Everyone,
a not-for-profit creative communications agency, to raise awareness of The United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), better known as the Global Goals.
Co-founded by film writer and director Richard Curtis to drive adoption of the
17 Global Goals, Project Everyone creates advocacy campaigns, content, programmes
and events - telling stories that help multiple sectors engage with the Goals
and ensure greater involvement from civil society, corporations, educators, philanthropist,
activists and politicians.
As part of Extreme E’s commitment to raising awareness of the climate crisis,
all nine teams will display the Global Goals logo on their cars in the Jurassic
X Prix next month in Dorset, UK. The Global Goals logo is a wheel representing
all 17 Goals, which are designed to eliminate extreme poverty, to reduce inequalities,
and to combat the threat of climate change by 2030.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to
be working together with Project Everyone, who share our view that we must take
impactful steps if we are to tackle the climate crisis. Having the Global Goals
wheel on every all-electric ODYSSEY 21 for the Season 1 finale is significant
and symbolic – we should all work together to deliver on these Global Goals
to ensure we create a sustainable future for all.
“Our championship has shown that solutions are available and need to be implemented
on a global scale if we are to have any chance of succeeding and saving the planet.
By partnering with Project Everyone, we want to raise awareness even further and
take bold action to address the urgency of climate change.”
Richard Curtis, film writer, director, UN SDG Advocate, and co-founder of Project
Everyone, said: “The 17 Global Goals are the definitive to-do list for our
planet and the people on it. Sport has a tremendous role to play in raising awareness
and inspiring us all to action and I am so thrilled that the brilliant team at
Extreme E is going to be working with the Goals to highlight the crucial changes
that need to happen before 2030 to fix and save our world.”
The leaders of all 193 member states of the United Nations agreed on the Goals
on 25 September 2015, in a ceremony at its headquarters in New York. Unlike previous
UN Goals, which were intended to target action in developing countries, the SDGs
are universal and apply to all countries equally.
Nevertheless, these 17 Goals are an ambitious roadmap to address poverty, inequality
and climate change, and every single one of us has the power to make a difference.
Extreme E is supporting many of them - for example, goal five, gender equality
via its gender equal racing format, a world-first in motorsport. Plus, oal nine
- industry, innovation and infrastructure - by showcasing new technologies that
can help accelerate the shift to clean energy. Goals 14 and 15 - life below water
and life on land - through its various Legacy Programmes that leave long-lasting
positive impacts in the locations in which the series races, right through to
goal 13 - climate action - one of the biggest driving forces behind the championship.
All 17 of the Goals are for everyone, everywhere – like Extreme E they reach
the far corners of the planet, from icecaps to islands and deserts to deep oceans.
As we enter the uncharted territories of our planet’s future, the Goals provide
the framework to address our greatest challenges, aligned with Extreme E’s
mission to inspire people, communities and governments all over the world to take
action and embark on our greatest journey yet.
Each Goal has a series of targets, giving all of us – from individuals and
civil society to governments and businesses – a to-do list that reminds us
what we need to do, to achieve this world changing plan.
The annual Sustainable Development Goals Report provides an overview of the world’s
implementation efforts to date, highlighting areas of progress and areas where
more action needs to be taken to ensure no one is left behind.
Extreme E will showcase this partnership at its Season 1 finale in Dorset, UK
from 18-19 December 2021.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-11-23 The St. Helena arrives
in the UK as Extreme E prepares for season finale in Dorset
Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, has today arrived into
the UK Dorset port of Poole in preparation for the championship’s final event
of its inaugural season – the Jurassic X-Prix - on 18-19 December 2021.
Since departing the UK for the first ever Extreme E race just over nine months
ago, the former Royal Mail ship has covered an astounding 19,000 nautical miles
transporting Extreme E’s race freight and logistics around the globe in its
first season.
The cars and series’ equipment departed Sardinia’s port of Cagliari,
Italy, following last month’s dramatic Enel X Island X Prix - which saw Rosberg
X Racing take three wins to build a commanding lead in this year’s championship.
She then made her way westwards across the Mediterranean Sea towards the UK, guided
by a pod of dolphins for a whole afternoon during the voyage.
Upon arrival into Dorset, the St. Helena greeted its first ever female engineer
China Hypolite-McCarthy from the United Kingdom, and the crew will spend the next
few days unloading all of the freight on board as preparations and anticipation
builds for the Jurassic X Prix in a few weeks’ time.
The freight includes the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 race cars – three of which
are entrants for teams founded by Sir Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson
Button - the AFC Energy system including solar panels and hydrogen fuel cell to
charge the cars emission free, two Zenobe second-life batteries to power the paddock,
plus everything else required to create a race site in remote locations without
event infrastructure. This will now be set up in the British Ministry of Defence
Base at Bovington - an area surrounded by the stunning Jurassic terrain of the
historic county of Dorset.
Whilst preparations for the 2021 finale in the UK gather momentum, Extreme E has
also been busy north of the border in Scotland where it has been fully supporting
the Count Us In Citizens’ Declaration at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference
in Glasgow. Extreme E and Count Us In joined forces nearly a year ago to use the
power of sport to inspire fans to take practical steps on climate change –
a campaign which has so far seen an uptake of millions of people around the world
who are making small but significant changes to their lifestyles in the quest
to lower carbon emissions.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “It’s certainly
been a busy month but a very rewarding one. It’s hard to believe that Extreme
E is now preparing for its final X Prix of our inaugural season and that the St.
Helena is back here in the UK where she departed nearly a year ago - and what
a year it’s been!
“We are so excited to be ending our first season in Dorset in the UK. Despite
the incredible places we have visted so far this year - Saudi Arabia, Senegal,
Greenland and Sardinia - the landscape here is equally as amazing and there’s
no doubt that it’s certainly going to be challenging for the cars and the
drivers. I cannot wait!”
The 2021 Extreme E Championship reaches its finale on 18-19 December.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-11-18 Extreme E prepares for
Season 1 finale
Today marks one month until Extreme E’s Season 1 finale and the crowning
moment of the first ever Championship team in this sport for purpose series, taking
place in Dorset, UK, from 18-19 December 2021.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “We are now just weeks
away from completing our inaugural season, and what a season it has been!
“Already, there has been great racing on some epic courses, and the route
for Dorset is really coming together. It will offer a variety of surfaces, natural
obstacles and challenges with no doubt lots of rain so expect a wet and muddy
course this time round.
“More importantly, though, throughout our first year we have raised awareness
of the climate crisis facing us all. We’ve left behind positive impacts in
each location and Dorset will be no different as we work alongside local organisations
to implement a programme in the area.”
The course is already taking shape and will once again provide completely new
challenges from the previous races to date. Gone are the sands of Saudi and Senegal,
the glacial plains of Greenland and the hard-baked features of Sardinia. A mixed
surface of clay, sand, gravel, and mud dominates the course in Dorset, making
grip, or the lack of it, a formidable test for the first time this season as rain
is always likely in the UK in December. There will be a mixture of fast downhill
sections, narrow twisty areas and wide-open spaces providing options for different
lines and overtaking.
Although Rosberg X Racing (RXR) has topped the leaderboard throughout it has not
all been plain sailing and the Championship title will go down to the wire, with
Lewis Hamilton’s X44, Andretti United, and Jenson Button’s JBXE, all
in close contention for podium positions.
Off the course, the series is developing a Legacy Programme to support the local
community and its natural surroundings. Full details of the project will be revealed
in the coming weeks.
As with all Extreme E races, spectators are not able to attend as part of the
championship’s goal to reduce its event footprint, but are able to follow
the action from the comfort of their homes by watching the races through a host
of global broadcasters (available here) including ITV 1, Sky Sports, BT Sport
and BBC digital channels in the UK, and via the virtual FanWorld.
The Championship’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, is now sailing its
final leg of 2021 to arrive in the UK ahead of the Jurassic X Prix. Once docked,
all of the series’ cargo will be moved to the Dorset event site ready for
a pre-Christmas racing spectacle.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-11-03 McLaren Racing announce
Emma Gilmour as team’s first-ever female driver and reveal the McLaren Extreme
E launch livery at engagement during COP26, hosted by His Royal Highness The Prince
of Wales
McLaren Racing today announced Emma Gilmour as the team’s first-ever
female driver who will compete for the McLaren Extreme E team in 2022. Emma’s
announcement follows a media engagement today during the COP26 UN Climate Change
Conference in Glasgow with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. The engagement
also marks McLaren Racing’s entry into Extreme E and the reveal of McLaren’s
spectacular launch livery.
McLaren will be the latest team to join the series in 2022, raising awareness
of the impact of climate change, participating in Extreme E’s robust legacy
programmes, and leaving a lasting footprint by engaging its fans around the world
to take climate action. Motorsport has long since provided a hub for transport
innovation and technology and Extreme E brings some of the world’s most famous
teams, representing the latest clean technology, to race in some of Earth’s
most remote and stunning locations.
McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown, Race Engineer for McLaren Extreme E, Leena Gade,
renowned climate scientist, Professor Carlos Duarte and designer of the McLaren
Extreme E launch livery, Vic Lee, were in attendance with Emma Gilmour at the
engagement with His Royal Highness.
A native of New Zealand, Emma is known for her vast experience in rallying, rallycross,
cross-country rallying and most recently competing in the inaugural season of
Extreme E. In 2016 she became the first and only female to date to win a New Zealand
Rally Championship event and also won the FIA Women in Motorsport and Qatar Motor
and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) crosscountry rally selection in 2015. Emma completes
McLaren Extreme E’s driver line-up for 2022 alongside US driver Tanner Foust.
The announcement of McLaren’s newest driver is a historical moment for McLaren
Racing made all the more poignant as Emma is a compatriot of the team’s founder,
racing legend, engineer and innovator, Bruce McLaren.
The McLaren Extreme E launch livery was revealed for the first time during the
engagement at Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow. The livery, hand-drawn by award-winning
artist and illustrator, Vic Lee, represents the entire race calendar through the
four biomes of the Arctic, Amazon, Desert and Ocean. Illustrations on the livery
focus on each landscape, drawing inspiration from the legacy left behind by the
Extreme E series, teams and staff while detailing some of the steps which can
be taken to reduce the impact of climate change.
The livery also reflects McLaren Racing’s commitment to the ‘Count Us
In’ pledge. Count Us In is a global movement of people and organisations
to inspire a billion people to take practical steps to reduce their carbon footprint
by committing to one or more of 16 steps. The names of the first McLaren Racing
fans, employees and partners who signed up to the pledge are carried on the Extreme
E race car along with a manifestation of the ‘C’ cipher, synonymous
with His Royal Highness, in tribute to his significant endeavours over the past
four decades to use his unique position to champion action for a sustainable future.
During the engagement, distinguished Professor Carlos Duarte spoke about Extreme
E’s legacy programme, which intends to provide social and environmental support
for the locations in which Extreme E races. Extreme E only races in terrains in
which it can raise climate awareness, with the all-electric race cars being transported
to race locations by a refurbished passenger cargo ship, the former Royal Mail
Ship St Helena. The ship also serves as a ‘floating laboratory’, or
classroom, in which educative talks can be held, or research conducted during
races.
His Royal Highness was also able to see a demonstration, given by AFC Energy’s
CEO, Adam Bond, of how hydrogen fuelled power generation, an alternative zero
emission off grid power source, is being pioneered by Extreme E and all race teams
in a world first to remotely charge series electric SUVs in a completely sustainable
manner. Leena Gade joins the McLaren Extreme E team as Race Engineer on secondment
from Multimatic, vehicle dynamics partner to McLaren Extreme E. The British female
race engineer has a rich history in motorsport serving as a lead race engineer
in the FIA World Endurance Championship and IndyCar series, most notably becoming
the first female race engineer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2011.
Following the announcement and before the 2022 race series begins, Emma Gilmour,
Leena Gade and the McLaren Extreme E car will undertake further engagements, including
a secondary school visit and a discussion at Newcastle University promoting future
opportunities in technology.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “We’re proud to join His Royal
Highness to announce Emma Gilmour as the first-ever female driver for McLaren
Racing. Emma completes our exciting and competitive driver line-up alongside Tanner
Foust for our first season of Extreme E. She’s a race winner and has proven
herself this year in Extreme E alongside a vast background in competitive off-roading
in multiple racing series across the globe. It’s fitting that our first female
driver originates from New Zealand where our founder Bruce McLaren was from.
“Being able to announce Emma and reveal our launch livery with His Royal
Highness The Prince of Wales during COP26, given his track record in sustainability
and promotion of STEM education and engineering, resonates with McLaren Racing’s
commitment to sustainability, diversity and gender equality which are deeply-rooted
in the team’s ethos. Seeing the support from the entire McLaren family in
signing up for one or more of the Count Us In pledges highlights the dedication
of our fans, partners and team members to help avert the impacts of climate change.
We’re looking forward to competing in Extreme E’s second season to continue
to educate ourselves on this journey of discovery and use our voice to shine a
light on key issues impacting the world.”
Emma Gilmour, McLaren Racing Extreme E driver, said: “I’m incredibly
honoured to be McLaren Racing’s first female driver. Growing up in New Zealand,
Bruce McLaren and McLaren Racing are seen as the pinnacles of motorsport. To be
competing in Extreme E next year with McLaren is a special opportunity. The series
is a fantastic platform that represents equality and addresses the key issues
affecting our planet and society. I’m looking to draw on my previous experience
in Extreme E alongside all my skills across rally, rallycross and cross-country
rallying, that make me well-suited to the sport, to make a positive impact and
inspire the next generation of female drivers and engineers. I can’t wait
to get started with the team.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO, Extreme E, said: “I am delighted to celebrate the next
step in this very exciting new journey for McLaren Racing as they welcome the
highly talented Emma Gilmour to their Extreme E driver line-up, and reveal a unique
livery designed around important sustainability messages.
“Extreme E is a sport dedicated to using its platform to inspire and excite
motorsport fans about sustainability and solutions, so I feel especially proud
to see the team choosing to take shape here in Glasgow at the COP 26 UN Climate
Change Conference, with the support of his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.
It’s certainly a very positive sign of the direction the McLaren team is
committing to and I wish the whole team great success.”
Shivani Rudra, Count Us In, said:“I am delighted McLaren Racing has joined
with Count Us In to inspire its millions of fans to take action on climate change.
By McLaren, Extreme E and Count Us in working together we can make an even bigger
difference on climate change and add up to something much bigger.”
To learn more about Extreme E, visit -
www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-27
Extreme E completes Rookie Test
Following the Enel X Island X Prix,
the series plus its teams and partners have completed activities including the
very first testing of the Continental 2022 tyre and a Rookie driving opportunity.
Extreme
E teams were offered the chance to invite up to two drivers (one male and one
female) to experience the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 car, whilst immersing themselves
amongst the paddock and the unique nature of the series. Drivers selected by teams
included a range of emerging talent from the off-road world.
The ACCIONA
| Sainz XE Team introduced 21-year-old Swedish protégé Klara Andersson
to Extreme E. Having made a wildcard appearance at the 2019 RallyX Nordic final
at Tier Arena in the RX Academy class, this year Klara became the 2021 Swedish
Rallycross Championship Champion in the 2150 class, and recently had her first
electric experience in the RX2e Championship.
Lewis Hamilton’s X44
team invited 19-year-old Seth Quintero. The young Californian burst onto the scene
back in 2014 when he won the youth class of the UTV World Championship. This year,
Seth became the youngest ever stage winner at the Dakar, making him an exciting
addition to Extreme E.
Rosberg X Racing invited Stéphane Peterhansel,
famous for his 14 Dakar victories, to test the ODYSSEY 21 but have been clear
this doesn’t mean he will drive in 2022. He was joined by Italian Tamara
Molinaro, an experienced World Rally Championship driver having previously won
the Ladies Trophy in the 2017 European Rally Championship becoming the second-youngest
winner after Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings – after winning
four of the eight rounds and topping the table in 40 stages.
Norwegian
sensation Hedda Hosås, 20, who has been competing in the Norwegian Rallycross
Championship and recently made a guest appearance in the Danish championship in
September, joined the Veloce team for the X Prix weekend, alongside two-time South
African Cross Country Series (SACCS) Class T champion Lance Woolridge. Unfortunately,
the pairing were unable to get behind the wheel following Stéphane Sarrazin’s
roll in Sunday’s Crazy Race, which he walked away from unharmed.
Alejandro
Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I’m delighted to see that
we have got such exciting talent interested in competing in our unique series.
These new faces were allowed practice time in the car ahead of completing timed
course laps. It’s great to see the wealth of driving talent making the most
of this immersive experience.”
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: Klara Anderrson
(SWEDEN)
X44: Seth Quintero (USA)
Rosberg X Racing: Tamara Molinaro (ITALY),
Stéphane Peterhansel (FRANCE)
Veloce Racing: Hedda Hosås (NORWAY),
Lance Wooldridge (SOUTH AFRICA)
Driver quotes:
Klara Anderrson
“Today
has been for sure challenging. The car is an absolute beast and the course is
really challenging but I’m really enjoying it. This is a new era of motorsport
and I’m really happy to be a part of and get some miles in the car and learn
some things.
“Since I have only done Rallycross, to be here with Carlos
Sainz is amazing to compare my times to his and learn as much as I can. This is
a perfect day for us rookies to get to grips with the car and see what the whole
Extreme E concept is about.
“I think it is super cool that Extreme
E has the 50/50 split between the genders. I think it is about time actually -
it is really nice to see males and females race together as a team. There isn't
a difference between men and women in this type of sport so I’m super happy
to be in a sport where it doesn't matter if you are female or male and we can
do this together alongside the sustainability part - it is just amazing.
“For
sure this is my first step into Extreme E and this is a dream I’ve had for
quite some time. I've watched the races really closely and Rallycross may be my
passion but this is on my list also so I’m super happy to be here and try
the car and see what it’s about.”
Seth Quintero
“I’ve
never driven an electric car before, so hopping in this and not really having
an experience was honestly quite the treat. I hadn't done anything else and to
come off the start and having full torque all the time is pretty fun and being
able to hear your team manager on the radio is nice too - it's nice and quiet
in there.
“I think Extreme E is a rad concept. Obviously they are
travelling around the world and really trying to shed light on what is going on,
whether it is global warming or something else, it is cool to see. There are not
a lot of motorsports trying to do that. Obviously motorsports are going to hurt
the planet a little bit, and it is nice to see that we are trying to change that.
I’m not the oldest so I’m hoping I can be in racing for a long time,
and I think with Extreme E we will be able to do that.
“The car that
I’m driving has got quite the two names behind it honestly with Cristina
and Seb. Just being in Seb’s seat is pretty cool. I’ve been looking
up to him since I can remember, he has been in the game a long time and I’m
just starting to get into the game. So I’m excited to hopefully be driving
a little bit more. This rookie test has been a good time and I’m really thankful
for this opportunity.”
Tamara Molinaro:
“I am here driving
for the Rosberg team, which is a big honour for me as they are the Championship
leaders at the moment. They have a lot of experience and it's my first time working
with the guys and I really loved it. They are super professional and it is really
a pleasure to work with them.
“I really needed to get some mileage
in the car, to spend a bit of time behind the steering wheel. You know normally
when we do the battery test on the Sunday before the event it’s just like
maybe one lap or two – at the end of the day it’s not so much time in
the car, so for sure this helped me building a lot more confidence. This is something
that I’m not used to, all these bumps and this kind of off-road racing, coming
from rally and rallycross, you know it’s completely different so for sure
this day has really helped me a lot and it was amazing to be able to work with
so many professional people, so it was for sure a great experience and I’m
really thankful for this.
“I think it is brilliant that Extreme E
actually tries to give a chance to somebody that is super good and wants to do
this. It is an opportunity to stand out at the end of the day, so if you're doing
well and people are talking you never know what will happen.
“Like
I always say there is not much space for women in motorsport. But Extreme E created
a new, different world for this. We deserve to have a place in motorsport. We
deserve to be considered the same level as the boys, so for sure this is great.
