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23-06-08 One Month to Go until Extreme E returns to Sardinia
In just four weeks, Extreme E will head to Sardinia for the next double-header event of the 2023 season. The Island X Prix (8-9 July), co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d'Italia and Regione Sardegna, will mark the championship’s return to the Italian island for a third successive year.
The electric off-road racing series will be returning to the familiar setting of the Italian Army Training area at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente. The Teulada route provides a challenging backdrop for the course, with some changes to this year’s configuration netting out at a track distance of around three kilometres.
Due to the hot summer conditions in July, the drivers will navigate a tougher, more compact surface compared to the Season 3 race locations so far. Riddled with rocks, bushes, and dry riverbeds cracked from the heat, the Sardinia course promises exciting wheel-to-wheel action across the two days of racing.
The series was created to raise awareness about the effects of climate change and sustainable solutions in the most remote corners of the planet. However, Sardinia has shown that the problem does not only concern places located at the most extreme latitudes.<
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “It is great to be returning to Sardinia for Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3.
“Sardinia has proved to be a popular venue with drivers and teams in the past and has provided fantastic racing in our previous two events there. We are expecting more of the same in July, and with such a competitive grid in 2023 as the championship hots up, we look forward to a really special event.
“Our Legacy initiatives remain ongoing, while we hope to announce some new projects prior to this Island X Prix, and we are excited to see how they have developed alongside our supporting partners.”
Extreme E has been 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 Defense and the Italian Army, to deliver what promises to be a thrilling weekend of racing action.
Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d'Italia, said: "We are very pleased that this now-traditional appointment with Extreme E continues at Capo Teulada, where Extreme E is practised using technically sophisticated cars powered by electric innovation in a beautiful mix of extraordinary and wild nature.
“Motorsport is always a test bench for manufacturers, it subjects cars and innovations to very demanding tests that will later be used in series productions, and it is important that in Sardinia, there is this combination of sport, nature and technological innovation, especially when it comes to zero-emission engines.
“A particular pride comes from having created, together with the Automobile Club d'Italia, Aci Sassari and its president Giulio Pes di San Vittorio, the conditions for Extreme E to bring one of the five stages of the series to Sardinia, thanks to the support of the Regional Council, the President Christian Solinas and the Regional Assessor for Tourism, Gianni Chessa. My thanks also go to the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army), which has always shown great vision and made the Capo Teulada Training Area available, with a good understanding of the environmental and technological development reasons for this. I am particularly grateful for this response."
It is becoming more prevalent that Sardinia and many other environments are increasingly susceptible to rising temperatures, heatwaves, and wildfires.
Continuing to work alongside the MEDSEA (Mediterranean Sea and Coast) Foundation, the series will build upon its existing Legacy projects in the region. Further detail around how Extreme E will highlight climate change issues and support the local community are to be revealed soon.
Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing (RXR) are the most successful team when it comes to the Island X Prix, with two victories from three races on the Italian island since the series launched in 2021.
Sardinia has also proven to be a special event for No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing, with the American outfit picking up their maiden championship win there last year.
Veloce Racing currently leads the Extreme E Season 3 standings after two victories in 2023., ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team are a close second with 69 points – 11 off the lead – while Season 1 Champions RXR sit third. Last year’s winners, Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing, are fourth in the standings.
With three different winners across just four rounds, the double-header format means more points up for grabs and more opportunities awaiting the 10 world-class teams in Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3 in Sardinia. The countdown is on!
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-06-05 Mark Grain appointed as Extreme E Technical Director
Extreme E, the ground-breaking electric off-road racing championship, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Grain in the newly-created role of Technical Director.
With his extensive experience in the motorsport industry, including almost three decades across multiple racing disciplines at McLaren, Grain brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the series.
Grain has enjoyed an impressive motorsport journey with plenty of winning pedigree, particularly at McLaren, with notable successes including a Formula One title, victory at the Le Mans 24 hours and IndyCar race wins – where he held numerous technical and operational roles. Most recently as Sporting Director, Grain oversaw the creation of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E team and led the team in its first season of racing in 2022.
Moreover, Grain’s arrival coincides with the upcoming launch of Extreme H as plans for the world’s first hydrogen motorsport championship gather pace.
Grain's appointment as Technical Director further reinforces Extreme E's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and performance, and demonstrates the series’ ambitious plans for future development.
Utilising his extensive experience in both Formula One and endurance racing, Mark will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical direction of the championship and ensuring the teams' compliance with regulations.
Known for its pioneering spirit, Extreme E has revolutionised the motorsport world by bringing exciting electric racing action to some of the most challenging and remote corners of the planet. By racing in environmentally sensitive areas, the series aims to raise awareness about climate change while promoting the adoption of clean energy solutions.