"I
absolutely love it. At the end of the day like I said before it is all about the
driving. We are here to enjoy the driving and obviously this is something that
I have loved all my life, so having this opportunity to spend time here is just
incredible."
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-26
Extreme E’s positive impacts in Sardinia
It might be a wrap
on the racing in Sardinia, but the Enel X Island X Prix offered far more than
just a motorsport contest, with its drivers, scientists and partners all taking
centre stage when it comes to the climate crisis, sustainability and possible
solutions.
Ahead of the course action, drivers had the chance to get involved
in two Legacy Programmes, supported by Enel X. Some of the drivers took to the
water, snorkelling in Laguna di Norato area, to learn more about healthy and unhealthy
Posidonia oceanica, (seagrass) – the most important ecosystem in the Mediterranean
which has already lost 30-40 per cent. The drivers were able to see how it is
being restored and conserved by local organisation MEDSEA with the support of
Extreme E.
XITE ENERGY RACING’s Christine GZ and Extreme E’s
Championship Driver Tamara Molinaro also went to the Oristano region of Sardinia,
which has been affected by the recent wildfires, to support with tree planting.
During July 2021 there were 13,000 more wildfires in Italy than has ever been
previously recorded. The resulting calamity has resulted in incalculable damage
to thousands of peoples’ livelihoods, as well as to nature including damaging
water quality in the ocean. It is estimated that it will take at least 15 years
to rebuild the 20,000 hectares of land impacted.
Over the race weekend,
Sardinia became the next local authority to start using an innovative wildfire
mapping model created by EY, Extreme E’s Official Innovation Partner. The
AI technology was created as part of this year’s EY Better Working World
Data Challenge in collaboration with Microsoft, The Australian Country Fire Authority
(CFA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Currently,
fire mapping officers receive imagery from aircrafts and use manual methods to
create fire maps. The goal of the winning AI solutions is to streamline this process
so officers can spend valuable time on other essential tasks. For example, where
decisions are being made to prioritise regions that need to be evacuated, the
winning solutions will aim to provide the right information at the right time
to help make those decisions more easily and effectively.
EY teams are
already working with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Australia, where wildfires
last year resulted in 34 fatalities and the destruction of 46 million acres, to
take the winning submissions into a real-world environment. Looking ahead, the
fire mapping tools will be made available, free of charge, to more governments
and non-commercial organisations.
Beatriz Sanz Sáiz, EY Global Consulting
Data and Analytics Leader, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment, as
EY releases the winning models of the 2021 Better Working World Data Challenge
into the world, and a prime example of how technology can help solve some of the
world’s toughest sustainability challenges. Making these models available
free of charge to governments and non-commercial organisations around the globe
is one more step towards realising our commitment to build a better working world
and create long-term value for society and the communities we serve.”
A
series of thought leadership talked called The Tipping Point are now a firm fixture
in the schedule. One of the talks, hosted by Professor Carlos Duarte, who sits
on the series’ Scientific Committee, concentrated on the climate challenges
facing island communities. Here, media and guests heard from drivers Carlos Sainz
and Christine GZ alongside Carlo Papa, Managing Director of Extreme E’s Founding
Scientific Partner Enel Foundation.
Discussion points included how islands
are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to sea level rise, the temperature
of the Mediterranean in particular heating three times faster than the global
average, the lack of projection of the effects of climate change on island communities,
the challenges of electrifying island communities who are not always attached
to the main grid, plus the threats of medicanes that are forecasted to become
stronger and more destructive.
Carlo Papa, Managing Director, Enel Foundation
said: “The Sixth IPCC Assessment Report has said climate change is widespread,
rapid, and intensifying. In the words of UN Secretary General we are on red alert.
However, after having understood the physical science at the basis of climate
change hazards, we need to understand exposure and vulnerability, for example,
of how a storm will impact a port and the people living and working in the area.
Going forward, adaptation will be key and the good news is that we have the technologies
and knowledge to get prepared while making sure to act faster and more decisively
on mitigation.”
Carlos Sainz has more talents than racing. A keen
scuba diver and also a helicopter pilot, he has been able to observe the changes
in his communities over the last 50 years. He said: “When I joined Extreme
E my interest in climate change was moderate, but since becoming involved in the
series my awareness has grown and I’m now very interested in climate change,
particularly noticing sea level rise.”
Christine GZ, who has grown
up within island communities and has an Engineering degree, spoke about the resilience
and attitude of islanders. She said: “The recent volcano eruption in La Palma
has meant many people have lost homes and livelihoods, but the islanders look
to rebuild – they have crazy strength! The island attitude is to not give
up, if things have been destroyed we carry on. In La Palma they are adding new
soil to stop the lava flow and rebuild.
“Motorsport is not traditionally
sustainable but Extreme E is changing the conversation. The Legacy Programmes,
seeing the wildfires this week and the Count Us In Challenge have really made
me open my eyes to climate challenges.”
Professor Carlos Duarte concludes:
“Extreme E gives scientists a voice, through the power and reach of the series
with its drivers and many partners involved. The best thing we can all do is raise
awareness by talking to people about the facts and showcasing how technology can
help. The power of communication is key if we want to keep the beauty of the planet.”
The
series is now looking ahead to COP26, a summit bringing together world leaders
and businesses to accelerate action
towards climate change, before the
season finale in Dorset, UK, from 18-19 December.
To learn more about Extreme
E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-24
Rosberg X Racing take third win of the season in dramatic Enel X Island X Prix
final
Rosberg X Racing made it three wins from four races at the
Enel X Island X Prix to build a commanding championship lead in the inaugural
Extreme E season.
RXR drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor kept
their heads in changeable conditions to seal a dramatic victory in Sardinia ahead
of ABT CUPRA XE, who secured their best result of the season in second.
It
was heartbreak, though, for long-time leaders in the Final, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi
Racing, after Sara Price’s crash on Lap 2 caused terminal damage and meant
she had to stop on track, ensuring the team could only finish as high as fourth
on their Finals debut.
That meant JBXE were able to secure their third
podium finish in succession with third place despite also suffering damage out
on the course.
Bad luck once again befell fastest qualifiers X44 in the
final as Sébastien Loeb was forced to stop out on track and retire with
broken steering. Loeb was running in second behind SEGI TV’s Kyle LeDuc despite
driving with a slow puncture at the time of the stoppage, which meant the team
were to fall even further behind winners and championship leaders RXR in the standings.
Molly
Taylor, Rosberg X Racing, said: “It was pretty slippery out there, so it
was a bit difficult to judge at first. From that point it was just trying to manage
the risk and I think that is what we did really well. Johan brought it home and
again it was just an amazing effort by all of the team. We had a very challenging
weekend from our side, but we never gave up and are very happy to be the winners
here.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: “When I
took over the car, we were in second place and were pretty isolated. We had Mattias
[Ekström] behind, but I knew it was going to be tricky to do the overtake.
Then I heard that Sara [Price] had suffered broken steering out in front so I
tried to get the car back in one piece by not taking any big risks. I think in
this final that Molly really did the best job and it feels great to bring it home.”
A
heavy downpour prior to lights out made for the first ‘wet’ Final of
the Extreme E season, providing the five finalists with a new challenge to overcome
in their bid for victory at the Enel X Island X Prix.
X44 were able to
take their place in the Final despite suffering heavy damage in the opening Semi-Final
of the day. In a sign of the unique camaraderie demonstrated across the Extreme
E paddock, X44’s efforts to rebuild their damaged car were boosted by the
support of mechanics and engineerings from the Andretti United Extreme E team
to get their ODYSSEY 21 ready successfully in time for the Enel X Island X Prix
showpiece.
In treacherous conditions four of the five teams were able to
get off the start line cleanly, although ABT CUPRA XE were left with plenty of
work to do after Jutta Kleinschmidt stalled on the grid. It looked like X44 had
staged a remarkable comeback to lead into the first corner, but were beaten spectactularly
by LeDuc who managed to get in front after using the alternate route.
A
spin for Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky put JBXE at the back of the field, while
the slow-starting Kleinschmidt quickly made up ground on RXR’s Taylor to
battle for third. This soon became a three-way tussle for second as Loeb began
to lose pace as he struggled with a slow puncture, allowing LeDuc to build an
impressive lead out in front.After Loeb was forced to retire with broken steering,
Taylor and Kleinschmidt remained nose-to-tail in their battle for second as they
headed towards the Driver Switch zone.
As LeDuc exited his SEGI TV Chip
Ganassi Racing car in the Driver Switch zone following a superb opening lap, it
appeared the so-far luckless team were about to complete a heroic turnaround and
bring home their first Extreme E win. However, they were cruelly denied as Price
suffered terminal damage to her car after making contact with a rock out on the
course, which ruled them out of contention for victory and meant they could only
finish as high as fourth.
This left RXR’s Kristoffersson in the lead
and chased by Mattias Ekström, who continued on at great speed despite driving
without his left-hand door throughout the lap.
The ABT CUPRA XE driver
was no match for Kristoffersson, though, who kept up the pressure to extend his
lead and take RXR’s third win of the campaign and put his team as the firm
favourites for championship glory at the final Extreme E X Prix of the season
in Dorset, UK, in December.
Jutta Kleinschmidt, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “I
was so concentrated on the start to make it well and light and then I pushed the
car and nothing happened. I said ‘oh shoot what is going on!’
“Then
I pushed it, but everybody was gone so I had to try to come back which worked
very well. We so nearly made it ahead of RXR, but unfortunately then Mattias lost
the door so he had to slow down to not let the water come in because then maybe
you have mud inside and then you don't see anything anymore. Finally, though,
we are on the podium so we are happy.”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE, said: “Well
it was certainly a different one! We had a really good start and Mikaela did great
there, but I think she must have hit a bump wrong and got a bit of damage to the
car. However, we got it back to the Switch zone and from then on I tried to just
bring it carefully as I could around the track and in the end that was good enough
for third. It is another podium for us and I think that is great for the team.”
Mikaela
Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE, said: “In the end we started this week with
no practice lap which meant coming into Q1 with no lap, so I think we fought back
well. It is a shame what happened in the Final, though, as we got a good start.
However, like Kevin said, we delivered P3 for the team so it feels good.”
Final
Result
1. X. Rosberg X Racing (Molly Taylor / Johan Kristoffersson) 2 laps
(11.42)
2. ABT Cupra XE (Jutta Kleinschmidt / Mattias Ekström) +24.58s
3. JBXE (Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky / Kevin Hansen) +1 lap
4. SEGI TV
Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) +1 lap
5. X44 (Sébastien
Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) +2 laps
Semi-Final 1
There was immediate
drama in the first of Sunday’s wheel-to-wheel contests. At the wheel of the
Andretti United Extreme E ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV, Timmy Hansen launched off the start
line and made the best getaway as the lights went green in Semi Final 1. In doing
so, Hansen cut across the nose of SEGI TV Chip Ganassi’s Sara Price and the
two cars touched as the #23 car veered towards the left-hand lane.
In the
aftermath, the Andretti United Extreme E machine also made slight contact with
X44’s Cristina Gutiérrez. The resulting collision broke the front-left
wheel of Hansen’s car while sending Gutiérrez into a huge, high-speed
crash over the rocks. The damage from the contact ensured an instant retirement
for X44, as the team’s run of bad luck on Finals Day continued.
Hansen
would also retire on the opening lap and was later given a penalty for the incident.
This demoted the team to last place and promoted X44 into second and a place in
the Final, albeit with plenty of work to do to repair their heavily damaged car
in time.
These retirements left Price and Kyle LeDuc with a trouble-free
run to victory in Semi-Final 1 and secured SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s
first Final appearance of the season.
Semi-Final 2
With everyone still
catching their breath following the opening race of the day, Semi-Final 2 was
well set to be a classic.
Launching from the left-hand side of the grid,
Rosberg X Racing’s Johan Kristoffersson led from ABT CUPRA XE’s Mattias
Ekström and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s Carlos Sainz Snr. off the start
line.
Having started on the right-hand side of the grid Sainz Snr., the
two-time World Rally champion, briefly climbed to second, taking the alternate
route off the start line. Meanwhile Ekström followed Kristoffersson and was
slowed by the resulting dust from the RXR car in front.
ACCIONA | Sainz
XE Team’s bid for a place in the Final was short-lived, however, as Sainz
Snr. was forced to drop back due to a power steering problem.
Despite the
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team being out of contention, RXR and ABT CUPRA XE continued
to push their ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV’s to the limit. Their battle rumbled on after
the Driver Switch zone, as ABT CUPRA XE’s Kleinschmidt gave chase to RXR’s
Taylor, but the Australian star was not to be denied a comfortable Semi-Final
2 victory.
Kleinschmidt brought her ABT CUPRA XE car home to take second
place and also graduate to the Final, with Laia Sanz finishing a distant third
due to the aforementioned steering problem.
The Crazy Race
JBXE made
it back-to-back Crazy Race victories to take their place in the Enel X Island
X Prix Final.
Kevin Hansen took to the front for JBXE from the start and,
after fending off pressure from Veloce Racing’s Emma Gilmour and XITE ENERGY
RACING’s Oliver Bennett, ensured it was a lead that the team would not lose.
In her bid for first, Gilmour was forced to drop back behind Bennett as the duo
diced over second for the remainder of the opening tour.
The battle between
the two looked set to continue after the driver switch, but disaster struck both
teams on their second lap denying them a shot at victory and a place in the Final.
XITE
ENERGY RACING’s Christine GZ was forced to retire following a steering issue,
while Veloce Racing’s Stéphane Sarrazin suffered an enormous accident
and rolled the car after making contact with the rocks. Sarrazin thankfully walked
away unharmed followed his spectacular crash. Veloce Racing and XITE ENERGY RACING’s
demise ensured Hansen and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky were able to claim a
comfortable Crazy Race win and graduate to the final.
Championship Standings
1.
Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 129 points
2. X44 (Sébastien
Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 113 points
3. Andretti United Extreme E
(Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) 93 points
4. JBXE (Kevin Hansen / Mikaela
Åhlin-Kottulinsky) 92 points
5. ABT CUPRA XE (Mattias Ekström /
Jutta Kleinschmidt) 83 points
6. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz Snr.
/ Laia Sanz) 78 points
7. SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle Leduc / Sara Price)
63 points
8. Veloce Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Emma Gilmour) 60 points
9. XITE ENERGY RACING (Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca) 55 points
To
learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-24
Tredje segern i Extreme E
Johan Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor
i Rosberg X Racing-teamet tog sin tredje seger för säsongen i Extreme
E. De stärkte därmed greppet om mästerskapstiteln inför sista
deltävlingen.
- Otroligt bra att kunna ta ytterligare en seger, trots
en hel del problem i början, summerar Kristoffersson.
Sardinien fick
stå som värd för den fjärde rundan av elbilsserien Extreme
E, efter att tävlingen i Argentina fick strykas till följd av Covid-19-relaterade
problem. Den italienska ön bjöd på en krävande bana som krävde
sina offer.
Även Rosberg X Racing hade problem till en början,
inte minst då Molly Taylor som rullade ett helt varv under det första
kvalet.
- Ett tekniskt problem som gjorde att ratten slogs ur händerna
på Molly, berättar Johan.
Det betydde en sjätte plats så
långt för Nico Rosbergs tyska team.
I den andra kvalomgången
tog den svensk-australiensiska förarduon revansch och körde upp sig
till andra plats inför söndagens finaler.
- Bra comeback där
och viktiga poäng i mästerskapet.
Finalpasset blev dramatiskt
så till vida att ett flertal bilar blev stående efter haverier. Kristoffersson
och Taylor fortsatte däremot att göra sitt jobb och körde hem sin
semifinal.
- Den var väl minst dramatisk för min del. Jag fick en
bra start och sedan kunde Molly säkert ta bilen i mål.
I finalen
var det fem bilar på startlinjen och för RXR inledde Molly Taylor,
som körde klokt och avancerade upp till andra plats efter en något
avvaktande start.
- Molly var smart och gav sig inte in i några stora
fighter, utan hade mästerskapstänket i bakhuvudet. Vi vet ju att det
blir tekniska problem på en så krävande bana.
Kristoffersson
tog över och när ledande duon Leduc/Price i Chip Ganassi Racing också
tvingades bryta kunde Johan defilera hem segern i Enel X Island X Prix före
Kleinschmidt/Ekström i ABT Cupra XE.
- Det gäller att alltid väga
hastighet mot risk. Nu blev det bara två bilar som kom i mål i finalen.
Jag hade 40 sekunder upp till ledningen när jag gav mig ut och försökte
bara hålla ett bra tempo. När jag fick höra att Sarah hade problem
så var det bara att ta bilen i mål utan några risker.
Eftersom
främsta hotet om mästerskapstiteln, X44 med Sébastien Loeb och
Cristina Gutiérrez, tvingades bryta i ett ännu tidigare skede av finalen
kunde RXR dra ifrån i totalställningen. Kristoffersson/Taylor ökade
från nio poängs försprång till sexton inför sista deltävlingen.
-
Visst det är en bra ledning, men det går att ta maximalt 42 poäng
så det är långt ifrån klart. Vi måste fortfarande
ha en bra helg i England, påpekar Kristoffersson.
Årets sista race
har alltså också flyttats, från Brasilien till Bovington på
engelska sydkusten, och avgörs 18-19 december under namnet Jurassic X Prix.
21-10-23
X44 claims top qualifier spot for Enel X Island X Prix
Following
three action-packed races in Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Greenland, the Extreme
E paddock arrived in Sardinia for the Enel X Island X Prix all set to tackle a
course widely expected to be the most technically challenging of the season so
far.
The unique course, located at the Capo Teulada military training area,
inland from the coastal town of Porto Pino on Sardinia’s southwest coast,
has provided a new challenge for the 18-world class drivers, with a variety of
lanes and routes for those behind the wheel of their ODYSSEY 21 machines to take
in order to maximise their performance.
Once again, though, it was X44’s
Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez who ended Saturday qualifying
ahead of the pack.Despite an off-course excursion for Gutiérrez during
her Qualifying 1 lap, the #44 squad’s overall pace in the morning session
ensured they topped the timesheets maintaining their 100 per cent record as fastest
qualifiers. A trouble-free Qualifying 2 run meant for an even faster time in the
afternoon session, ensuring Gutiérrez and four-time Sardinian Rally winner
Loeb headed the field once more and confirmed their fourth-consecutive top qualifier
spot.
X44 accrued a maximum 18 points, seven more than their nearest competitors
and championship rivals Rosberg X Racing to lay down the gauntlet for their rivals
on Finals day.
Rosberg X Racing were the second fastest qualifiers, recovering
impressively after the team had opened today’s qualifying in spectacular
fashion. Molly Taylor rolled the squad’s ODYSSEY 21 on her opening run but,
just like at the Arctic X Prix in Greenland, the Australian star remained unphased
and completed her run to end RXR’s morning session sixth fastest. This left
the championship leaders with plenty of work to do in Qualifying 2, and despite
Johan Kristoffersson losing time on the second lap after the rear of the car leapt
into the air in one of the undulating sections towards the end of the seven-kilometre
route, their pace was still good enough to finish third in the session and second
overall.
ABT CUPRA XE showed consistent speed throughout qualifying after
overcoming power steering problems in yesterday’s Free Practice. Both Mattias
Ekström and Jutta Kleinschmidt enjoyed clean runs out on the course in the
morning session to finish fourth fastest in Qualifying 1. Despite a minor spin
for Ekström during his afternoon run, ABT CUPRA XE ended Qualifying 2 fifth
fastest to secure third overall.
Despite picking up bodywork damage in
Qualifying 1, the ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team pairing of Carlos Sainz Snr. and Laia
Sanz enjoyed an impressive start and were second quickest in the morning session.
However, a spin for Sanz on her Qualifying 2 run, caused by a steering issue,
hampered the team’s progress in the afternoon session, while a reset by Sainz
in the switch zone caused further delays. Sainz brought the car home safely to
finish eighth quickest in Qualifying 2 and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s earlier
speed ensured they finished fourth fastest overall.