Reflecting on his new role as Technical Director at Extreme E, Mark said: “Having experienced Extreme E first hand as a competitor and loved every minute, when the chance came to join the Championship, I jumped at it.
“Extreme E continues to evolve and break new ground in motorsport, having already established many 'firsts’ which make its appeal so unique. The opportunity to play a part in its future is incredibly exciting, especially with the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell racing.
“We don't want to sit back; we want to continue to push and evolve. Extreme E already has a track record of challenging common assumptions and ways of going racing, and I share the strong ambition to maintain that momentum.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO of Extreme E, added: "We are thrilled to welcome Mark to Extreme E as our new Technical Director. His relentless pursuit of excellence has earned him a stellar reputation in the industry and this, combined with his unrivalled expertise and passion for sustainable motorsport, make him the ideal candidate for this new role.
“We believe his expertise will be invaluable in shaping the technical future of Extreme E and driving innovation within the championship, while there will also be significant focus on preparations to launch Extreme H, a world-first hydrogen motorsport series.”
James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E, said: “We look forward to Mark bringing his expertise and experience into this new role. The fact that Mark has run McLaren’s Extreme E team is a major benefit for us, as he appreciates both the technical and sporting demands of a team and the Championship. Extreme E has always pushed the boundaries since its inception, and Mark’s appointment as Technical Director only further reinforces that.
“Although already into our third season, there is a lot more potential to be unearthed in our series and so Mark’s arrival into the Extreme E team is an important one. Mark will work closely with our experts from Spark Racing Technology and our fuel cell partner to ensure that the Extreme H car and associated technology provides our teams with the best possible car to race.”
Grain will take up his new role as Extreme E Technical Director immediately, with his first championship event, the Island X Prix in Sardinia, set to take place on 8-9 July.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-25 Five new candidates join Extreme E through Racing for All initiative
Half of the Extreme E grid now has a Racing for All candidate as part of its operations in the series, emphasising the growing importance of the initiative in the championship. We caught up with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Lanna Campbell on her experiences working at home event, as well as how the programme is developing in 2023.
Following the launch of the initiative in 2022, half of the Extreme E grid now has a Racing for All candidate as part of their racing team.
Informed by the findings of The Hamilton Commission, Racing for All is creating opportunities for a new generation of mechanical and engineering talent to join the world’s most radical off-road electric racing series. The programme aims to reduce barriers and attract those who might not otherwise be able to have this opportunity, and encourage particularly those who are female, minority ethnic, or from a lower socio-economic background to apply.
The Racing for All recruits, Lanna Campbell (Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E), Amanda Kangai (Veloce Racing), Daanish Chilwan (No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing), Calvin Langat (X44 Vida Carbon Racing) and Aisling Power (NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team) got to experience the inner workings of an Extreme E outfit at the Hydro X Prix, with tasks ranging from recording data from runs out on course, to car and bodywork repairs.
For Lanna Campbell, who lives on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, working at her home event was a particular highlight.
As part of the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E squad, Lanna initially shadowed all aspects of the race team. After a day of shadowing, Lanna was able to help out with car and bodywork repairs as well as supporting the mechanics as and when needed for various duties across the race weekend.
Lanna said: “It was an amazing opportunity to work with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E. My old schoolteacher found out about Racing for All online and sent it to me, and I knew I had to take the opportunity.
“I’ve been shadowing all the team members to watch and understand their jobs, and I also got the opportunity to get stuck in and help the mechanics with some car repairs and do some car vinyl. I’ve really been loving it – I’m having the time of my life! The experience has really made me want to work in motorsports now.
“The only thing that shocked me is how busy and fast-paced it can get between the track action. Obviously, when you watch motorsport, the TV doesn’t show you that side. But even understanding that has been great. Every day is a learning day as they say!”
Moreover, EqualEngineers were at the Glenmuckloch venue to deliver engagement sessions supporting the series’ Racing for All candidates, improving their practical and communications skills.
Extreme E has also worked closely with EqualEngineers throughout the development of this initiative, whose Pathways Programme is supporting engineering students from diverse backgrounds to secure graduate employment in engineering.
What’s more, EqualEngineers has launched an Edinburgh & South East Scotland Pathways Programme, with the objective to reduce the inequalities within the region and mentoring the engineers of the future.
Mark McBride-Wright, Founder and CEO, said: “We had a brilliant time attending our first Extreme E event, in my sunny homeland of Scotland! I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the teams around the paddock and seeing all the engineering which goes into the race.