SEGI TV Chip Ganassi
Racing were quick out of the blocks in Free Practice, but disaster struck early
on in Qualifying 1 as Sara Price was forced to abort her lap with a broken suspension.
This meant the team were unable to set a time and ended the morning session in
last. However, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing bounced back in impressive style in
the Qualifying 2, with Kyle LeDuc and Price posting the second fastest time of
the afternoon to end the day fifth fastest.
Arctic X Prix winners Andretti
United Extreme E endured a difficult start in Qualifying 1 with Timmy Hansen suffering
a power steering issue out on the course. Although the problem was resolved in
the driver switch zone in time for Catie Munnings’ first run, those earlier
reliability troubles ensured the team could only manage seventh in the morning
session. Hansen and Munnings, though, were able to demonstrate the true speed
of their car in the afternoon session, finishing Qualifying 2 fourth fastest and
sixth in the combined classification.
After suffering suspension damage
in Free Practice, JBXE’s ODYSSEY 21 was repaired and ready for Qualifying
1. Kevin Hansen and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky made up for lost time out
on the course and their consistent speed secured fifth in the morning session.
However, Åhlin-Kottulinsky spun towards the end of her Qualifying 2 lap
and Hansen suffered minor damage on his run, which ensured JBXE finished sixth
quickest in the afternoon session and seventh overall.
After looking quick
in Free Practice, Veloce Racing backed that up with an impressive Qualifying 1
as Stéphane Sarrazin and Emma Gilmour enjoyed a clear run to secure the
third fastest time. However, their progress was curtailed in the afternoon session
as Sarrazin suffered significant damage out on the course, meaning the team were
unable to set a Qualifying 2 time and ended the overall qualifying classification
in eight.
XITE ENERGY RACING suffered steering damage early in their Qualifying
1 run which meant they were unable to set a time and ended the session in eighth.
However, Oliver Bennett and Christine GZ were both able to complete their runs
in Qualifying 2, despite Bennett receiving a 10-second penalty for a missing a
checkpoint. That resulted in the team ending the afternoon session seventh quickest
and ninth in the overall classification.
X44, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing
and Andretti United Extreme E progress through to Semi-Final 1 while Rosberg X
Racing, ABT CUPRA XE and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team go through to Semi-Final 2 with
the top two from each race booking a slot on the grid for the Final. The Crazy
Race will feature the bottom three teams – JBXE, Veloce Racing and XITE ENERGY
RACING – with the winner earning themselves a place in the Final. With each
Semi-Final now offering the opportunity to make it to the Final, it’s all
to play for on finals day at the Enel X Island X Prix.
Wheel-to-wheel action
gets underway tomorrow (Sunday, 24 October). For more information on how to watch
in your region, click here.
Qualifying points classification*
1 X44
(Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 18 points
2 Rosberg X Racing
(Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 11 points
3 ABT CUPRA XE (Mattias Ekström
/ Jutta Kleinschmidt) 11 points
4 ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz / Laia
Sanz) 10 points
5 SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) 9 points
6
Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings) 9 points
7 JBXE (Kevin
Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky) 9 points
8 Veloce Racing (Stéphane
Sarrazin / Emma Gilmour) 8 points
9 XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi
(Oliver Bennett / Christine Giampaoli Zonca) 5 points
*Qualifying points
classification is a provisional result
Semi-Final 1: X44, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi
Racing and Andretti United Extreme E
Semi-Final 2: Rosberg X Racing, ABT CUPRA
XE and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team
Crazy Race: JBXE, Veloce Racing and XITE ENERGY
RACING
Driver quotes
Sébastien Loeb, X44, said: “We achieved
what we wanted to today which was to be the fastest team so I’m very happy
with the result. It’s the fourth race now that we have come first in qualifying
- which is great - but we know that the hardest challenge comes with the semi-final
and final so we will continue to focus and do what we can to beat the other teams.
At the moment the track is quite dry and can have a lot of dust so we need to
make sure we have the best start possible tomorrow.”
Cristina Gutiérrez,
X44, said: “Today was a difficult day because the track is not an easy one.
It can be narrow and tricky in places so it was really important to take a good
line, but ultimately Seb and I came first in both rounds of qualifying so of course
we’re happy with the result. Tomorrow we need to take on Andretti United
and Chip Ganassi Racing in the semi-final so it will be a tough challenge but
we’re feeling confident.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing,
said: “The circuit is certainly demanding here in Sardinia with many technical
challenges and of course, the first water splash of the season so it’s been
an interesting start to the weekend for myself and Molly. I think we can take
a lot of positives from qualifying today and I’m looking forward to racing
tomorrow, especially now we are even more familiar with the racing lines.”
Molly
Taylor, Rosberg X Racing driver, said: “We anticipated this would be a challenging
course and we were correct. Despite having a roll in the first session, I’m
pleased we didn’t lose too much time and I really then focussed on Round
2, making sure I could give the team the best result possible. The field is looking
very close so I think tomorrow will provide an exciting race.”
Mattias
Ekström, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “While the first run today was trouble-free
I had a little 360 in the second qualifying which I hope everyone liked to watch.
That put us into the second semifinal where the start will be crucial as track
position will be key considering all the dust. In general, the track is pretty
cool. It’s very bumpy, very rough and fast.”?
Jutta Kleinschmidt,
ABT CUPRA XE, said: “It was a day with ups and downs for us. Finally, we
ended up in third position which leaves everything on the table for tomorrow.
The track is very demanding and provides a lot of places to make mistakes so let’s
make only very few of them. Tomorrow is a completely different day when we are
not going for the fastest time but racing against each other. That’s going
to be very exciting.”
Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team,
said: “I have a bittersweet feeling at the moment. Qualifying 1 was pretty
good because we finished second, but in Qualifying 2 we ran into several technical
issues that dragged us back and that cost us a lot of time. In the end, we qualified
in fourth place. Tomorrow we will race in the Semi-Final 2 against strong competition,
but we will give our best, as we always do.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA |
Sainz XE Team, said: “We finished fourth in Qualifying. We were second in
Qualifying 1 and we were pretty satisfied with that because both myself and Carlos
had a really good pace. It is a shame what happened in the afternoon. It is a
bittersweet feeling because we couldn’t hold on to the pace that we wanted
due to an issue in the steering system. This cost us some time, but we are still
optimistic going into Sunday because we know our pace is there. We want to leave
this X Prix with a good result. Hopefully, we will do a good semi-final and we
will qualify for the final.”
Sara Price, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing,
said: “Today was a wild one for us to say the least. This morning was a little
wild in the car. I got a little out of sorts and into a rock in the first qualifying
that resulted in some damage to the left rear suspension. The guys got everything
fixed up and our second round laps were good. We pulled off second fast in that
round, which put us fifth overall for qualifying. It's a really good spot for
us. We finally got some more track time in, and we’re able to work some bugs
out. So hopefully tomorrow goes good.”
Kyle LeDuc, SEGI TV Chip Ganassi
Racing, said: “Round one did not go very well for us, but round two went
really well. Me and Sara put two good lap together for a good overall time. I
ran first and Sara brought the car home for the final lap. We had a couple of
mistakes, but bounced back for a solid day. We’re all happy with how we finished
the day, and are looking forward to tomorrow.”
Timmy Hansen, Andretti
United Extreme E, said: “Qualifying 1 didn’t go to plan - just over
100m into the lap, the power
steering went so I lost a lot of time. I have
an old shoulder injury from 2016 and I dislocated my right shoulder, but I managed
to push on. I was happy to get the car back to Catie [Munnings], but I was obviously
disappointed to lose time. I got some painkillers from the medical team afterwards
and everything felt better in Qualifying 2. The adrenaline kicks in anyway! Today
was about managing the car, I’m sure some people at home probably ask why
do we risk it but honestly it’s hard to take it steady in these cars - we
are racing drivers after all!”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme
E, said: “The track is here is tough, with so many different routes you can
take
which we’ve seen a lot today, but generally we’re happy with
our pace despite some of the issues we had. In any case, some of the teams who
didn’t do well in Qualifying 1 didn’t fare so well in the second qualifying,
which is where we did much better and managed to get back up the leaderboard.
Timmy and I have got some prep to do tonight so that we’re
ready to battle
tomorrow in the semis.”
Stéphane Sarrazin, Veloce Racing, said:
“Qualifying 1 was very good, we ended up P3 which is our best performance
in
quali since the start of the season. The car was really good and the
team did a great job, Emma was really fast also. Unfortunately, during the second
qualifying session I went into the second sector and one part of the power steering
was broken so I had to stop on the course. It was a shame we weren’t able
to continue but we still showed good pace again.”
Emma Gilmour, Veloce
Racing, said: “It was a disappointing end to our day after such a great start.
We were all really
happy with our pace this morning, Stéphane and
I were driving well together and improving the car. We were in a strong position
so when the car just broke in Q2 it was so disappointing for the team. Obviously
now we end up in the crazy race which means we have one shot at getting through
to the final. I’m going to be first in the car so it’s going to be a
really important start tomorrow morning, we need to pick the right line and attack
hard so bring it on!”
To learn more about Extreme
E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-23
X44 set the pace in practice ahead of Enel X Island X Prix
The
course action got underway in Sardinia today as 18 world-class drivers had their
first taste of the 7-kilometre Enel X Island X Prix course, widely anticipated
to be among the most challenging experienced so far this season.
Solid
rock bases and water splashes have brought new challenges to the Extreme E field,
and being able to master these difficult conditions quickly ensures there is all
to play for in the series’ inaugural European round.
Alejandro Agag,
Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We love this location and it’s
great also to see the St. Helena from the course. It’s really great to be
in Europe and the response we have had to the race has been fantastic.
“I
would like to thank our hosts, the Italian Army, and the region of Sardinia which
is truly an amazing place. It is also great to have the Island X Prix’s title
sponsor, Enel X, here this weekend. We have a very long relationship with Enel
X, first from
Formula E and now with Extreme E.
“Sardinia has
proven to be a very different setting to our last race in the Arctic in Greenland.
It’s been great watching the cars out on the course, especially as it’s
really tough here. We will have to see how it is with the dust and if we have
rain over the weekend. We have many things in motion, and so we will have to see
how it is tomorrow and during the racing on Sunday.”
Michele Cecchini,
Head of E Motorsport at Enel X, said: “We at Enel X are very proud to be
here as part of this championship. It’s extremely fascinating in terms of
sustainability and how we can improve motorsport, and we are super excited to
be a part of that.
“We want to develop technologies, we want to develop
effective solutions and we believe that in motorsport we can really define what
the real requirements are. We like the idea of accelerating what we are doing
with motorsport, particularly in Sardinia.
“It has been hard to see
what has happened here in Sardinia, and so alongside developing sustainable solutions
we are very pleased that we have been able to be part of the recovery programme
here.”
A brief Shakedown session was followed by Free Practice and
seeing the cars back on the course for the first time since August certainly whet
the appetite for tomorrow’s qualifying runs and Sunday’s all-important
Finals.
Championship challengers X44 were fastest out of the blocks in
the Free Practice session, posting a total time of 11:53:421 to head the field.
SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing were second quickest, just under 20 seconds off X44’s
leading pace, as they bid to end their luckless season so far at the Enel X Island
X Prix.
Behind them were the early Free Practice pace-setters Veloce Racing,
whose clean run ensured they finished third fastest. XITE ENERGY RACING enjoyed
a solid start to the weekend and ended the session in fourth ahead of Championship
leaders Rosberg X Racing who completed the top five runners.
ABT CUPRA
XE suffered technical difficulties out on the course, which meant they were unable
to demonstrate their true pace and ended the session in sixth. ACCIONA | Sainz
XE Team picked up damage and suffered a power steering problem on their Free Practice
run which meant they were seventh quickest.
The top-two last time out in
Greenland endured a troubled start to the Enel X Island X Prix. Both Andretti
United Extreme E and JBXE suffered significant damage in Free Practice which meant
they were unable to complete their respective runs, with both squads now in a
race against the clock to get their cars fixed ahead of tomorrow’s qualifying
sessions.
Sébastien Loeb, X44, said: “I have some good memories
from Sardinia in WRC, so I like this surface to drive on. It is a bit different
from what we had in the other events with a lot of sand and big ruts, so you know
it is hard. It is a bit more like a rallying style of driving, with more routes
and some tight corners.
“Hopefully it will be fine for us and hopefully
the other teams will find the solutions to the different problems they had so
we will have a good fight this weekend.”
Sara Price, SEGI TV Chip
Ganassi Racing, said: “I like this kind of terrain – it reminds me of
home and also the Baja. It is going well so far and we just want to keep it that
way, so we’re going to go out there and do the best we possibly can.”
Carlos
Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, said: “In terms of driving I really
like the course. It is very complete – you have low, medium and high-speed
elements and I would say it is a complete course. It is challenging and that’s
good.
“We are hoping for a good weekend, but we have unfortunately
not started well. We had an issue in practice which meant we couldn’t complete
the run – we lost our power steering which meant that I nearly lost the car
on the course. It is a pity, especially for Laia [Sanz] being unable to get a
true feel for the car. It means we go into qualifying with a lot of unknowns,
but hopefully we can prepare well and have a good run tomorrow."
Molly
Taylor, Rosberg X Racing, said: “You have to take every corner as it comes.
It is interesting because you can see that there is a lot of attrition and typically
on a course like this it is more of an endurance course, but then you only have
7-kilometre of it so it is also a sprint. Managing that is certainly a challenge
here. We just need to take every corner as it comes and see where we’re at
and put our best foot forward.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme
E, said: “When I did the course walk, I was really nervous about it as it’s
really rough and bumpy. I would say it’s one of the hardest courses we’ve
had in the championship, especially after coming off smooth Greenland - but I’ve
actually really enjoyed it. I thought it would be one of those things where you
are trying to survive, but I managed to get in the flow with it.
“Timmy
[Hansen] touched a rock on his run and that broke a rear damper. It wasn’t
a perfect run for me either, but the sectors were fast and we’ll look to
build on that tomorrow.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, JBXE: “We
had a rough start. Neither Kevin nor I managed to do a lap in free practice so
it is going to be tough for sure for tomorrow. But we had a good weekend in Greenland,
we showed good pace, and we just want to keep going that way.
“We
have been watching the others, though, so we will try to figure out what are the
best lines and then just drive after what we see. It is a challenging course,
so I think it is about pushing where you can push and keeping it safe where you
have to keep it safe.”
Qualifying for the Enel X Island X Prix gets
underway tomorrow and will be shown across a number of broadcasters includingMediaset
in Italy, Fox Sports in the USA, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels and BT
Sport in the UK, Teledeporte in Spain, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, as well as Eurosport
across most European Markets.
A full list of broadcasters can be found
here: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/broadcast-information
All
times CEST
Saturday 23 October
1100 – 1300 CEST Qualifying Round 1
1600
- 1800 CEST Qualifying Round 2
Sunday 24 October
1200 – 1330 CEST
Semi Finals
1600 – 1800 CEST Final
To learn more about Extreme
E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-20 Extreme E reveals Enel
X Island X Prix course
With Extreme E’s Enel X Island X Prix
on the horizon - which has been supported by the Automobile Club Italia (ACI),
Regione Sardegna and Esercito Italiano - the electric off-road series is excited
to reveal a thrilling course that brings the nine teams and 18 world-class drivers
to the shores of Sardinia.
The Mediterranean island will present one
of the toughest challenges to date for both the drivers and the ODYSSEY 21. Coming
off the back of a hot Italian summer, which saw a record high of 48.8 degrees
centigrade in Sicily, the dry terrain will be baked hard compared with the relatively
forgiving sands of Saudi Arabia and Senegal.
Inland from the coastal
town of Porto Pino on Sardinia’s southwest coast, the undulating course sits
within the Capo Teulada training area. The elevation change is not as dramatic
as Saudi Arabia or Greenland, with a modest change of 28 metres, but it is the
rutted terrain that will provide the toughest challenge.
The start of
the course provides a unique opportunity for the drivers, with a multi-lane section
offering very different approaches before the cars rejoin and resume battle. Doing
their homework on the course will form a crucial part of team preparation, as
the optimal combination of speed and distance could prove elusive.
Having
rejoined the main course, the drivers will take a sharp left and traverse a more
open, but bumpy plain. Another left followed by a right will take the all-electric
SUVs over one of the small inland hills, before a fast, downhill section leads
them into the first of two water splashes. Small trees and bushes form the scenery
of the next section of the course, which the cars will carve their way through
before dipping their Continental tyres in the water for a second time.
The course then winds its way through narrow turns and over more inland rises,
before heading out to one of the fastest sections. This long, flat run down to
a tight ninety-degree left turn will provide a good opportunity to exploit Hyperdrive.
More carefully navigated turns bring the drivers to the last section of the
lap. A short, twisting portion is soon followed by a fast trip over the largest
inland hill, where the ODYSSEY 21s are likely to go airborne. The drivers will
then need to hit the brakes for a short but steep ten metre drop and another ninety-degree
left-hander.
A fast and flat section leaves just a final right turn to
go, finishing off the striking seven-kilometre course of the Enel X Island X Prix.
Championship Drivers Timo Scheider and Tamara Molinaro have been testing
the course ahead of racing getting underway this weekend.
Watch the lap
here: https://youtu.be/mPQ14MEZzDs
Timo Scheider said: “The challenge is really high this time. It will
be totally different to what we’ve seen in the entire season. We have a solid
rock base here and water splashes which are brand new to the challenges we’ve
had so far this year, but for me the biggest challenges in Sardinia are the hidden
bumps.
“We have some medium to high speed corners so weight transfer
is very crucial, you have to be super sensible on the surface, the hidden bumps
will create trouble I’m sure so for people watching it at home, it will be
mega. The drivers will have to be very focused.”
Tamara Molinaro
adds: “Like always in Extreme E, for sure it’s very difficult,”
she said.
“It’s really tricky in some places with bumps and compressions
that you can’t really spot from being in the car, so it will be an interesting
weekend. We have a really hard compact gravel, which has a different grip level
compared to the surfaces we’ve seen so far.
The action starts tomorrow
with Shakedown and Free Practice, followed by Qualifying on Saturday and the Finals
on Sunday, which will be aired on a host of global broadcasters incuding Mediaset
in Italy, ITV, BT Sport, Sky Sports and BBC digital channels in the UK, Eurosport
throughout Europe, FOX Sports in the USA, plus many more available to view here
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-18 Extreme E set for first
European round this weekend
The Enel X Island X Prix takes place
this weekend (23-24 October) at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente in Sardinia.
Following on from the thrilling racing in Greenland in August, the world-class
teams and drivers are hunting down success on an all-new course on an island which
is no stranger to the world of motorsport.
Last time out, RXR’s
winning streak was broken by Andretti United Extreme E, who were joined on the
podium by JBXE and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, which has shaken up the leaderboard.
RXR still top the table on 93 points and, if things go right this weekend, could
mathematically take the Season 1 Champion title, but X44 sitting second on 84
points and Andretti United Extreme E on 76 points will be racing hard alongside
the remaining six teams to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Alejandro
Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Our Sardinian race is shaping
up to be a true spectacle and I can’t wait to see the teams battling it out
on the course for victory at our penultimate event of Season 1. Sardinia has a
rich motorsport heritage and won’t be unfamiliar territory for some of our
drivers, but the course will be one full of challenges.
“The island
has been suffering at the hands of the climate crisis, and I’m really pleased
our Legacy Programmes here will be two-fold, focussing on both the land and the
ocean through reforestation in areas affected by wildfires, which are still so
front of mind, and blue carbon through seagrass restoration and conservation.
“I would like to thank all of our partners for their continued support
of the series, especially our friends at Enel X who are title sponsor of our first
European event. I’m looking forward to hearing thought leadership talks from
them, plus our Scientific Committee, as we strive to raise awareness of issues
and solutions all while inspiring change.”