“We ran a brilliant professional skills and media training session with the Racing For All candidates, and I plan to keep connected for seeing what opportunities we can support through EqualEngineers longer term.”
Stay tuned for more insights from Extreme E’s Racing for All candidates and the invaluable experience they have received as a result of the initiative and working across the championship.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-24 Podium wait is over for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team in 2023
After a promising debut campaign in Extreme E, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team had been searching for a strong result to kickstart their Season 3 ambitions. A podium in Round 4 at the Hydro X Prix was certainly a shot in the arm for Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour, as the team look to climb the Extreme E leaderboard in 2023.
After an introduction to the Glenmuckloch course in Free Practice, there was drama right from the off in Qualifying in Round 3 for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.
The cancellation of Qualifying 1 meant the pressure was on for all 10 teams in Qualifying 2. The red flag was immediately brought out in Q2 Heat 2 with Foust narrowly avoiding a collision between ABT Cupra XE and Carl Cox Motorsport ahead. The American, who made contact with Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor amidst the frenetic start, lined up for the three-car restart and set off third in hot pursuit of Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider ahead.
Foust set up teammate Gilmour as best as he could, as the other drivers took over for the final two laps of the Heat. However, in their push to make up time, the team received a five-second penalty for being too far out of their bay in the Switch Zone.
Despite a valiant drive from Gilmour, which saw her pass Christine GZ on the uphill Continental Traction Challenge sector, the New Zealander was unable to build enough of a lead to retain second after the penalty was applied, which meant third in the Heat and a place in the Redemption Race.
Third, and eighth overall, was the best NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team could do as attentions turned to Round 4 and the second part of the Hydro X Prix.
Reflecting on the first race in Scotland, Foust said: "It was a difficult day for us, we had pace in the car and the resources from the team were working. Ultimately, a clot of mud clogging the windscreen wiper ended up making our Qualifying very challenging. Emma did a great job of seeing through the mud and making a pass. Unfortunately, we got a Switch Zone infringement, which put us in the Redemption Race and we finished eighth overall.
It was a case of what might have been for the team, as Emma Gilmour concluded: “It was a disappointing end to our first race here in Scotland. We should’ve been in the Grand Final. However, I enjoyed the race, it was fun and challenging, with the dusty conditions. We also had a wiper issue in our qualifying session which made our race difficult.”
The tables were turned in Round 4, as a change in the weather also yielded a change in fortune for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.
Qualifying 1 Heat 2 saw the team secure bank valuable points ahead of the session, with Foust making an assertive pass on Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen to take second behind ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
In another disrupted Qualifying 2 due to incidents, which also saw Gilmour slide off into the hay bales and spinning as she tried to maintain position, the restart after the red flag saw the New Zealander dart into the lead.
The positions were maintained into the Switch Zone, with No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing in hot pursuit. Despite crossing the line in first, a 30-second penalty for speeding in the Slow Zone on Gilmour’s lap put the team down to second, and into their first Grand Final of the campaign.
Buoyed by their strong Qualifying, the team’s upward momentum continued into the Grand Final. After exiting the first turn in second behind Veloce Racing, Foust shadowed the leader Hansen throughout his two-lap run – all the more remarkable given the visibility levels from his ODYSSEY 21 as the weather deteriorated.
Gilmour kept up the fight for victory in her two-lap stint as she pressured Taylor in front, but NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team were made to settle for second place, securing a crucial podium on home soil and valuable points for their Season 3 challenge.
Gilmour said: “It was fantastic to bounce back from the disappointment of yesterday and get our first podium of the year! We had two strong qualifying heats, which meant we got into the Grand Final.
Buoyed by their strong Qualifying, the team’s upward momentum continued into the Grand Final. After exiting the first turn in second behind Veloce Racing, Foust shadowed the leader Hansen throughout his two-lap run – all the more remarkable given the visibility levels from his ODYSSEY 21 as the weather deteriorated.
Gilmour kept up the fight for victory in her two-lap stint as she pressured Taylor in front, but NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team were made to settle for second place, securing a crucial podium on home soil and valuable points for their Season 3 challenge.
Gilmour said: “It was fantastic to bounce back from the disappointment of yesterday and get our first podium of the year! We had two strong qualifying heats, which meant we got into the Grand Final. Conditions were really tricky which made it a big challenge as you didn’t want to make a mistake. We performed really strongly and I’m so happy to come away with a podium finish.”
Looking back on a weekend which ended with their best result of the season, Foust concluded: “A podium at Round 4 is exactly what we needed at the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. The first two rounds of the year were a bit difficult, and the course in Scotland was one of the most challenging the series has ever had. After Round 4, to walk away with some silverware and good results and points is a great result for the team.