Motorsport heritage
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Western Mediterranean and is well
known for hosting motorsport events, arguably most famously the Rally Italia Sardegna,
which has been on the World Rally Championship calendar since 2004 and has been
won by X44’s Sebastien Loeb four times.
The island hosted its first
ever motorsport event back in 1922 – the Corsa Gentleman Sardi from Cagliari
to Suelli - plus the Rally di Sardegna taking place from 1957 to 1968. In 1978,
the first edition of the Rally Costa Smeralda was held and is widely recognised
as the time when legendary rally brand Lancia showcased its latest models including
the famous S4 and 037. This event last ran in 1992, however in 2018 the Costa
Smeralda Rally dedicated to historic rally cars was introduced and is part of
the Italian Championship.
The challenge
This course, like each one
so far, will present a whole new set of challenges for car and driver. After a
hot Italian summer, the ground will be baked hard compared to the soft sands teams
have become accustomed to. Not only that, but the terrain will also be rutted
and the course will feature fast, downhill sections, water splashes, and natural
obstacles in the form of trees and bushes. The full course will be revealed later
this week.
The only thing connecting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21s to
the course are the tyres, and sometimes even those are off the ground, as the
cars fly over various natural obstacles. Creating those tyres is the championship’s
Founding Partner Continental.
Catarina Silva, Team Leader for Product
Management Summer, 4x4 and Van Products at Continental said: “The particularly
versatile track in Sardinia again places new demands on our tyres. It was a demanding
challenge to develop a tyre that, as an all-rounder, can master not only the terrain
in Sardinia but also in all other racing locations - especially since its intended
use is not normal driving but racing. So far, the Extreme E Cross Contact has
been convincing in all races, but we are particularly excited about the next race.”
Race rules recap
The Enel X Island X Prix will follow the same format
as the Arctic X Prix with qualifying taking place on Saturday 23 October. There
will be one session in the morning and one in the afternoon with each team completing
two laps of the course, one per driver with a Driver Switch. The times recorded
across the morning session will equate to classification points meaning first
place receives 9 points, second place 8, third place 7 and so on. The same then
happens in the afternoon with classification points awarded on the same scale.
The combined total of these classification points provides the intermediate
standings, and the remaining races will take place as follows:
The teams
will be listed 1st to 9th place based on the total combined points of each team’s
two Qualifying runs.
Teams placed in first, fifth and sixth progress to Semi-Final
1, where the top two finishers claim spots in the Enel X Island X Prix Final.
Second, third and fourth from Qualifying go through to Semi-Final 2, where again
the top two progress to the Enel X Island X Prix Final.
The bottom three teams
(7th, 8th and 9th) head to the Crazy Race, with the winner reaching the Enel X
Island X Prix Final.
The Enel X Island X Prix Final features five cars.
The ‘Continental Traction Challenge’ formally known as the ‘Super
Sector’ was won by Arctic X Prix winner Andretti United Extreme E’s
Timmy Hansen in Greenland, bagging an extra five points for his team. With the
top of the table so close these points could prove vital. They are awarded to
the fastest driver in a pre-determined section of the course over the weekend.
The nine teams and 18 drivers are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE - #125 –
Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team - #55 –
Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz
Andretti United Extreme E - #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 / Emma Gilmour
X44 - #44 – Sébastien
Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez
GridPlay
GridPlay, which allows
fans to vote for their favourite team, and in turn influence the starting line-up
for the Final will open at 1100 CEST on Wednesday 20 October and close at 1700
CEST on Saturday 23 October.
Sardinia and the climate crisis
Scientists
are warning of worsening extreme weather patterns if global temperatures continue
to rise without solutions being put in place to cut carbon emissions, and that
greenhouse gas levels are already too high for a manageable future for humanity.
Rising temperatures and wildfires are now a threat across every continent.
In just the last couple of years the world has seen devastation in the Amazon,
Australia, Siberia, Canada and the Mediterranean region. With thresholds already
crossed by climate change, wildfires are more extensive, more intense, and more
damaging.
In the Mediterranean alone, it will take at least 15 years
to rebuild the woods and the trees destroyed by the flames that have reached pastures,
olive trees, sheds, barns with fodder stocks and agricultural vehicles, and killed
animals including 30 million bees - and represent a calamity costing incalculable
damage to agriculture in over 20,000 hectares burned.
Ultimately, the
driver of all this is climate change. To reduce the devastation, carbon emissions
need to be reduced. If the world continues as it is the carbon emissions by the
end of the century will make the wildfires of recent years look modest.
Extreme E is at the forefront of the drive towards a better future, a new way
of doing things and a world which does not rely on deadly carbon emissions.
Positive Impacts
Extreme E will be working alongside MEDSEA (Mediterranean
Sea and Coast Foundation) in Sardinia to support two significant projects.
The first explores Green Carbon, incorporating the recovery response to this
year’s devastating forest fires on the island. The second project supports
the conservation of Posidonia oceanica (seagrass), mitigating the detrimental
effects of Blue Carbon in Mediterranean waters.
During July 2021 there
were 13,000 more wildfires in Italy than has ever been recorded before. The resulting
calamity has resulted in incalculable damage to thousands of people’s livelihoods,
as well as to nature. It is estimated that it will take at least 15 years to rebuild
the 20,000 hectares of land impacted.
Working alongside MEDSEA, Extreme
E personnel and volunteers will meet the affected communities and work alongside
local NGOs, including Italy’s environmental association, Legambiente, to
support the mammoth forest restoration project. Additionally, in collaboration
with Extreme E, EY will launch a forest fire mapping and detection tool that can
help firefighters make more timely and informed decisions, and ultimately help
to save lives, property and biodiversity from the effects of wildfires.
Posidonia oceanica, which is instrumental in sequestering harmful ‘Blue Carbon’,
is also under threat. However, research has shown that replanting seagrass can
be an effective tool in significantly improving the overall ecosystem function.
The Smithsonian Institute estimates that just a hectare of seagrass can produce
100,000 litres of oxygen a day. Extreme E’s own scientists, in partnership
with ENEL, will also be working with MEDSEA to reconnect and replenish the seagrass
beds of Posidonia oceanica in the waters of the Marine Protected Areas around
Sardinia.
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
Mediaset in Italy, Fox Sports in the USA, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC digital channels
and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte in Spain, Prosieben MAXX in Germany, as well
as Eurosport across most European Markets.
A full list of broadcasters
can be found here: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/broadcast-information
All times CEST
Friday 22 October
2100 – 2130 CEST Shakedown
airs on website and social channels
Saturday 23 October
1100 –
1300 CEST Qualifying Round 1
1600 - 1800 CEST Qualifying Round 2
Sunday 24 October
1200 – 1330 CEST Semi Finals
1600 – 1800 CEST
Final
Make your mark
The series welcomes everyone to get involved
in the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge – a set of steps all with reducing
carbon footprint in mind.
The aim is to use the power of sport and 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, and with COP26 just around the corner there couldn’t
be a more important time for action.
Steps include walking more, eating
more plant-based foods and driving an electric vehicle, and fans then attribute
them to their favourite team and the team with the most steps at the end of the
season will win the Extreme E Sustainability Award.
To learn more about
Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-14 Enel X named title
sponsor of Island X Prix
Extreme E is delighted to announce its
upcoming event will be known as the Enel X Island X Prix, following title support
from its Official Smart Charging Partner.
Italian-based Enel X joined
forces with Extreme E earlier this year, using the series to develop and test
new innovations by providing charging technology as well as the JuicePump 40 Race
Edition. The company is the innovative business line of Enel and has strong roots
in the energy industry working across sustainability, digitalisation and innovation.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I’m delighted
Enel X has extended our partnership to become headline sponsor of this event.
The brand is already supporting the series through its charging technology, which
is invaluable as we showcase new innovations in electric motorsport.
“It made perfect sense to select our first European event in its home country
to bolster its support for the series. As a brand, Enel X is at the forefront
of charging technology, which is essential for the planet if we are to reduce
carbon emissions, 30 per cent of which is attributed to travel.”
Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X, said: “As title sponsor of the Island
X Prix, we at Enel X are pleased to support Sardinia with legacy projects as evidence
of our commitment to making concrete contributions to the region, which Enel X
is paying particular attention to through its projects aimed at encouraging the
electrification of energy use.
“We will continue to bring our technological
expertise to help explore the full potential of electric mobility, a key element
in our mission to fight climate change and accelerate the energy transition.”
The Enel X Island X Prix will take place in the Army Training area at Capo
Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente, an historic area situated in the South-West of Sardinia.
It will feature two epic days of racing from some of the biggest names in the
sport including Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz Snr., the Hansen brothers
of Rallycross fame, Catie Munnings, Molly Taylor, Laia Sanz plus motorsport heavyweights
behind the scenes in the form of team owners Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and
Jenson Button.
The championship’s Legacy Programmes will focus on
green and coastal blue carbon, which is the carbon captured and stored by terrestrial
ecosystems and vegetated coastal ecosystems respectively, working with MEDSEA,
including the recovery response to this year’s devastating forest fires in
Sardinia, as well as restoration and conservation of Posidonica oceanica (seagrass).
In addition, leading scientists – both local and global – will
provide a series of seminars highlighting climate change issues and solutions,
one of which is decarbonisation, which Enel X is at the heart of with its chargers
for electric vehicles of today and the future.
The Enel Group is also
contributing to the championship with the Group’s non-profit organisation
Enel Foundation, which has been one of Extreme E’s Founding Scientific Partners
since July 2020.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-12 UK confirmed
for Extreme E Season 1 finale
Extreme E, the sport for purpose
electric off-road racing series, has today confirmed that its Season 1 finale,
‘the Jurassic X Prix’ will take place in Bovington, in the UK’s
South Coast county of Dorset, on 18-19 December 2021.
Alejandro Agag,
Extreme E Founder and CEO, said: “I’m very excited by this race location
– our first event on UK soil. This move is a poignant shift in our mission
to race in remote, far-away places to highlight the effects of climate change,
as more increasingly, the issues we talk about are literally happening in our
backyards so it felt like the right time to bring the spotlight home, and help
the army reduce its own carbon footprint.
“The world needs to move
forward when it comes to the combustion engine and many other practices, and what
better way to symbolise that than with a Jurassic themed X Prix. Unless we push
forward with climate and sustainability action, certain species risk becoming
extinct, and that is something we simply cannot ignore any longer.”
Bovington is a well-known British Army military base and sits just off the Jurassic
Coastline. Extreme E is working closely with the British Ministry of Defence and
Army which has recently revealed its climate change and sustainability strategy.
The strategy combines the mitigation of environmental impact whilst maintaining
military output. It aims to do this by reducing emissions and scaling up the transition
to renewables, thus contributing to the UK’s aim to be net zero by 2050.
Efforts have started already with the Army piloting electric armoured vehicles
and carbon efficient accommodation.
Major General Simon Hutchings OBE
said: “The British Army prides itself on its ability to conduct operations
in all environments, adapting and developing its skills as required. The opportunity
to work alongside Extreme E who are world leaders in electrification of vehicles
and sustainable energy production is very exciting. It will enable us to share
innovative ideas which will allow the Army to continue to gain technology advantage
globally, whilst also contributing to our climate and sustainability targets.”
The racing will be as exciting as ever with a course designed to include
natural obstacles putting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 through its paces to crown
the eventual winning combination of car, team and driver. Each team fields both
a male and female driver who will complete a lap each with a Driver Switch built
into the format. With points up for grabs throughout the race weekend, some of
the best drivers in the world plus the instant speed of all-electric mobility,
the concluding X Prix is set to be a showstopper.
Jenson Button, JBXE
Team Principal said: “It is brilliant news that Extreme E's Season finale
will be held in the UK. I’ve been lucky enough to race on UK soil a number
of times throughout my career and those memories will always be incredibly special
to me.
“Heading off-road at Bovington will be a totally different
experience but equally as special as I’ll be the one watching and supporting
Kevin and Mikaela and the rest of the JBXE team as we push for a strong finish
to the season. After back-to-back podiums, if we can carry that form into Sardinia
and put ourselves in the mix for the final race then we could be in store for
an amazing finish!”
Extreme E is a partner to the UN’s Race
to Zero campaign as well as Count Us In, which challenges its fans to take steps
which reduce their own carbon footprints. These collaborations are all focussed
on tackling the global climate crisis and with road transport currently accounting
for 75 per cent of the global emissions associated with transportation, accelerating
the move to clean mobility by 2030, in line with government goals, is key to success.
Nigel Topping, UK High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26, who also
leads Race to Zero, said: “Extreme E provides an incredible platform for
accelerating the clean mobility transition and driving awareness for the climate
solutions we can, and must all adopt.
“The Jurassic X Prix follows
COP26 and provides further opportunity for the UK to keep crucial momentum, which
is imperative if we are to succeed in our goal to limit global temperature rise
to 1.5C. The shift to zero emission vehicles will hugely help reach that goal
and Extreme E demonstrates the capabilities of electric vehicles, but also their
associated technologies. It also uses the powerful platform of sport to engage
its fanbase to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint.”
Extreme E will continue with its Legacy Programme format which aims to leave long-lasting
positive impact in each country in which it races, with exact details to be revealed
in the weeks leading up to the end of year event. Not only that, the thought leadership
workshops are set to continue, and will be available to view online after the
event.
Additional Quotes:
Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, the
national governing body for motorsport, commented: “We are thrilled that
Extreme E’s global voyage will be making its way to UK shores for the 2021
season finale - the Jurassic X Prix, to be staged against the backdrop of the
spectacular Dorset coastline.
“This event comes at an important
time for Motorsport UK, as we announce our own Sustainability Strategy and seek
to address the many issues that have been looming large for a number of years
and that recent challenges have brought into even sharper focus, environmental
concerns and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion chief among them. Extreme E has
been conceived to promote those issues and the very different world we face going
forward. We look forward to seeing the first Extreme E champion crowned on UK
soil in December.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E:
“I’m really looking forward to having our final round of Extreme E here
in the UK, the race course will only be a three hour drive from my home in Kent
so it’ll be nice to be able to race on home soil after what’s been a
whirlwind of a year!
“With the United Autosports side of the business
based in the UK, it’s also great to be able to have what will effectively
be like a home race for the team too - hopefully Timmy and I can do the team proud.
The weather in December could be very wet and who knows, maybe there’s a
chance of some snow too. It will certainly be very muddy and slippery but I grew
up driving quad bikes and thrashing around in old vehicles at my family home,
including learning to drive in muddy fields in the UK, so these sort of conditions
will suit me well!"
Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing:
“It’s
really exciting to see Extreme E coming to the UK for the final race of the year.
The first season has been incredible in so many ways and to cap it off in Dorset
is going to be really important for the British drivers and teams.
“The
first race in Saudi Arabia was so different to anything any of us had experienced
before and then we followed it up with an equally spectacular setting in Senegal.
“Obviously, I wasn’t in Greenland and I won’t be in Sardinia
but they also look like venues that are pushing the boundaries of what we thought
was possible in this series, I’m sure the final round will be no different.
“As a London-based team, Veloce Racing is going to be putting its all
into Jurassic X Prix. A home race is special for any motorsport squad but as such
a young team in such an innovative series, this one is going to be extra special.”
Oliver Bennett, XITE ENERGY RACING:
“I’m so excited to see
an Extreme E race come to my home nation in the south of England near the Jurassic
coast!
“Being at the heart of innovation with racing and to see
the pioneering forefront of EV sustainable racing in a UK audience location will
be so XITE’ing. It’s going to be a tricky environment to drive in.”
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-10-08 Extreme E takes Sustainability
Title at Leaders Sports Awards
Extreme E, the pioneering sport
for purpose, has received The Sustainability Award at the prestigious Leaders
Sports ceremony held at Twickenham Stadium.
The category set out to recognise
organisations that use sport as a catalyst to promote and combat environmental
and ecological issues within society, using sport as a vehicle to communicate
and facilitate change.
This is something central to Extreme E which,
in its first season has already demonstrated a new way to deliver motorsport events
in a sustainable way through all-electric vehicles and zero-emission hydrogen
fuel cell car charging. In addition, the championship powers its paddock with
a second-life battery, utilising a ship to transport its freight in order to reduce
carbon emissions all while inspiring fans to take their own steps to reduce their
carbon footprint through its Extreme E Count Us In Challenge.
Julia Fry,
Head of Communications at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to win this
accolade from Leaders Sports, an organisation which recognises the strongest players
in the industry. As our first award, in our inaugural season this will always
be very special, and we are honoured to receive this huge endorsement for our
efforts to create the most sustainable motorsport championship possible.
“Our thanks must go out to our supporting agencies at Aurora Worldwide Media,
North One, NEP, Interstate Creative Partners and MPA Creative, who have all played
a huge role in our success. I would also like to thank our partners for their
faith and vision at the beginning of the championship journey, with special thanks
to Philipp von Hirschheydt of Continental, Rodrigo Barjas Amado of Niobium, Tommaso
Buti of LUISAVIAROMA, Marc Coltelli of EY and Julien Tornare of Zenith, for believing
in this series from the start.
“This is just the start of the journey
and there is far more to come yet.”
The series was up against some
stiff competition including Formula One, Southampton Football Club, and Formula
E.
Extreme E has big ambitions around climate change, using its platform
to raise awareness of the issues faced globally and inspire action, while also
promoting the benefits of clean mobility. It works with its own Scientific Committee
made up of world-renowned academics that inform the series and help select long-lasting
positive Legacy Programmes at each race location, that have included planting
one million mangroves in Senegal and climate education in collaboration with UNICEF
in Greenland.
The penultimate X Prix – the Island X Prix –
takes place in Sardinia, Italy from 23-24 October.
To learn more about
Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-09-24 Extreme E reveals
provisional Season 2 calendar
As the series celebrates passing
the midway point of its opening Season, Extreme E has eyes firmly fixed on the
future as it unveils early insights into how Season 2’s calendar is shaping
up.
The sport for purpose electric racing series takes place in off-road
locations as part of its mission to drive awareness of climate change issues,
such as global warming, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, wildfires and extreme
weather and desertification, whilst promoting sustainability and the adoption
of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.
Alejandro Agag, CEO
and Founder of Extreme E, explained: “We’ve had a hugely positive response
to Extreme E throughout this opening Season, from governments to NGOs, who see
great potential, not only for utilising our purpose driven sports platform to
educate on climate issues, but also to showcase the solutions that they and the
wider global community can all be part of.
“As we approach the tail
end of our first Season, we wanted to be transparent about how our second season
is shaping up in order to help enable our teams, drivers and partners to prepare.
We’ve had lots of interest, both in retaining events in locations we’ve
visited in Season 1, and from new locations and we are currently at a stage where
we have multiple options for some of our races. As an engaged championship which
aims to put fans at the heart of decision making, we are also keen to hear input
and opinions on where we should go in future Seasons too.”
Provisional
Extreme E Season 2 calendar (2022):
February 19-20: Saudi Arabia
May 7-8:
Senegal / Egypt / Tanzania
July 9-10: Greenland / Iceland
September 10-11:
Brazil / Argentina / Uruguay / Italy / Costa Rica
November 26-27: Chile
The St. Helena – the former Royal Mail Ship – provides the championship’s
floating centrepiece – carrying the series’ vehicles, logistics equipment
and paddock infrastructure as well as playing host to scientific research with
its on board laboratory, all in a bid to lower the impact of the travel logistics
compared to air travel.
Head-to-head races, known as an X Prix, take
place over two days, within an area no larger than 10 km2, with each team fielding
a male and a female driver who each complete a lap of the race course, including
a Driver Switch incorporated midway. Course designers have been tasked with carefully
selecting course options, which provide the most challenging, exciting action,
using existing obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps, in order
to minimise environmental impact.
Race organisers undergo thorough environmental,
social and economic assessments of each location with a local third party, overseen
by EY in order to safeguard environmental protection, social inclusivity and fair
practices. These reports have influenced the way Extreme E operates from water
consumption, waste management and lighting on-site through to land management
and ensuring the series races without a trace after the X Prix has finished.
Additionally, in each location, Extreme E works alongside local experts,
governments and NGOs to implement positive legacy initiatives dependent on regional
needs. Examples of Legacy Programmes in Season 1 have included; the funding of
a turtle conservation project along the Red Sea coastline; the planting of one
million mangroves with NGO TO.org and Oceanium in Senegal; cocoa agroforestry
and Amazon conservation with The Nature Conservancy in Para state, Brazil; and
the creation of a climate education syllabus for over 3,500 school children across
Greenland with UNICEF.
Professor Carlos Duarte, Extreme E’s Climate
Change Scientist said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of Extreme E
this year and very much look forward to continuing our good work into Season 2.
“The legacy and scientific aspects are a true cornerstone to the series
and already this year I’ve been able to conduct research in Saudi Arabia
and collect ice samples from the Russell Glacier with Extreme E. This championship
gives me and my peers the opportunity to reach people outside of our usual networks,
it gives us a voice to reach the masses and educate on climate issues and the
solutions we can all be a part of.”
As well as providing a platform
for climate awareness, Extreme E provides strong economic impact to host countries.
YouGov Sport, the international research and data analytics organisation, calculated
the series’ inaugural event in Saudi Arabia contributed more than €47
million local value. These figures include employment of local personnel, logistics,
transportation to and from the race site, as well as local food and beverage provision
and hotel nights.
The overall media exposure of the Desert X Prix was
in itself a majorly significant factor in the overall economic impact. Thanks
to Extreme E’s staggering number of 190 global broadcast markets reaching
a global audience of 18.7million, along with its strong media presence, resulted
in an unprecedented media value of almost €32 million for the championship.
Extreme E has already surpassed its end of Season 1 targets on social media
hitting 100 million video views, a 400 per cent increase in engagement plus more
than one billion impressions across its digital landscape at each of its two opening
X Prix events.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-09-23 One month until Extreme
E's Island X Prix
23 September 2021, London: With one month to
go until Extreme E’s penultimate Season 1 race in Sardinia, Italy - which
marks the championship’s first European destination - organisers have confirmed
the event will take place in the Army Training area at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente,
an historic area situated in the south-west of the island.
Alejandro
Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are almost at our penultimate
race of the very first season of Extreme E. It has been a fantastic adventure
so far and I’m so proud of what we have already achieved this year.
“We are all looking forward to this event in Sardinia, which holds a great
history in rallying, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Automobile
Club d’Italia, the Region of Sardinia, the Ministry of Defence and the Italian
Army which has been supporting us every step of the way.
“This X
Prix will highlight some of the issues facing Europe and the wider world. The
event is developing really nicely; we have another epic course layout full of
new challenges, incredible scientists who will join us to impart their knowledge
on the climate emergency and innovative solutions, a Legacy Programme focussed
on restoration on some of the areas hit by wildfires as well as showcasing electric
vehicles and clean energy solutions."
Extreme E is working closely
with Automobile Club d’Italia - the national sports federation co-organising
and coordinating the event - the Region of Sardinia, and its Tourism Department
plus the Ministry of Defence and Esercito, the Italian Army.
Automobile
Club d’Italia president Angelo Sticchi Damiani said: "The Automobile
Club d'Italia is the world of cars in Italy in all its forms, including sports
cars. It is the historical memory of its entire cultural heritage, it is the irreplaceable
driving force behind its present, and it is also the driving force behind everything
that looks to the future. In this sense, we have enthusiastically supported the
organisation of the Italian leg of the Extreme E series dedicated to electric
SUVs.
"It is a series that is gaining wide acclaim all over the
world. Once again we have to thank the Region of Sardinia, which as usual has
shown prompt and concrete interest in the initiatives we are promoting. With it,
special praise goes to the series' creator, Alejandro Agag, who has once again
demonstrated his ability to look ahead with extreme determination. Finally, the
decisive support of the Ministry of Defence, which has made available the Army
Training Area of Capo Teulada, which will host the event, must be underlined.
Once again, the contribution and work of AC Sassari and its president, Giulio
Pes di San Vittorio, to whom I would like to extend my sincere thanks, was fundamental.”
The support of the Sardinian Regional Council was integral, as it was able
to appreciate the positive values conveyed by Extreme E and recognised its potential
for promoting tourism.
The Sardinian Regional Council President, Christian
Solinas, emphasised this as he said: “Once again, Sardinia is delighted to
host, this time in the enchanting setting of Capo Teulada, a prestigious event
that has established itself on the international scene as a moment of high sporting
value, thanks to the growing interest that this fascinating motor sport is enjoying
all over the world.
“Such events allow us to promote our island
worldwide through an innovative discipline and the positive values it embodies,
and it is precisely the aim that, even in the difficult months of the pandemic,
we wanted to pursue events of undisputed and internationally recognised prestige,
such as Extreme E.
“Through this unique event on the national scene,
we wish to send out a signal of hope and optimism, which is associated with the
extraordinary energy inextricably linked to racing. We are certain that this can
serve to give a new and original impetus to tourism in Sardinia."
The Commander of the Sardinia Army Military Headquarters, Major General Francesco
Olla highlighted the importance of the event and stressed that: "The Army
welcomed with great pleasure the choice of hosting the first European stage of
the rally championship with electric SUVs, Extreme E, at the most important training
centre within the national soil.
“The activity fits perfectly within
the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the shared use of
selected areas of the above mentioned training centre, co-signed by President
Solinas last December. In fact, under the right perspective, this Agreement provides
for the use of parts of the training area, at no risk, for initiatives that could
have an important economic impact on the surrounding territories, making it a
resource for the entire area."
Extreme E has been carrying out operational
recces in the region over the past couple of months, with one of the key elements
being the development of the course, utilising Championship Driver and Course
Advisor Timo Scheider, plus Tiziano Siviero, Italian rally navigator and two-time
world champion with Miki Biasion.
Teams have so far faced the sand dunes
of Saudi Arabia, beaches of Senegal plus rocks in Greenland, and Sardinia will
provide a completely different experience for the 18 world-class drivers.
The Teulada route provides a blank canvas for the course which will measure
around seven kilometres, and a completely contrasting landscape to the previous
three rounds, providing a harder compact surface with many rocks and bushes plus
riverbeds that crack due to the heat. The terrain could become softer come the
October months, meaning drivers have many more natural obstacles to navigate.
The aim is to provide a myriad of racing lines allowing for overtaking as well
as fast flowing areas and tight corners. The course walk in the days leading up
to the race will prove essential for drivers to do their homework before stepping
into the cockpit of the all-electric ODYSSEY 21.
In addition to the action
on the course, Extreme E will continue with its initiatives to highlight climate
change issues and support local communities. The Legacy Programme in Sardinia
will focus on both blue and green carbon stores.
Firstly, the series
will look to highlight the rapid warming of the planet, which has an impact on
so many countries and has caused many parts of Europe, America and Australia to
experience wildfires. In Sardinia, Extreme E will work with local NGOs to support
the forest restoration efforts in the Oristanese area and beyond that fell victim
to extensive damage, therefore enhancing green carbon stores.
Secondly,
the focus will be put on seagrasses - an ecosystem known as the rainforest of
the ocean, and an environment that sequesters even more carbon dioxide than its
terrestrial comparison and is equally threatened, making it a huge blue carbon
store. Further details about the Island X Prix Legacy Programme will be revealed
in coming weeks.
In addition, Extreme E has been working with Enel Foundation
since inception, its Official Scientific Partner, that supports climate change
research, something which is happening right now onboard the series’ floating
centrepiece, the St. Helena in its laboratory. The ship is currently on route
to Sardinia ready to unload the championship’s precious cargo ahead of the
X Prix itself, set to run from 23 – 24 October 2021.
To learn more
about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-30 Andretti United Extreme
E keeps its cool to claim victory as Arctic X Prix reaches thrilling crescendo
Andretti United Extreme E came out on top after a titanic battle with championship
leaders Rosberg X Racing during Extreme E’s first-ever five-car Final. The
Arctic X Prix in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, provided non-stop action from Shakedown
on Friday all the way through to the dying moments of the all-important Final.
After a thrilling opening round in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and then an epic
battle on the beach in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal, the pioneering racing series
had a lot to live up to when it arrived in Greenland for the country’s first-ever
motorsport event, and it certainly delivered the goods.
It was the ever-popular
Andretti United Extreme E pairing of Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings which claimed
a sensational victory over event-long adversaries Johan Kristoffersson and Molly
Taylor who fell at the final hurdle, blowing the championship wide open in the
process.
Timmy Hansen, Andretti United Extreme E said: “It feels
awesome! It’s been a great afternoon and day! We’ve both had great races
today and we had to work really hard for it. Catie [Munnings] did an amazing job
both times. We both were involved in very close battles with the Rosberg X Racing
car both times, it just feels incredible to be here.
“I think it
(the course) was a good change (from yesterday) for the racing coming into today
actually, it kept the grid very close and for a long time. So the course was good
– it was getting very rutted in the narrow section and I had a couple of
moments really on the limit in the Final and then I realised I had to back off
a little bit and take it easy but yes it’s been a very fun track especially
the second half because there are so many options.
“I’m really
proud of Extreme E as a whole and of us coming here together, you know we are
in the middle of nowhere in Greenland. Kangerlussuaq has I think 500 people living
here and we arrived and everyone is doing their part. Pulling this massive event
together is an incredible achievement and I think we are all the winners today.
“It’s the third race in a row where Kevin [Hansen] and I are on
the podium, two times World Rallycross Championship and now Extreme E – that’s
crazy!”
Catie Munnings, Andretti United Extreme E said: “I
have literally no words for it. At the start of the weekend in Qualifying 1 we
thought we’ll just go with it and see but we never imagined we’d come
out on top so it’s a really special feeling. Timmy is a really incredible
teammate, I learn so much from him, he’s such a good driver and obviously
he always pulls it out of the bag so it’s really cool to be working alongside
him.
“I loved the challenge of this course. I think it was really
different to what we’ve seen before and a new challenge for the car as well.
I think what was interesting was that it literally changed every time you saw
it. Every car would chuck out massive rocks and so your line might not be there
so it was a very spontaneous style of driving and I also found it very hard to
judge what the correct speed was, you have to think a lot more especially if you’re
the first driver. Credit to Sarrazin as well for sending it across the big rocks
in the Semi-Final – I think that was one of my key moments of the weekend.
Fair play, if that had been pulled off that would have been incredible.
“It’s the first motorsport event to come to Greenland so yeah it’s
incredible that it’s at this level but I’m also really proud of how
far we’ve come as a team especially from Senegal where we didn’t have
a brilliant result so to come back now, it gives us a really good feeling going
into the Island X Prix.”
The unforgiving Arctic X Prix course, combined
with the series’ revised sporting format produced some of the most exciting
racing yet with the 18 world-class drivers battling not only themselves, but the
conditions and various track hazards en route to the finish line.
Adding
an extra element of excitement to proceedings was the returning Super Sector,
with the fastest driver over the course of the weekend earning themselves five
extra points for the team. This weekend, it was eventual joint-winner Timmy Hansen
who would also post the fastest time.
Extreme E’s first-ever five-car
final was a mouth-watering prospect and the all-or-nothing showdown didn’t
disappoint. A great start for Molly Taylor and Sébastien Loeb looked to
set up the much-anticipated Rosberg X Racing vs X44 contest that fans had been
waiting for. Catie Munnings had other ideas as the Brit used her Hyperdrive to
snatch the lead. As she reached the first turn, the trio was three abreast with
JBXE’s Kevin Hansen and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s Carlos Sainz Snr.
in hot pursuit.
Loeb seized the advantage as the pack raced through the
single-file section of the course and past the lake. Munnings attempted to replicate
her sensational move on Taylor from earlier in the day, as the pair were side
by side through the Super Sector but the Australian would hang on to second as
the field held station – albeit in tight formation – into the Switch
Zone.
Disaster struck for the luckless X44 squad in the pits, discovering
a puncture meaning the right rear wheel needed to be replaced. Loeb leapt into
action along with his mechanic to get the job done but it would see the squad’s
hard-earned 19-second advantage diminish to nothing.
Timmy Hansen in
the Andretti United Extreme E machine emerged from the Switch Zone in the lead,
closely followed by Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky,
leaving Laia Sanz and Cristina Gutiérrez to go wheel-to-wheel for the final
two positions.
Kristoffersson immediately began applying pressure to
his fellow World Rallycross Champion and by the time the pair had reached the
far corner, it was time for the Rosberg X Racing car to make its move. The 32-year-old
went for the wide line into the turn while Hansen defended, inevitably providing
him with better exit speed and enabling him to draw alongside his rival. The duo
remained doorhandle-to-doorhandle as they executed several of the course’s
larger jumps in similarly exuberant fashion.
The Andretti United Extreme
E car would come away from the encounter unscathed, the same could not be said
for Rosberg X Racing’s ODYSSEY 21 however, as Kristoffersson ground to a
halt having landed too aggressively in his attempt to snatch the lead.
A calm and collected Hansen crossed the line first giving Andretti United Extreme
E their first win in the series and putting an end to Rosberg X Racing’s
dominant Final form in 2021. Åhlin-Kottulinsky kept Hansen honest to claim
the runner-up spot, finishing just four seconds behind while Sanz and Sainz Snr.
completed the podium with a brilliant comeback drive.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky,
JBXE: “With a 30-second penalty going into the Crazy Race knowing we had
to win, it’s just incredible to be here. I had so much adrenalin watching
Kevin racing – it’s such a great course and I’ve been very impressed.
“We are all living in this world and we all want to make a great future
so I think closing your eyes to what’s happening is not the right way. We
all have to be open to see what is happening to the world and that is why Extreme
E is trying new technologies and new ways to improve, we are all in this together
and we all have to do this right. I think the fact that it is raining here in
Greenland is as unusual as it would be in the desert and seeing how much rain
we actually had this weekend is devastating so you can’t just close your
eyes to it.
“I’d say the tough part was the different surfaces
around the track and I’m speaking about the Rock Garden – that was very
challenging. I think it’s really fun to have the mix of male and female,
I was behind the guys and I was thinking I just have to do my best. It’s
so fun to race against them and I was thinking when I saw Johan’s [Kristoffersson]
jump I thought that is not going to end well, it was a big jump.”
Kevin Hansen, JBXE: “We didn’t really think we were going to get through
as Ganassi were very strong and XITE so from grid place 2 with a 30-second penalty
it wasn’t very realistic but after the first stint we were leading, Mikaela
made a great start and we had a great opportunity. When Ganassi stopped, I felt
that there is something on the table for me to grab and on that last lap I put
it all out there and I think I did one of my better laps and did everything I
really wanted to do out there, in the end we got it so that was pretty amazing.
“I was really emotional after the Semi-Final, I think you could hear
it in my voice, when it’s something really impossible and you pull it off
the feeling is amazing. I got on the radio and the gap was shrinking all the time
and the lap was amazing and I pushed 100 per cent and to get it in the end was
incredible. I celebrate a lot and I show my emotions just like my mum.
“I think the people that ignore global warming are actually the problem,
they don’t understand that we have to do even harder work, it’s a crucial
time in the world and we all have to continue sharing our story and show everything
that we have seen. To be here is pretty life-changing.
“I think
it’s one of the most fun parts of the weekend to go to these amazing locations
and to actually experience the Legacy Programmes. When I go to a rallycross race,
I just go to the location and I race and hopefully get a one-two with my brother,
but to come here and see what it is actually around is so so nice – to see
the reality of the world. We all hide in our bubbles but to actually go to the
tough places and see the suffering is really important.”
Carlos
Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “I am very happy with the team’s
first podium in Extreme E. This Sunday maybe we had luck on our side that we were
missing in the previous events, but luck always tends to balance itself out. We
are very pleased, but we know that we have to keep improving because the Championship
is getting tighter and the two remaining X Prix events will be very tough.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team: “I am very pleased with this result
and very happy for the team and for Carlos. The start of the weekend wasn’t
easy at all, because we had a technical issue in Free Practice that was beyond
our control and I didn’t feel comfortable on Saturday during Qualifying,
but today I felt an improvement and I am very happy with the result we achieved
in the Final.”
Final Result
Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy
Hansen / Catie Munnings) 2 laps
JBXE(Kevin Hansen / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky)
+4.159s
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz) +22.866s
X44(Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) +27.914s
Rosberg X
Racing(Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) +1:01.005s
Semi-Final 1
The first of Saturday’s wheel-to-wheel contests – hailed by Extreme
E commentator Andrew Coley as the ‘best race of the season’ – was
packed to the rafters with thrilling action right from the off. Before the start
lights had even gone green the heavens opened, giving the series its first-ever
wet race.
Extreme E newcomer Emma Gilmour seized the early advantage
down to the first corner with an audacious move around the outside of Gutiérrez.
After dispensing with the X44 car, Sainz Snr. was hot on the Kiwi’s heels
and tactfully utilised his HyperDrive to snatch the lead as the trio headed into
the single file section of the course.
The Veloce Racing car would hold
off the advances of Gutiérrez for the remainder of the lap as Sainz Snr.
streaked into a seemingly unassailable lead. As the ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team car
headed for the driver Switch zone, the gap to Veloce Racing was over 12 seconds
and a further five back to X44.
The trio left the pits with Laia Sanz
leading the way followed by Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Loeb
respectively. The duelling Frenchmen battled it out in the opening stages of the
lap before Loeb made an inspired overtake, diving through on the inside of what
was previously known as the ‘single file’ lake section.
The
nine-time World Rally Champion then began carving seconds out of Sanz’s lead.
As the pack arrived at the back end of the course, Loeb expertly used his HyperDrive
to make his way into the lead.
The drama wasn’t over yet, however,
as Sarrazin closed in on the leading pair and opted for an alternate line through
the treacherous Rock Garden, catapulting the Veloce Racing car from third to first
with an excellent undercut.
Unfortunately, the elation was short-lived,
as the #5 car slowed with a broken steering arm, handing the two Final-qualifying
spots back to X44 and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team respectively.
Semi-Final
2
Following on from a thrilling first race of the day, Semi-Final 2 backed
it up with yet more wheel-to-wheel action. A flat-out run to turn one saw Kristoffersson
lead the pack through the uphill section followed by Hansen and ABT CUPRA XE’s
Jutta Kleinschmidt.
Hansen began to apply pressure to the Rosberg X Racing
car as they approached the lake, he was rewarded for his efforts with an uncharacteristic
mistake from Kristoffersson who hit a track marker earning himself a 10-second
penalty.
The Andretti United Extreme E driver wanted to get the job done
on course, however and went side-by-side through the Super Sector to take the
lead and duly used his HyperDrive to open up a gap.
By the time the duo
had reached the Rock Garden, Kristoffersson had closed up the gap once more. Never
to be outwitted, the Rosberg X Racing driver pulled a surprise outbreaking manoeuvre
to lead heading into the Switch Zone.
As the pack left the pits, it became
apparent that all was not well with the ABT CUPRA XE car. A broken driveshaft
meant Mattias Ekström was unable to make any significant progress on his
lap.
With no pressure from behind, Taylor and Munnings picked up from
where Kristoffersson and Hansen left off as the pair locked horns on the far side
of the course. A wide line for the Australian heading on to the back straight
left the door open for Munnings to nip past and seal the victory from Taylor and
Ekström.
The Crazy Race
The aptly named Crazy Race saw drama
before the drivers had even reached the grid with the JBXE squad receiving a 30-second
penalty due to excess tyre use that would be taken during the driver switch.
With that in mind, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky was on a mission and took
control of the race from the outset with SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sara
Price and XITE ENERGY RACING powered by myenergi’s Christine GZ not far behind.