“The team put in a huge amount of work and it was an insane course. Emma [Gilmour] did a great job and carried good speed – I managed to make a pass in the Grand Final and with Emma holding that position, we came home in second place. It was an awesome result for the team.”
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team will be keen to back their podium finish in Scotland up when the series heads to the searing heat of Sardinia for Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3 in July.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-23 How Veloce Racing extended their championship lead
After showing strong initial pace in Free Practice, Veloce Racing had a difficult opening round at the Hydro X Prix and lost their top spot in the Extreme E standings. However, the British squad came back strong come the second race in Scotland taking a home victory, their second of the Season 3, to reclaim their place at the head of the pack with an 11-point gap.
Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor were quickest out of the blocks in Free Practice, confirming their Extreme E Season 3 pace after a phenomenal opening round in NEOM.
However, a combination of bad luck and mechanical issues ensured the team would only manage to make the Redemption Race.
Following the cancellation of Saturday’s Qualifying 1 due to as the medical helicopter was unable to fly due to adverse weather, the stakes were even higher in Qualifying 2 to reach the Grand Final. Although Veloce Racing’s Taylor got a good start, the Aussie ace made contact with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust while trying to avoid a collision between ABT CUPRA XE and Carl Cox Motorsport ahead, and the resultant damage forced the team into retirement.
Veloce Racing managed to bank crucial points in the Redemption Race, finishing second behind ACCIONA | SAINZ XE TEAM and thus seventh overall, but in doing so surrendered the championship lead to the Spanish outfit as attentions turned to Round 4.
Reflect on Round 3, Molly Taylor said: “It felt like a case of what might have been for us. It’s always frustrating when you are quick in Practice and you know that you have a fast package. We knew with our starting draw and only one qualifying session, it was going to be a challenge. Everyone in the team did a great job and we bounced back well in the Redemption Race.
Kevin Hansen’s view of Round 3 was fairly similar, adding: “The incident in Qualifying 2 is just one of those things in racing, but it obviously impacted our day. We regrouped and went well in the Redemption Race. There was a small chance for the lead, but Molly did great and bringing the car home in second is positive points.”
At first, the second race at the Hydro X Prix appeared to be following a similar pattern.
Despite a strong start from Hansen in Qualifying 1 Heat 2 with the Swede settling into second, a bent driveshaft meant he was powerless to hold off NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Foust, while in her run Taylor nursed the car home to finish third.
That left the team with plenty to do in Qualifying 2, but a dominant display from the British outfit, after avoiding a first-corner crash between RXR, X44 and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, saw Taylor and Hansen take the Heat 2 victory and secure a Grand Final spot.
It was evident that the team’s confidence had returned, and a flying start from Hansen in the Grand Final put the team into the lead at the first turn. It was a lead that they would not lose as the Swede, and then team-mate Taylor, held off NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team for their second win of the season.
Not only that, but having left NEOM heading the standings albeit tied level with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, Veloce Racing departed Scotland with an 11-point cushion ahead of the Spanish outfit.
Reflecting on a topsy-turvy Hydro X Prix that ended with victory, Hansen said: "The start was pretty perfect, and we were able to execute a fantastic race. I tried to keep the gap before handing over to Molly [Taylor], and she did an amazing job to bring the car home in P1.
“The team has done such an incredible job. We knew we were fast after practice on Friday, but things didn’t quite go our way in the first race. It's great to get the victory in front of our amazing partners at our team's home race."
Taylor summed up the weekend: “What a feeling! We have experienced the highs and lows of an Extreme E weekend, but you really get to see the strength of a team when they respond to the challenges that we faced yesterday.
“There is such a good feeling in this team and Kevin drove brilliantly too, so I couldn’t be happier. It’s great to be leading the standings but there’s a long way to go and now we will focus on Sardinia.”
Attentions now turn to Rounds 5 and 6 in Sardinia in July, where Veloce Racing will look to maintain their position at the head of the Extreme E standings.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-22 How Extreme E delivered off track in Scotland
The Hydro X Prix in Dumfries and Galloway marked a number of successes on course at the former opencast coal mine at Glenmuckloch. There were also multiple initiatives taking place off-track as Extreme E made its return to the UK. Here’s a recap of everything which caught the eye away from the racing action in Scotland.
Legacy Programme
Extreme E’s environmental Legacy Programme in Scotland was a multi-stage project centred around the restoration of the River Nith to ensure the preservation of Atlantic salmon.