Following a sensational move from Christine GZ to move her up into second
position, Price set about regaining the place. In doing so, the American suffered
from a loss of steering after landing too harshly from one of the course’s
steep jumps and ended her day on the sidelines.
As the remaining duo
headed for the Switch Zone, Åhlin-Kottulinsky had built a small buffer to
GZ. Bennett took over and was swiftly back out on track while Kevin Hansen waited
for the 30-seconds to tick away.
Once released, Hansen was on the prowl.
Clipping a track marker in the process of reducing a 22-second deficit down to
under 10 seconds. Before the World Rallycross Winner could reach him, Bennett
had slowed to a stop, having hit the front of his car while landing from a jump.
That enabled Hansen to bring home the victory and book the last slot in the grand
Final.
With the Arctic X Prix having reached its conclusion, the Extreme
E paddock will be loaded onto the St Helena, and set sail for Sardinia, Italy
(23/24 October) for the fourth round of 2021.
Championship Standings
Rosberg X Racing (Johan Kristoffersson / Molly Taylor) 93 points
X44 (Sébastien
Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez) 84 points
Andretti United Extreme E (Timmy
Hansen / Catie Munnings) 76 points
JBXE (Jenson Button / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky)
68 points
ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Carlos Sainz / Laia Sanz) 61 points
ABT CUPRA XE (Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt) 54 points
Veloce
Racing (Stéphane Sarrazin / Emma Gilmour)49 points
XITE ENERGY RACING
powered by myenergi (Oliver Bennett / Christine GZ) 47 points
SEGI TV Chip
Ganassi Racing (Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price) 40 points
To learn more about
Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-30 Fortsatt ledning
trots strulig helg
Johan Kristoffersson och hans team Rosberg
X Racing behåller totalledningen i Extreme E, trots en femteplats i den
tredje deltävlingen på Grönland.
- Vi tappade ändå
bara fem poäng i mästerskapet, summerar Kristoffersson.
Johan
och hans stallkompis Molly Taylor kom till Arctic X Prix som obesegrade efter
två deltävlingar av elbilsserien Extreme E. Den sviten bröts nu
efter en ganska problemfylld helg. I första kvalomgången hade Kristoffersson
tekniska problem medan Taylor rullade ett helt varv med bilen. Så långt
var RXR-ekipaget näst sist.
- Tufft i Q1 med en del tekniska problem.
Bilen bara stannade för mig, berättar värmlänningen.
I andra kvalet blev det en gruvlig revansch. Både Molly och Johan levererade
på topp och tog hem omgången. Det innebar ett lyft upp till tredjeplats
totalt och en plats i den andra semifinalen.
- Q2 var riktigt riktigt bra
och vi lyckades vara snabbast.
I semin träffade Kristoffersson en
banflagga och tilldelades ett tidsstraff på tio sekunder. Nu räckte
det ändå till en andraplats efter Timmy Hansen/Catie Munnings och en
säkrad finalstart.
- Jag hade en bra fight med Timmy där, säger
Johan om “rallycrossduellen”.
Finalen blev också en tuff
tillställning, där Molly Taylor inledde med en stabil insats för
RXR.
- Molly gjorde ett riktigt bra jobb där.
Johan fick gå
ut i princip lika med Timmy Hansen i kamp om segern på slutvarvet. Duellen
gick sida vid sida ända tills Kristoffersson laddade stentufft över
ett hopp för att skaffa ett grepp. De högtflygande planerna blev inte
riktigt som det var tänkt. Johan fick ett stopp och tappade ner till femte
plats i finalen.
- Bilen stannade igen. Ytterligare ett tekniskt problem,
men det är inget teamet kan påverka.
Totalt blev det ändå
22 poäng med hem från helgen och fortsatt ledning i mästerskapet.
Fjorton poängs försprång före helgen är nu nere på
nio före tvåorna Sébastien Loeb och Cristina Gutiérrez
i X44-teamet.
- Med allt strul vi hade så var ändå farten
bra och vi leder fortfarande mästerskapet, avslutar Johan.
Nästa
deltävling körs på Sardinien, Italien, 23-24 oktober under namnet
Island X Prix.
21-08-27 Four
ways Extreme E is leaving a positive legacy in Greenland
Ahead
of the racing action getting underway in Greenland this weekend (28-29 August),
Extreme E has continued its efforts in scientific education and local community
Legacy Programmes.
Earlier in the week members of the championship’s
Scientific Committee, Professors Peter Wadhams, Carlos Duarte and Richard Washington
led an expedition to the retreating ice cap to explain to the series’ world-class
drivers the devastation the climate crisis is having on this area and the solutions
we can all take to limit further damage. Not only that, the drivers also took
samples from the ice cap to support Professor Peter Wadhams’ research.
Sara Price, driver for Chip Ganassi Racing said: "Being on the ice cap
was an adventure of a lifetime, to say the least. It was very cold up there and
it actually ended up raining while we were there, which is an unfortunate occurrence.
Rainfall is only a recent thing on the ice cap, and it's very abnormal because
it should be snowing up there. The fact that it's raining is a bad sign for the
ice cap and has led to increased melting and a lot of running water. We got to
witness that firsthand.
“It was wild to say the least to see it
right in front of us; the ice breaking off, the pollution, and the glacier itself
melting at a fast rate and causing rivers and ravines and an overall crazy environment.
Its rivers of glacier water are melting fast and causing powerful consequences.
It was something to see, that's for sure, and definitely made it even more real
in our eyes, that global climate change is a real thing."
In every
location Extreme E races in, its goal is to work with local community groups to
leave a positive, lasting legacy behind, based on specific local needs.
One of the main Legacy Programmes in Greenland is centred around education and
supporting local schools. Extreme E has partnered with UNICEF to develop –
with support from Professor Richard Washington – educational resources to
further the understanding of both teachers and children on climate related issues
and the ways in which they can help to address them. These will be taught to the
children of Greenland starting from Climate Week in September 2021.
Maliina
Abelsen, Head of Programmes, UNICEF Greenland said: “At UNICEF, we know that
climate and environmental shocks are undermining the complete spectrum of children’s
rights - from access to clean air, food and safe water; to education, housing,
freedom from exploitation, and even their right to survive. Virtually no child’s
life will be unaffected.
“Over the years, children and young people
have shown us that their incredible knowledge and strength by promoting environmentally
sustainable lifestyles and setting an example for their communities. Through education
programmes, such as this one, we hope that children and young people can take
further leadership in addressing climate-related risks.”
In addition,
XITE ENERGY RACING Founder, driver and sustainability pioneer Oliver Bennett,
along with eco-smart technology business myenergi, and with the support of Extreme
E, has installed a revolutionary solar power set-up. The school is now home to
a 5kW ground-mounted solar array with an accompanying 5.2kWh battery storage system,
which means the education hub will now run on solar power.
Headteacher
Susanne Andersen said: “XITE ENERGY RACING’s solar system will introduce
renewable energy to our school. It is not just important that we fight climate
change here in Greenland but also to teach our pupils about it. I am happy that
our students can follow the solar panel energy production on a day-to-day basis.”
It’s not just the drivers having all the racing fun though, Extreme
E has worked with The Danish Automobile Sports Federation (DASU), the municipality
of Qeqqata and Kalaanni Teknikkimik Ilinniarfik (KTI, the vocational School of
Greenland) to present an interdisciplinary project to provide electric go-karts,
which were presented to the students this week by legendary drivers Sébastien
Loeb, Cristina Gutiérrez, Emma Gilmour, Stéphane Sarrazin and Oliver
Bennett.
The purpose of the project is to create a fun and exciting interdisciplinary
teaching-programme while sparking Greenlandic youth interest in electric vehicles
with the wider purpose of getting more students into vocational education and
being able to handle the many EVs in Greenland.
The interdisciplinary
teaching-programme uses the fun and motivation from motorsport to focus on Sustainable
Development Goals, mathematics, science and sports to achieve these ambitions.
The programme has had success for three years in Denmark and an adjusted version
will tour Greenland for the years to come.
Torben Nielsen, Chairman of
Tech College Greenland said: “We see more and more EVs in Greenland, now
also in Kangerlussuaq. Tech College Greenland hopes that with the help of Extreme
E and DASU, it can attract young people to become EV mechanics.”
The Arctic X Prix racing action gets underway today with Free Practice, followed
by Qualifying on Saturday and Semi-Finals and Final on Sunday. A host of global
broadcasters alongside Extreme E’s own channels will be airing all the racing.
To find out more click here.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-23 Extreme E to make
history as Arctic X Prix signals Greenland’s first-ever motorsport event
In just five days’ time, some of the biggest names in motorsport will partake
in the first motorsport event to ever be held in Greenland – Extreme E’s
Arctic X Prix – which takes place this weekend (28-29 August) in Kangerlussuaq.
After a close fought weekend of racing in Dakar, Senegal, RXR took victory
for a second time following the teams stand-out performance at the Desert X Prix
in Saudi Arabia in April. The driver pairing of Swede Johan Kristoffersson and
Australian Molly Taylor are sitting pretty at the top of the table on 71 points.
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 is in second spot with 57 points and Jenson Button’s
JBXE sits third on 44 points. With only seven points separating the remaining
six teams, it really is all to play for as the series enters round three of Season
1.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Greenland
is an incredible place and I’m delighted to be putting on the first ever
motorsport event in the country. Huge credit to the team behind the scenes, it
really is testament to the hard work of everyone involved, as putting on an event
here, in the remote Arctic, is no easy feat.
“With our updates to
the sporting format, we are going to see even more exciting racing and our first
five-car Final of the series, offering all teams a chance to make the concluding
race of the weekend.
“Although the reason for racing in Greenland
is much bigger than putting on a fantastic show, it is about highlighting the
issues faced by the island including ice melt leading to global sea level rise.
We really are at a tipping point in the climate crisis and I’m looking forward
to hearing from members of our esteemed Scientific Committee while in Greenland
not only about the issues, but the solutions on offer, including electric vehicles,
one of the key parts of Extreme E.”
Nico Rosberg, Founder of Rosberg
X Racing said: “We have incredible momentum coming into the Arctic X Prix
and I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s performance in the first two
races. However, we do not take anything for granted and myself and the entire
team are motivated to continue the hard work. The race is in a spectacular location
and I am as excited as any fan to watch our ODYSSEY 21 race car compete in such
an extraordinary setting as Greenland."
New rules
Kangerlussuaq
is situated in the west of Greenland and is home to the once mighty Russell Glacier,
which will provide the backdrop to an epic weekend of wheel-to-wheel racing. This
area was chosen as it highlights the climate crisis, and part of the course itself
was previously occupied by the glacier, but has sadly melted due to accelerated
temperature rise.
Measuring eight kilometres, the course will provide
a very new challenge to drivers with the surface made up of glacial sediments,
rocks and sand dunes, although not like those seen in Saudi Arabia. The course
is wide open in areas allowing for various racing lines, as well as technical
sections around various rocks. The full layout will be revealed later this week.
Not only will Greenland provide new terrain, the X Prix will also follow
a slightly updated format, including an opportunity for all teams to progress
to the Final making it a five-car battle, as well as new routes to Semi-Finals
and intermediate classification points awarded after qualifying sessions.
Qualifying will take place on Saturday 28 August – one session in the
morning and one in the afternoon – with each team completing two laps of
the course, one per driver with a driver Switch. The times recorded across the
morning session will equate to classification points meaning first place receives
9, second place 8, third place 7 points and so on. The same then happens in the
afternoon with classification points awarded on the same scale.
The combined
total of these classification points provides the intermediate standings, which
is based on points instead of times as seen in Saudi Arabia and Senegal, meaning
a fairer opportunity for all teams to progress, particularly if a poor time or
DNF for example is recorded in one session. These points do not equate to championship
points - they are awarded in the same way as previous rounds.
Races will
take place as follows:
The teams will be listed 1st to 9th place based on
the total combined points of each team’s two Qualifying runs.
Teams placed
in first, fifth and sixth progress to Semi-Final 1, where the top two finishers
claim spots in the Arctic X Prix Final.
Second, third and fourth from Qualifying
go through to Semi-Final 2, where again the top two progress to the Arctic X Prix
Final.
The bottom three teams (7th, 8th and 9th) head to the Crazy Race, with
the winner reaching the Arctic X Prix Final
The Arctic X Prix Final features
five cars
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 – will continue to be a fixture for the Arctic X Prix and SEGI
TV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle LeDuc will be looking to take these points
again. In addition, 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.
The nine teams and 18 drivers are as follows:
ABT CUPRA
XE - #125 – Mattias Ekström / Jutta Kleinschmidt
ACCIONA | Sainz
XE Team - #55 – Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz
Andretti United Extreme
E - #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 / Emma Gilmour
X44 - #44 – Sébastien Loeb / Cristina Gutiérrez
Teams
are able to select which driver goes first in Qualifying 1, with choices kept
secret until the driver gets behind the wheel. For each session after this, the
first driver must alternate.
GridPlay – every vote counts
The
GridPlay vote will open at 1100 CEST on Wednesday 25 August and close at 1300
CEST on Sunday 29 August offering fans the opportunity to vote for their favourite
team, and in turn influence the starting line-up for the Final.
This
vote has impacted the grid in both the Desert and Ocean X Prix events, as the
teams that don’t make the Final can gift their votes. This meant Andretti
United Extreme E and Veloce Racing, in Saudi Arabia and Senegal, respectively,
were able to select favoured starting positions.
The voices of the series
Lead commentators Jennie Gow and Andrew Coley will continue to talk fans through
all the action from the London studio, whilst gaining insights from the Extreme
E paddock in Greenland, which features some of the biggest names in motorsport.
Why Greenland?
Think climate change, think Greenland. The Arctic island
is at the heart of the climate crisis, particularly its melting ice sheet. Extreme
E has consulted with its Scientific Committee throughout the organisation of the
Arctic X Prix, and three of its members – Professors Peter Wadhams, Carlos
Duarte and Richard Washington – will all be in Greenland with the series
hosting various workshops and continuing with their own Arctic research.
The workshops will focus on this event in Greenland being the ‘Tipping Point’
the world is currently facing, from climate change in the Arctic and the melting
of the Greenland ice cap to emerging from a global pandemic, and leading action
on the many challenges. The Arctic X Prix acts as a tipping point bringing together
a variety of people and organisations committed to climate action.
Positive
Impacts
Extreme E has partnered with UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s
organisation, for its Greenlandic Legacy Programmes to empower young changemakers
– around 3,600 young people – in the country by reimagining climate
education in Greenland, helping children understand and address the climate related
issues which are putting them, and future generations at risk.
Extreme
E and its independent Scientific Committee composed of leading climate experts
from Oxford and Cambridge Universities has worked closely with UNICEF UK and UNICEF
Denmark in Greenland to support UNICEF’s work on climate change education,
helping children across the country understand and address the climate related
issues which are putting them, and future generations at risk.
Working
with climate change experts including Professor Richard Washington, who is part
of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee, UNICEF has developed educational resources
designed to further the understanding of both teachers and children on climate
related issues and the ways in which they can help to address them.
The
resources have now been created and they will be taught to the children of Greenland
during Climate Week in September 2021.
Catch the action
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 digital
channels and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte in Spain, Prosieben MAXX in Germany,
Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across most European Markets and KNR in
Greenland.
A full list of broadcasters can be found here: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/broadcast-information
All times CEST
Friday 27 August
2100 – 2130 CEST Shakedown airs on
website and social channels
Saturday 29 May
1330 – 1530 CEST
Qualifying Round 1
1800 – 2000 CEST Qualifying Round 2
Sunday
30 May
1200 – 1330 CEST Semi Finals
1600 – 1800 CEST Final
Play your part
Extreme E hopes to provide information and real-world
solutions to enable people to live a less carbon intensive lifestyle, which is
why it has teamed up with Count Us In to launch the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge.
The platform uses the power of sport and 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.
Fans can take a variety of steps, which include walking more, eating more
plant-based foods and driving an electric vehicle, and attribute them to their
favourite team. The team with the most steps will win the Extreme E Sustainability
Awards at the end of the Season.
Although, this initiative is about far
more than a trophy, it’s the race for our planet. Rising global temperatures
are having a huge impact on the world, including ice melt in the Arctic leading
to sea level rise and wild fires currently raging in various parts of Europe.
The recently published IPCC report outlines how the world is getting to a point
of irreversibility leading to drastic changes in ecosystems with devastating effects
unless change happens now, and that change is reducing emissions.
To
learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-19 Extreme E announces
Rookie Invitational test in search of next generation of superstars
Extreme E, the electric motorsport series designed to raise climate change
awareness, has today announced its Rookie Invitational test as it seeks to unearth
the next generation of off-road racers.
The Rookie Invitational will
take place on Monday 25 October 2021 following the fourth round of the inaugural
Extreme E season in Sardinia, Italy. Each of the nine Extreme E teams, will be
able to test two drivers at the Rookie Invitational, one male and one female,
in a bid to give more drivers the opportunity to progress in the world of professional
motorsport and also join the electric racing revolution.
Each team will
have the choice of the drivers it brings and those chosen will join up with their
respective teams for the duration of the Island X Prix in Sardinia to take in
the event, get to grips with the unique nature of the series and immerse themselves
amongst the Extreme E paddock.
Drivers taking part in the Rookie Invitational
will be allocated practice time in the car ahead of completing timed course laps.
In between time out on the course, Extreme E will host a number of workshops focussed
on careers in professional motorsport from drivers in the series, including 2001
Dakar Rally winner and ABT CUPRA XE driver Jutta Kleinschmidt.
Alejandro
Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “I’m delighted to announce
the Rookie Invitational at the penultimate X Prix of Season 1. It aims to offer
drivers interested in competing in Extreme E the opportunity to not only get behind
the wheel but immerse themselves in our unique series.
“The idea
came about from various conversations with our teams that identified a gap in
talent - particularly female drivers - so we wanted to organise this testing day
to give more racers the opportunity to throw their hat into the ring and get behind
the wheel of our all-electric ODYSSEY 21. I’m looking forward to seeing which
drivers the teams select, and the wealth of driving talent out there that just
need that chance to show off their skills.”
Jutta Kleinschmidt,
ABT CUPRA XE driver and President of the FIA Women in Motorsport Cross Country
Rally Commission said: “I’m super happy that so many female drivers
have the chance to race in Extreme E. The series is the only motorsport event
where men and women are mixed 50/50.
“Through the series, and now
the Rookie Invitational, we have the chance to discover even more female talents.
It is a huge chance for all drivers dreaming of competing in Extreme E that want
to prove their skills and talent. I'm very excited and looking forward to seeing
a lot of applications. It is an honour to be part of the test programme and have
the chance to share my knowledge from my years of experience.”
Interested
drivers are advised to apply by contacting
talent@extreme-e.com with the subject ‘Rookie Invitational’ attaching
their driver CV before 01 October 2021. To learn more about Extreme E, visit
- www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-13 XITE ENERGY RACING brings
lasting light to a Greenland school
British Extreme E racer Oli
Bennett is leading a life-changing legacy programme in Greenland
XITE ENERGY
RACING and myenergi join forces to deliver solar-powered electric to Kangerlussuaq
School
Oli to unveil the new system ahead of the Extreme E’s Arctic X
Prix in Greenland this month
“Going to the frontline in the fight against
climate change and making a genuine difference is massive.”
12 August
2021, London: School children in Kangerlussuaq have grown used to the sound of
putting the light on in the classroom. Teachers are well acquainted with the noise
which accompanies powering a computer up. Or putting the kettle on.
That
sound is the sound of making electricity at Kangerlussuaq School, Greenland. That
sound is a diesel-powered generator. Billowing black smoke and carbon monoxide
across the playground, that generator has been the only way of producing electric
to power a school which sits off the island’s electricity grid.
Until now.
As part of a pioneering project, delivered in partnership
with eco-smart technology business myenergi, Bristol racing driver and sustainability
pioneer Oli Bennett will help to change the lives of students and teachers in
Kangerlussuaq .
Later this month, Oli’s Extreme E race team –
XITE ENERGY RACING – and myenergi’s sales director Cris Chapman, will
oversee the installation of a revolutionary solar power set-up when they join
some of the biggest names in global motorsport to tackle Greenland’s round
of Extreme E later this month.
The school’s diesel generator will
fall silent for the last time on Wednesday August 25. The following day, Oli and
myenergi will be joined by teachers and students as they switch the school to
solar. And silence.
“When we started racing Extreme E this year,
we did it to raise awareness of what we humans are doing to the planet,”
said Oli.
“Nowhere is the climate crisis more obvious than in Greenland
and the Arctic. It’s expected that, sometime in the next 30 years, the Arctic
will be ice-free in the month of September. That’s insane.
“For
the majority of the planet, we read about these things and they’re happening
somewhere else. They’re somebody else’s problem. Going to Kangerlussuaq
in Greenland, you’re confronted with the climate crisis right before your
very eyes. A scientific report from the United Nations was described as a ‘code
red’ for humanity this week.
“Nowhere is that more obvious
than at Greenland’s melting glaciers. And then there’s the horrible
irony of the extensive use of diesel generators; Greenland doesn’t have much
mains electric, so they’re accelerating a problem which is both local to
the them and global to us all.
“At the start of the year, we identified
Greenland as somewhere we – along with our partners myenergi – could
make a difference to people’s lives. We need to educate the next generation
and what better way to do that than show them how a school can be powered from
a sustainable source.
“I’m really excited about this. To be
going somewhere right on the frontline in the fight against climate change and
making a genuine difference is massive.”
XITE ENERGY RACING and
myenergi will install a 5kW ground-mounted solar array with an accompanying 5.2kWh
battery storage system. The myenergi eddi power diverter will utilise excess solar
energy to heat the school’s water.
All of this can be controlled
through the myenergi home control app. Crucially, this app will also allow the
school children to watch energy levels rising as the sun comes up.
Lessons
have rarely been as powerful or pivotal as this one.
“It really is that
important,” said Oli. “Decarbonisation is such a major part of our future
and using electric vehicles – similar to the ones we’ll be racing in
Extreme E in Greenland this month – is so important. But perhaps a bigger
part is making the global population understand the need to switch to renewable
energy sources at home and work.”
Jordan Brompton, co-founder and
CMO of myenergi, commented: “As principal sponsor of XITE ENERGY RACING,
we’re committed to taking sustainability to the masses and helping to inspire
widespread behavioural change.
“While being involved in the championship
has provided an unparalleled platform to share our vision, we knew that there
was more we could offer. Renowned for our eco-smart home energy technologies,
having the opportunity to work alongside Oli to transform a local school into
a hub for renewable energy demonstrates what the future could – and should
look like.
“Thanks to state-of-the-art renewable technologies, this
project will enable the school to operate completely off-grid – zero carbon,
zero reliance on mains supply, zero utility costs. It demonstrates precisely why
embracing sustainability is such an important part of the global energy transition.”
Greenland’s Extreme E round, the Arctic X Prix runs in Kangerlussuaq
on August 28/29.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-08-10 The three explorers
Extreme E’s Scientific Committee is made up of five world-renowned
scientists, three of which – Professors Peter Wadhams, Carlos Duarte and
Richard Washington – will be joining the championship in Greenland to conduct
scientific research and impart their knowledge on the climate crisis. We caught
up with them ahead of the Arctic X Prix.
Professor Peter Wadhams is the
Head of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee and with 51 years’ worth of
Arctic and Antarctic research under his belt, involving 56 field trips so far
focussing on ice thickness, icebergs, waves in ice and much, much more - it is
no wonder he is also the series’ Arctic expert.
But let’s go
back to the beginning. We asked Peter how it all started. “I have always
wanted to be a scientist and have been particularly interested in the ocean, since
my family had all been sailors going back three generations,” he says. “An
opportunity to begin as an oceanographer arose in 1969 when I was able to sail
around North and South America in a Canadian oceanographic expedition. The voyage
took us to the Arctic and Antarctic, so this got me focussed on polar oceanography,
a field that I have been in ever since.” He became a professor while at the
Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge University.
Professor Richard
Washington has also been part of the Scientific Committee from the beginning,
and like Peter always had an interest in science. He says, “I was one of
the lucky ones who knew from school days that I wanted to find out about weather
and climate. I didn’t have any expectations that this would involve a career
at university or that one day I would be a professor though, that all seemed way
out of reach. I feel very lucky that it worked out so well.”
Most
recent addition to the Scientific Committee, Carlos, joined the series at the
beginning of this year. He has a wealth of experience and says, “I was interested
in the oceans, as it remains poorly studied, and ecology, as it seeks to establish
connections explaining the architecture of the living biosphere, and these interests
converged in driving me to to become a professor in academia.”
For
all three professors the climate crisis has been a big focus. “For most of
my career I have been researching how the climate system works,” Richard
explains. “It is a complicated mix of things which are very tricky to understand.
Climate change is an integral part of how the climate system works now. You can’t
understand the climate system without considering climate change. There is a definite
sense of urgency in the things we are currently trying to solve.”
When did Peter realise this was a very real problem? He says, “For a long
time I studied ice as if it were a permanent feature of the world, but then in
the 1980s I was doing frequent voyages to the North Pole in UK nuclear submarines
and found that the average ice thickness was diminishing. Nobody had noticed this
before. The ice has also been shrinking but the thinning was very obvious - it
is now more than 50 per cent. This led me to investigate other aspects of the
climate, particularly the polar climate, that might be changing.”
Sadly, his findings are that all changes are accelerating, including loss of ice
from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, loss of sea ice, decline in global
sea level and loss of methane from Arctic seabed due to acceleration of global
air temperature rise.
Peter has lost count of how many times he has visited
Greenland, but says, “the main changes since the 1980s are that extensive
melt occurs in the summer - meltwater flows away in torrents and through drain
holes called moulins - whereas no surface melt at all occurred up to the 1980s.
Also, the ice that is left is getting dirtier and dirtier, as the melting ice
leaves behind accumulated dirt, dust, algae and many other forms of detritus.
It is called "black ice" and the more of it there is, the faster the
ice sheet melts because of the lower albedo.”
Richard has also been
very involved in Arctic research, specifically glaciers. “Remote, unexplored
places are very compelling to me,” he explains. “That work is aimed
at understanding what controlled glacial mass balance is, and the extent of arctic
glaciers from the perspective of large-scale weather systems across the northern
hemisphere. I’ve since worked a lot on weather and climate in the tropics
and in deserts, and we are beginning to realise how the Arctic influences important
changes in climate across the world. The Arctic is warming extremely fast.”
Carlos has been engaged in polar research for three decades, initially in
Antarctica but in the last 15 years increasingly in the Arctic. He says, “This
is the battleground of the climate challenge, where changes are already dramatic
and can cascade to affect the entire Earth System.”
Peter was actually
one of the people who advised Extreme E to select Kangerlussuaq as a race location
because he had worked there before and knew some car testing had taken place many
years ago.
Whilst in Greenland for the Arctic X Prix he plans to conduct
some research of his own. He explains, “I hope to collect about 1,000 samples
of ice crystals from the top of the melting ice cap. In August, each melting ice
crystal is associated with a small speck of dirt or algae, and these are what
I will be collecting for later microscopic analysis at Turin Polytechnic. I am
especially interested in how the recent wildfires in North America have led to
a greater deposition of black ice, which may be leading to faster ice loss.”
Carlos will be conducting preliminary research on the chemical changes associated
with the melting of the ice cap, and how they may affect the carbon system of
the ocean and its capacity to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
As part
of its Legacy Programme, the series is also working with UNICEF to design and
develop educational resources to enable teachers and school children across Greenland
to understand and start to address the climate related issues that are putting
their futures and those of generations to come at risk. Richard has been instrumental
in the programme. He explains, “I love my job as a professor because it involves
teaching as well as research. It seemed very natural for me to couple my Extreme
E work with that educational project. It closes a circle for me.”
In the global climate crisis Greenland is very significant. Peter says, “The
island is now the major source of fresh water addition to the global ocean, i.e.
the main source of global sea level rise. This is accelerating and will continue
to do so, causing global sea levels to become seriously affected by perhaps four
to five metres by the end of the century.”
Richard continues, “For
a decade or two I have been teaching students about the importance of the Greenland
Ice Sheet and the record of climate change it contains that goes back hundreds
of thousands of years. That record includes some frightening examples of how the
climate system can respond viciously when provoked and, of course, we are provoking
the climate system a lot now. My colleagues on the Science Committee in Extreme
E are experts in ice and on tipping points in climate. Working with them has been
an eye-opener regarding the perilous position we are in with respect to the Greenland
Ice Sheet.”
Carlos adds, “Climate change in the Arctic already
reached “dangerous” levels a decade ago, and these changes have both
local and global impacts. I have been to Greenland about 15 times. It is a beautiful
place and quite wild, one of the largest islands in the world with only about
56,000 people scattered across vast distances, majestic landscapes, productive
marine ecosystems and very, very kind people.”
“Greenland is
a strategic location in the Earth System, affecting many processes - sea level
rise and ocean circulation, for example - that regulate the Earth's climate. Understanding
the changes in Greenland is of fundamental importance to project future global
trajectories. Kangerlussuaq itself has a fjord that carves deepest into the interior
of Greenland and is, therefore, the vantage point to study melting rates and associated
changes in the Greenland Ice Cap.”
Can a motorsport series really
make a difference to climate crisis though? Peter says, “Definitely! The
series takes us to rarely-visited areas and once there we have two types of project;
legacy projects where efforts are made to help local people to leave behind a
permanent positive mark and science support projects.”
Richard adds,
“For a long time climate scientists have been issuing dire warnings about
climate change and what the future holds given all our carbon emissions. It is
obvious that we need solutions to be able to respond to the warnings and Extreme
E is leading the way towards new methods of doing things. Extreme E balances the
negative with the positive.”
“My involvement in Extreme E has
been a wonderful experience from any number of perspectives and one of those is
the chance to talk to important people about climate change and environmental
problems. I have been struck by how receptive journalists and people at the top
of their profession in motorsport are to the climate change story.”
On his short time as part the Committee so far, Carlos says, “Extreme E has
the power to communicate and drive meaningful climate action. It is huge to give
us scientists a reach that we rarely have access to. Our audiences are small and
typically restricted to the segments of society that already have an interest
on the climate crisis and biodiversity. Through the massive viewers of sport,
we have an opportunity to reach much broader audiences, which is important as
prevailing in our race to stabilise the climate requires all hands on deck. In
addition, Extreme E sponsors and partners bring about a unique ecosystem of economic
and industrial sectors that are key in delivering solutions from their own industries
as required to achieve the transformative change required to overcome the climate
crisis.”
We asked all three Professors how the world can change
to protect our planet. Peter says, “Firstly we must stop using fossil fuels
and do so very quickly. A switch to electric traction, of course, which we strongly
recommend by our example, must be accompanied by a switch to renewable fuels (solar,
wind etc) otherwise there is no gain. However, we also need to go further. Many
climate scientists think it is enough to reduce our emissions of CO2, but this
is not the case. CO2 stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, so to save
our climate we have to actually take CO2 out of the air. Techniques exist to do
this called Direct Air Capture and we must make a huge effort in this direction.
This will be the subject of my next book, "Mining the Sky".”
Richard adds, “Solving the climate crisis requires lots of changes to
the way we do things, and we know what many of those changes are. Invoking that
change is difficult, though, especially on the scale that is urgently needed.
Extreme E is showing us how even something like motorsport which has typically
relied on fossil fuel-based technology can be different and can be environmentally
friendly – while also being exciting and Extreme!”
Carlos concludes,
“If we fail to address this crisis, we are committing generations to a difficult
future. Our generation has an unprecedented responsibility to determine how the
future will be for our species. We can, in the first place, roll our sleeves up
and move into action from whatever role we play in society, as citizens, as professionals,
as parents and as voters. No contribution is too small, as we will only prevail
if we all contribute.”
We look forward to hearing from all three
professors while in Greenland and sharing their knowledge far and wide so the
world can work together to protect our planet.
21-08-08
Greenland offering a chance to be at one with nature
When people
think of Greenland, they don’t often consider it as a holiday destination,
but the team at Visit Greenland is aiming to dispel that myth and show it off
for the magical land it is.
However, when TIME revealed its list of the
World’s Greatest Places last month, which highlights 100 extraordinary travel
destinations around the world – Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, made this
famous list for the first time.
In 2020 The Municipality of Sermersooq,
which Nuuk is a part of, announced an ambitious goal to make Nuuk the first certified
sustainable capital in the world according to EarthCheck Destination Standard.
This decision along with Nuuk’s low pollution levels helped secure its spot
on the TIME 2021 list.
Located in the Arctic and home to just 56,000
people, Greenland offers a variety of outdoor activities in any weather, which
is important due to varying weather conditions, particularly the temperature,
which at its lowest in the height of winter can be a formidable 23 degrees centigrade
below freezing.
Activities on the island range from hiking, biking and
cross-country skiing right through to water-focussed experiences including paddle
boarding, kayaking and for the serious adventurer, there’s even the chance
to go diving amongst the whales and icebergs.
Each activity allows the
individual to take in the stunning landscapes of the country while getting back
to nature, and properly switching off from the world – in part due to a lack
of connectivity in the remotest of areas – and exploring somewhere completely
new.
In addition to these more physical activities, the people of Greenland
want to show off their culture and invite tourists to join them in their way of
life which includes dog sledding, gastronomy, guided sightseeing as well as learning
about Inuit culture.
One thing ingrained in Greenlandic way of life is
hunting and fishing, as it is the main way the community can feed themselves.
There are several tours available to get involved in these experiences from joining
a dog musher for the day, to ice fishing.
But if you’re an adrenalin
junkie, there’s an abundance for you too such as snowmobile tours, heliskiing
and mountaineering thousands of feet above ground on glaciers.
But maybe
one of the most spectacular things on offer is the chance to see the northern
lights, or the Aurora Borealis, one of the greatest surprises of the Arctic night.
Travellers would be most likely to see this sight between September and April.
As the world’s largest island and home to the world’s largest fjord
– Scoresby Sund measuring 350km, Greenland offers a host of stunning spectacles,
different to anything else on the planet. It is of course home to an ice sheet
– one of only two in the world – and an area which can be hiked to and
even slept upon as part of Camp Ice Cap – an unforgettable ice camping and
trekking adventure.
Hjörtur Smárason, CEO of Visit Greenland
says, "Greenland is a next level adventure destination. There are few places
in the world where you can experience nature as untouched and unspoiled as in
Greenland and connect as strongly with Mother Earth. There are not even roads
between any villages. It is a destination where you travel slowly and immerse
yourself in nature, learn to understand it from the locals who have adapted to
life and travel in extreme conditions for generations, and maybe most importantly,
get off the grid and reconnect with yourself."
He continues, “You
will find everything here from soft adventures such as hiking, kayaking and dog
sledding that are fit for everyone, to the most extreme expeditions including
the World's Eighth Summit Gunnbjørnsfjeld, the highest peak in the Arctic."
Extreme E’s Arctic X Prix will take place from 28-29 August in Kangerlussuq
situated in Western Greenland and home to just 500 people. The aim of putting
on the first ever motorsport event on the island is to highlight the impact of
the climate crisis on this vast landscape, and solutions we can all take to preserve
this incredible country.
To find out more, please visit: https://visitgreenland.com/things-to-do/
21-08-05 Life in Greenland
With Extreme E’s Arctic X Prix in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland just around the
corner, the series caught up with locals Johanne Bech and Rakel Olsen about their
way of life in the Arctic.
Greenlandic life is a mystery to many as it
is such a remote island, but for its 56,000 inhabitants occupying 2.1 million
km2 of land - 80 per cent of which is ice - the country offers peace, tranquillity
and a chance to be at one with nature making it popular for those seeking a break
from the hustle and bustle of city life.
We caught up firstly with Johanne
Bech, who coordinates dog mushers in Kangerlussuaq servicing the tourism industry.
Johanne was born and raised in Greenland and now spends the latter part of the
year living in Sisimiut, in the centre of Greenland, with her husband and during
January to April is based in Kangerlussuaq, where she organisers mushers for dog
sledding trips, something she has done for over twenty years. Outside of work
she enjoys hunting, fishing and also making her own clothes.
When asked
about the key elements of Greenlandic culture she said, “clean water and
clean nature! Everything we eat is clean as what we hunt/catch isn’t tainted
by pollution. Hunting is still such a huge part of our lives and something that
keeps us in touch with our ancestors. I continue to use animal hides for the clothes
I use when hunting and dog sledding. It ensures that myself and my passengers
aren’t cold.”
Johanne speaks Greenlandic, Danish and a little
English and explains, “an important part of our culture is also that we still
keep and continue to practice our language Kalallisut.”
Next up
is Rakel Olsen who together with her husband, Amassa Olsen, sell what they catch
to various shops in the community. The pair have lived in Kangerlussuaq for the
past eight years but were raised in various towns across Greenland since birth.
Amassa has been a hunter for thirty years, with Rakel being a hunter for
six years, and an official Greenland guide for seven years.
When Rakel
isn’t working she finds time to relax and enjoy the quietness Greenland has
to offer as well tanning her own hides and spinning her own musk ox wool.
She describes her culture as, “living together with nature” and
goes onto say, “we still hunt and eat what nature provides us.” Music
is also important to Rakel and she enjoys the strong song culture in Greenland,
but her favourite thing about the island is the peace, quiet and fresh air.
We asked both if climate change has affected their day-to-day lives and sadly
both nod in agreement. Johanne says, “The weather changes much quicker than
it used to and we have to leave Kangerlussuaq earlier than usual because it gets
warmer. The water level isn’t the same as it was once, and therefore it doesn’t
freeze over at its usual places and we have to find alternative routes.”
Rakel adds, “I’ve started wearing raincoats! It has started to rain
a lot in summertime. During winters, from approximately October to March it would
usually be minus 40/50 degrees Celsius, but now, it’s only minus 20. The
seasons have definitely changed. However, an upside to this is that we’ve
started harvesting our own fruit and vegetables in the summer.”
And on the subject of food, we ask, what is a usual Greenlandic diet, and both
say whatever they catch from nature such as caribou, musk ox, fish, hares and
grouse. Johanne says, “I make steaks and minced meat from the caribou and
musk ox and I also eat crowberries, for example, my breakfast is often a dish
of crowberries and yogurt which is delicious.”
Stay tuned for more
insight and facts about Greenland as Extreme E’s Arctic X Prix draws closer.
21-08-02 St. Helena's arrival
in Kangerlussuaq kicks off Arctic X Prix countdown
Extreme E’s
floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, has arrived in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland,
with just under one month to go until its Arctic X Prix - the first ever international
motorsport event to be staged in the country.
The St. Helena departed
Dakar, Senegal, following the Ocean X Prix in mid-June and travelled across the
North Atlantic Ocean to reach Lisbon, Portugal, stopping there for a few weeks
to collect provisions and change crew. During the journey the team onboard were
treated to stunning sunsets and even dolphins swimming alongside the ship.
Upon departure from Lisbon in mid-July, heading north for the first time
in the series’ global voyage, the dolphins joined again as the St. Helena
left the bay straight into the vast Atlantic Ocean, providing a calm fort for
the first leg. However winds eventually picked up and fog set in along with rain
and dropping temperatures, meaning poor visibility. Watchmen on-duty were doubled
to deal with the increased challenges, with regular sounding of the fog horn as
per regulations. The crew witnessed the spectacle of whales travelling both north
and south either side of the Ship during this part of the voyage.
Due
to the poor weather, the Ship had to continue on the Rhumb line – an imaginary
line on the earth’s surface used to plot a ship’s course – rather
than the Great Circle Route – the shortest marine route. The crew also had
to hold iceberg navigational meetings, seeing their first one – named #52
on the radar - on 28 July in the Labrador Sea. A real contrast of experiences
compared to the previous warm conditions around the Middle East and West Coast
of Africa.