On Thursday 11 May, just ahead of Extreme E’s second double-header of the season, Extreme E drivers and personnel lent a hand to start the planting process and learn how the sensors can affect positive change.
Partnering with the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board, the aim is to reverse the impact of climate change through community engagement, education, and the application of science. This includes sensors provided by Vodafone Business, the series’ Official Technology Partner, which will monitor temperatures, acidity levels and pollution levels in the water, as well as planting over a thousand native trees to protect the eroding banks of the river.
Tanner Foust, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, said: “I love doing the legacy projects. It means we’re able to futureproof motorsport and show that it can be done in a responsible way.
“As a biology major in college, I find it particularly fascinating to learn about each individual region. I went to elementary school not far from here, about three hours further north, and I never would have known that there was an issue with salmon and with the warming of the rivers in Scotland. That goes to show how important the work we’re doing to highlight these problems is.”
FIA Girls on Track
Extreme E, Motorsport UK and FIA initiative Girls on Track joined forces on 10-11 May ahead of the Hydro X Prix race weekend, to introduce 80 lucky schoolgirls to life behind the scenes of the championship – as well as show them the many future career opportunities available to them in the world of motorsport.
The girls – all aged between 10 and 12 years old from local schools in the Dumfries and Galloway area, including Sanquhar Primary School, Kelloholm, Dairy Primary and Wallace Academy – took part in an eye-opening menu of activities including a STEM coding challenge courtesy of E-novation Consulting, as well as a lesson in vital resuscitation skills by professional motorsport Doctor Clare Morden.
Extreme E’s female drivers and team personnel also spent time with the students to share their experiences of how they became involved in motorsport and what it’s really like to work and race in this pioneering championship.
In addition, the schoolgirls were able to witness F1 Academy driver and FIA Girls on Track ambassador Chloe Grant’s first-ever drive of an Extreme E ODYSSEY 21. 17-year-old Grant, who is more used to racing single-seaters on tarmac, put the colossal 500bhp electric race car for a spin around the Hydro X Prix course – fully immersing herself in the Extreme E experience at her home event, alongside fellow Scottish sporting star Sir Chris Hoy.
Upon getting behind the wheel of an ODYSSEY 21 for the first time, Grant said: “Driving the ODYSSEY 21 today was incredible. It was absolutely brilliant and a very different experience for me – off-roading – I’m used to tarmac, so it was amazing.
“I was nervous about the jump section, but after I did it I wanted to do it five more times! It means a lot to me to be an ambassador for FIA Girls on Track and I’m hoping that I can help more girls into the sport and show them what they can achieve.”
To finish off an already unforgettable day, the awestruck girls were also given a front row seat to view Extreme E’s Free Practice session before they headed back to school later in the afternoon.
School visits
In addition to schoolgirls visiting the Hydro X Prix site itself, several of the drivers visited local schools on Wednesday to introduce themselves and talk to the students about Extreme E. Swedish siblings Kevin (Veloce Racing) and Timmy Hansen (Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E) alongside Extreme E Championship Driver Tamara Molinaro visited Wallace Hall Academy – a senior school situated in Thornhill.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust (who spent many of his early years growing up in Scotland) and Emma Gilmour dropped in at Wallace Hall Primary, ABT Cupra XE’s Klara Anderrson and X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell went to Kelloholm Primary, with Amanda Sorensen (No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing) and Andreas Bakkerud (JBXE) visiting Sanquhar Academy.
Tipping Point
The Tipping Point series once again used its platform to deliver engaging talks on a number of climate issues, provoking discussion around environmental issues and sustainable alternatives.
The discussion ahead of Round 3 on Saturday was titled ‘Climate Prediction for Rivers and the Impact of Global Warming’, centring on how, as an Official Partner to the championship, Vodafone Business’ technological innovations can support Extreme E to be a safer sport, including the implementation of hydrosensors in Scotland.
There were two Tipping Point talks held ahead of Round 4 on Sunday.
The first was named ‘The Sustainability Trajectory: Requirements versus Progress’, focussing on the importance of sustainability and what it meant to each of panellists – ranging from Official Partners to members of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee.
The second centred on the subject of equality within Extreme E, reinforcing the importance of the Racing for All initiative as well as support from the EqualEngineers Pathways Programme.
Julia Wall-Clarke, Head of Communications and Impact at Extreme E, said: “It was great to use the Tipping Point platform to highlight excellent opportunities the Racing for All programme provides to underrepresented backgrounds looking to get a foothold in a career in motorsport engineering.
“Seeing so many Racing for All candidates now in the Extreme E paddock is huge for our series. It was a pleasure in particular to meet Daanish – No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s candidate and member of EqualEngineers’