Upon arriving in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on 29 July
the crew had changed time zones three times, before eventually settling on West
Greenland Summer Time. A short stop provided the opportunity to collect further
provisions and crew before heading to Kangerlussuaq - the location of the Ocean
X Prix – being greeted by a herd of seals as it arrived into its home port
for the coming weeks.
Extreme E is racing in Greenland as its melting
ice cap epitomises the challenges and severity of the global climate crisis. Just
last week according to the Denmark Meteorological Institute, Greenland lost 8.5
billion tonnes of surface mass, enough to cover the entire state of Florida in
two inches of water. The series will use its sporting platform to educate its
audiences on these issues and the solutions we can all be part of.
Alejandro
Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “It is fantastic to see the St.
Helena arriving in Kangerlussuaq, and it really marks the official countdown to
the Arctic X Prix. Having visited Greenland as part of our early planning, I’ve
been to the ice cap and have seen the flowing melt water first-hand. It is a truly
sobering place to be when you understand the scale of the situation and really
bought home the severity of the global climate emergency to me, and the race against
time that we are all part of.
“I hope by being here and using our
global media platform, we can show the world not only the effects of climate change,
but also educate on the solutions, through the expert knowledge of our Scientific
Committee, and also through our Legacy Programme with UNICEF in Greenland and
the community of Kangerlussuaq.”
Over the coming days and weeks,
the freight of the St Helena, which includes all the team’s electric ODYSSEY
21 race cars, the AFC hydrogen fuel cell which powers the vehicles using green
hydrogen, and all paddock infrastructure and team engineering equipment, will
be unloaded and set up at the race site.
As the first ever motorsport
event to take place in the country, planning has not been easy due to Greenland’s
unique, remote and extreme nature. The team has been working hard to ensure the
infrastructure is in place in the most sustainable way possible from logistics
to power to toilets, all with the aim to not only race without a trace, but deliver
another weekend of world-class racing.
While Rosberg X Racing’s
Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson have taken racing honours at both the Desert
X Prix and Ocean X Prix in Saudi Arabia and Senegal respectively, there has been
some close racing which will be no different in Greenland. The course in part
will run across what was once the mighty Russell Glacier, but which has now sadly
receded and is rock salt, sediment-based terrain left behind by the melted glacier.
World-class drivers including the likes of Sebastien Loeb, Timmy Hansen, Carlos
Sainz Snr., Catie Munnings, Jutta Kleinschmidt and Laia Sanz will face a variety
of terrains putting their skills to the test.
Hjörtur Smárason,
Visit Greenland's Managing Director, said: “Greenland is very proud to host
such a high profile event. Climate change happens twice as fast in the Arctic
with temperature rise already passing well over two degrees. The impact is decades
ahead of the rest of the world, which is very visible here at Russell Glacier.
“Greenlanders are used to being at the forefront when it comes to adapting
to extreme climate, but this is a challenge on a new level that needs a global
response. Extreme E is a fantastic way to showcase the challenge and at the same
time highlight our ability to adapt, to innovate and to act fast. Greenland is
already doing it and we hope this event inspires the world to fight climate change
with the same enthusiasm and determination as we see in the drivers and engineers
of Extreme E.”
But it isn’t just the drivers that will be the
stars of the show. Extreme E Scientific Committee members: Professors Peter Wadhams,
Carlos Duarte and Richard Washington along with local experts, will also be in
Greenland conducting their own research, taking drivers on a tour of the ice cap
as well as hosting a variety of workshops focussed on the tipping point in climate
change which will be made available following the X Prix. In addition, the championship’s
first scientific project in collaboration with Founding Scientific Partner Enel
Foundation will join the St. Helena – more details to be revealed in due
course.
Alongside the scientific research, Extreme E has also been supporting
UNICEF to create an educational programme. The programme aims to empower young
changemakers – around 3,600 young people – in the country by reimagining
climate education in Greenland, helping children understand and address the climate
related issues which are putting them, and future generations at risk.
Maliina Abelsen, Head of Programmes, UNICEF Greenland said: “We are grateful
to have received Extreme E’s support, to build on our existing work in promoting
and protecting the rights of children who are the least responsible for climate
change, yet they bear the greatest burden of its impact. With thanks to the educational
resources we created, children and young people in Greenland will have an enhanced
foundation of and involvement in the environmental issues that affect them.”
The legacy efforts don’t end there, as Extreme E is also leaving behind
compostable toilets, solar panels, electric go-karts, and medical supplies and
training to support the local community. More details to follow on this as the
Arctic X Prix draws closer.
In a bid to keep Extreme E’s carbon
footprint to a minimum, as well as the remote nature of its events, X Prix events
are not open to spectators. Instead, fans are invited to watch through a host
of global broadcasters including ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC digital channels
in the UK, FOX Sports in the USA, Eurosport in Europe, plus many more available
to view here. Followers can also get involved via the championship’s innovative
FanWorld concept.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-07-30 Extreme E to race
in Sardinia, Italy
Extreme E, the new electric off-road motorracing
series, can today reveal it has reached an agreement in principle with Sardinian
officials to host the fourth event of its opening season, the Island X Prix, from
23-24 October.
The move to the Italian island follows the series’
decision to postpone its originally planned events in Brazil and Argentina due
to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Latin America.
Alejandro Agag, Founder
and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I am pleased to confirm that Extreme E is finalising
plans to hold an Island X Prix in Sardinia, Italy, and that we are delighted to
have the support of Sardinian president Christian Solinas, and the Automobile
Club d’Italia (ACI) as we plan our first European event.
“Extreme
E was built around the ethos of racing electric vehicles in remote environments
in an effort to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance
and benefits of low carbon vehicles. However, this crisis is not a problem which
only affects remote locations. It is becoming increasingly noticeable closer to
home, across North America, and here across Europe, with rising temperatures,
heatwaves and wildfires, which currently rage in Sardinia itself, being some of
the latest devastating examples.
“Together with our supportive hosts
and our Scientific Committee and Partners, we will use the power of sport to educate
on the causes of these climate issues which are taking place right here in front
of us, as we aim to open eyes even wider to the need for all of us to take collective
action, now, before it’s too late.”
Sardinian president Christian
Solinas has confirmed the news that the Sardinian Region will work alongside the
organisers for the success of the event.
Scientists are warning of worsening
extreme weather patterns if global temperatures continue to rise without solutions
being put in place to cut carbon emissions, and that greenhouse gas levels are
already too high “for a manageable future for humanity”.
Richard
Washington, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Oxford, and founding
member of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee, explains: “Rising temperatures
and wildfires are now a threat across every continent. In just the last couple
of years we have seen devastation in the Amazon, Australia, Siberia, Canada and
the Mediterranean region. With thresholds already crossed by climate change, wildfires
are more extensive, more intense, more damaging and last longer. New ways of forecasting
wildfires and new ways of adapting to them are urgently needed.
“Ultimately,
the driver of all this is climate change. To reduce the devastation, we need to
stem the driver of that change and that means cutting carbon emissions. Continue
to live as we do, and the carbon emissions by the end of the century will make
the wildfires of recent years look modest. Extreme E is at the forefront of the
drive towards a better future, a new way of doing things and a world which does
not rely on deadly carbon emissions.”
So far the series has journeyed
to the deserts of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and the beaches of Senegal, West Africa,
where it has so far educated on the issues of desertification, coastal erosion
and plastic pollution, and is about to race in Greenland to shine a spotlight
on the melting ice cap. The sport for purpose series highlights the impact of
climate change and promotes the benefits of electric vehicles and low carbon solutions
in the fight to help reduce global emission levels.
President Angelo
Sticchi Damiani – President of Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) said:
“The ability to look to the future and to design or support new initiatives
that have an important horizon both from a technical evolution and from a sporting
spectacle perspective, has always been in the DNA of the Automobile Club d’Italia,
which since its inception has been the “engine” of motorsport, anticipating
motorsport trends and developments over the years.
“In this broad
context, the ACI, the Region of Sardinia and Alejandro Agag are working together
on an agreement to host an Extreme E event. A championship for off-road cars conceived
by the FIA ??International Automobile Federation and dedicated exclusively to
electric SUVs, which will take place in Sardinia on 23 and 24 October 2021. As
usual, ACI has played a fundamental role in the birth of this event and will follow
it by supporting in its development.”
Extreme E includes top racing
names from the biggest and best disciplines in motorsport. Formula One World Champion
Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing (RXR) currently leads the championship standings,
closely followed by Seven-Time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton’s
X44 team. Former F1 competitor Jenson Button also leads his own JBXE entry. The
world-class drivers in Extreme E include rally legends Carlos Sainz Snr. and Sébastien
Loeb; FIA World Rallycross Champions Johan Kristoffersson, Timmy Hansen and Mattias
Ekström, competing alongside leading female drivers, including Molly Taylor,
Jamie Chadwick, Catie Munnings, Cristina Gutiérrez and more.
All
teams include a male and female driver who complete a lap apiece of the Extreme
E race course, with a driver ‘switch’ taking place midway, with both
drivers competing together for success.
Extreme E races - known as an
X Prix - take place over two days, within an area no larger than 10 km2. Course
designers are tasked with carefully selecting options, which provide the most
challenging and exciting racing action whilst crucially generating no negative
impact from either environmental or social perspectives. Routes will be designed
to incorporate existing obstacles and features with elevation changes and jumps,
without the need to adapt the environment.
As well as using sport to
shine a global spotlight on climate issues in its five locations, Extreme E will
work alongside local experts in each region to implement positive legacy initiatives
dependent on local needs. Further details on the Island X Prix’s overall
purpose and legacy plans will be confirmed in coming weeks.
To learn
more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
21-07-20 The world's most
extreme battery
When it comes to motorsport, there’s no doubt
that the name Williams is held in the highest esteem. The legendary organisation
has been one of the sport’s leading engineering and racing protagonists with
nine F1 constructors’ championships (second only to Ferrari) to its name.
Its sister company, Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) is now considered to be
a major force in the electric motorsport arena thanks to its work with Formula
E and more recently, as the sole power train developer for the pioneering off
road championship Extreme E.
We caught up with Craig Wilson, Williams
Advanced Engineering CEO and Glen Pascoe, WAE Principal Engineer, for an early
Season review and an in depth look at the WAE facility. We also wanted to pick
their brains about how on earth the Extreme E battery is actually made, and the
challenges of creating a battery that can power the enormous ODYSSEY 21 in the
most extreme locations.
XE: First of all, how did the Williams and Extreme
E relationship begin?
Craig Wilson, “Williams had already been involved
with Formula E as we were one of the original battery suppliers to the championship
when it began in 2014. The technology was relatively young then and were all learning
a great deal – but it was hugely exciting to be part of the electric revolution
and to be there from the start and we still are.
“Following the
on-track successes we’ve had at Le Mans (providing engineering support for
Porsche’s sports car racing programme), through the hybrid F1 era, then four
seasons supplying batteries to the first-generation Formula E grid (and due to
supply the Gen 3 batteries), together with being technical partner for Jaguar
Racing, we have learned a lot about how to extract the highest levels of performance
from a battery.
“Having proven our capabilities with Alejandro Agag,
SPARK and the team in Formula E, we were then in a good position to pitch for
the Extreme E sole developer role in 2019.”
XE: What steps did Williams
take to create the battery?
Glen Pascoe, “In Extreme E, the challenge
is arguably even greater than for other series as we are taking battery technology
away from the traditional race circuit and into hostile environments, where humidity,
dust, extremes of temperature, shock and vibration will play a huge part and to
that end, the batteries have had to be uniquely tailored for the environment.
“And with races being head-to-head over short distances, the batteries
are sized to manage high intensity operation over a shorter time than in other
e-racing series, but in a far harsher environment. As a result, we have developed
a whole new module that can produce 400kW peak power in a bespoke battery construction
along with an entirely new pre-race conditioning system to maximise robustness
and minimise mass.
“Simplicity, serviceability and modularity were
all critical design requirements. Commercially available cells were selected and
designed into a pack in conjunction with the series to align both with the race
format and the vehicle performance duty cycle. Working with limited space in the
car, we had to meet tough power and mass performance targets and deliver a bespoke
battery pack design in under 12 months!”
XE: How has the battery
performed in the first two X Prix’s of Extreme E’s debut season, Saudi
Arabia and Senegal, and what were the challenges that you faced?
Glen
Pascoe, “The biggest challenges in Saudi Arabia were definitely sand and
the temperature! Thin air was also an issue.
“The first run simulation
took part at the hottest time of the day and a battery rebuild we carried out
was intensive and not helped by strong winds and even a sandstorm providing an
unwelcome interruption, which covered all battery parts and electronics with a
fine grit. We broke out the vacuum to begin a deep clean for all components. Eventually,
the batteries were ready, and it was time for the team-wide shakedown on Friday
2 April.
“The first qualification session saw two major impacts
- Stephane Sarrazin in the Veloce Racing car and Claudia Hu¨rtgen in the ABT
Cupra XE – and after the driver’s safety was checked, we were delighted
to see that both batteries remained absolutely intact, safe and damage-free, showing
the green light all the way through the car recovery process.
“The
Senegal event brought a mixture of similarities and differences to Saudi in the
challenges we faced at the track. Whilst not as hot as Saudi Arabia, ambient temperatures
remained high and was accompanied by 90%+ humidity levels. This brought its own
unique challenges in ensuring we were actively managing the battery temperature
both during the on-track action and between races.
“Alongside this
the Senegal event showed the cars tackling a very demanding, technical and aggressive
track. The batteries were constantly punished with heavy impacts and harsh vibrations
as the cars bounced around the dunes and deep ruts. Ensuring battery health throughout
the weekend was key to ensuring a successful event.
“Both of the first
two races offered humidity, dust, extremes of temperature, shock and vibration!”
Glen concludes, “To break it down, we came away with the knowledge that...
the batteries performed flawlessly even with the severe impacts that happened
in the Desert X Prix as well as the intense head to head battles we saw in the
Ocean X Prix. Working on the batteries on location went really well, which is
a reflection of all the design work and that went into them
Servicing and
maintaining the batteries throughout the events went well, which is a reflection
of all the design work that went into them
Again, the batteries performed
well in Senegal, a 6km long harsh, technical course, through woods and on the
beach
480KM mileage was recorded in Senegal and 1070 km across the 2 races
1120KWh energy discharged in Senegal and nearly 2000kWh across both events
Over 12 hours of on-track running
Have you made any improvements since
then?
Glen Pascoe, “Refinement of BMS models to extract maximum performance.
And we have optimised the rate at which we log and collect data during an event
to ensure most efficient learning.”
What are you expecting when
you go to the next X Prix in Greenland in August?
Glen Pascoe “No more
sand!! But yes, we’ll have to adapt and optimise to the vastly different
climate and track conditions. The very new challenges of snow and of course water
and mud. There will be stone impact and less grip resulting in more drift and
vertical impact.
“In addition to the physical challenges, the remoteness
of the location means we need to forward plan for every eventuality before arriving
on location as there will be no opportunity for late deliveries or freight, no
additional transport available or indeed, supplies!”
How do you
see the battery developing further as Season 1 progresses?
Glen Pascoe, “Unlocking
further vehicle performance as we gather more data on the battery and the overall
powertrain.”
What are the options for the battery at the end of
Season 1?
Glen Pascoe, “Batteries have been designed for multi-season
use, so WAE will inspect, re-test and go again. Any incremental improvements available
will be implemented during the turn-around. Once batteries reach the end of their
final racing season, the cells can be easily removed as module ‘building
blocks’ and configured into a suitable second life application. Some components
are targeted for reuse in alternative applications, and some will be recycled
in order to recover valuable raw materials.”
How important are collaborations
like this for race to road transfer?
Craig Wilson, “They are a key part
of transferring technology to road cars, specifically in areas such as fast charging,
battery management and software development. Essentially, affordability comes
with volume production. By pioneering and showcasing EV technology in a series
such as Extreme E, manufacturers will be able to “carry over” technology
into road cars and in doing so, enable the technology to become more affordable.”
How is Williams’ technology implemented in cars we see on the road today?
Craig Wilson, “As mentioned previously the key technology areas will likely
be improved energy density, lifecycle, durability, power capability and fast charging.
In addition, there will probably be a greater than ever emphasis on software in
order to unlock more of the potential of the battery chemistry using advanced
algorithms for increased performance, safety and reliability.”
Apart
from all that, are you looking forward to racing Greenland? What are you most
excited about?
Glen Pascoe, “Snowball fights in August of course!!
“No seriously, this is huge as no previous international motorsport events
have ever been held in Greenland, so the WAE team are proud to be supporting this
unique and ground-breaking event. Seeing the cars go head-to-head in a challenging
new climate for the drivers will also be so exciting to watch. We can’t wait!”
21-07-06 Tamara Molinaro joins
Extreme E as Championship Driver
6 July 2021, London: Extreme E,
the electric off-road racing series, today announces Tamara Molinaro as its Championship
Driver, following the news that predecessor Jutta Kleinschmidt will race for ABT
CUPRA XE for the remainder of the 2021 season.
Italian-born Tamara began
her racing career at the age of 11 and gradually made her way up to the U27 European
Rally Championship taking the Ladies European Rally Champion title – the
second-youngest after Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings – in
2017 after winning four of the eight rounds and topping the table in 40 stages.
In 2018, the 23-year-old moved into the WRC2 class in the World Rally Championship
and in 2019 dovetailed a second season on the WRC support bill with a Titans RX
Rallycross Championship campaign – the only female in the series – winning
several qualification races and finishing fifth overall.
In 2020, Tamara
contested the Italian Gravel Championship, finishing second in the U25 standings,
and first in the Ladies standing. This year, she continues to compete in the Italian
Gravel Championship, recently finishing the San Marino Rally in seventh spot,
putting her sixth in the overall standings.
Tamara joins Extreme E as
Championship Driver alongside Timo Scheider, supporting the series in both an
advisory role and as a back-up driver should any of the teams require a replacement
during an X Prix, as due to the nature of the race locations, teams won't have
a reserve driver on site.
James Taylor, Chief Championships Officer,
Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tamara to Extreme E. She has
a great pedigree already at such a young age in both rallying and rallycross,
and we think she will bring a lot to Extreme E, and be the perfect replacement
should any teams require her at our upcoming X Prixs.
“But her role
is much wider than that, and we are looking forward to having her in Greenland
with us for the Arctic X Prix and receiving her input on the course alongside
Timo [Scheider]. Having spent time as both a driver and co-driver she has a fantastic
perspective on racing, so her feedback will be crucial to creating another spectacular
X Prix.
“Finally, our thanks and appreciation go out to Tamara’s
predecessor Jutta Kleinschmidt who played a big part in the success of our opening
two events. We now look forward to watching her race for ABT CUPRA XE for the
rest of the Season.”
Tamara Molinaro, Extreme E’s newly appointed
Championship Driver, added: “I have been working really hard to try and get
involved in Extreme E over the past few months as I’ve followed the series
with huge interest since the beginning. I think it is one of the most exciting
and fair racing formats ever and the thought of being able to race with a purpose
gives me extra motivation.
“My goal has always been to make it to
the top of the motorsport ladder so the opportunity to work within Extreme E as
a Championship Driver is a dream come true, and I will put all my efforts into
doing my job in the best way possible. I can’t wait to get started in Greenland!”
Extreme E has already completed X Prixs in the Saudi Arabian desert and the
beaches of Senegal with Kangerlussuaq, Greenland hosting the Arctic X Prix from
28-29 August. Some of the biggest names in motorsport including championship leaders
Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson, plus Timmy Hansen, Carlos Sainz Snr., Catie
Munnings and Christine GZ will be racing alongside the Russell Glacier on an area
which has retreated due to the climate crisis. By racing in this location, Extreme
E hopes to shine a spotlight on the devastating effects of climate change and
inspire change.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
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
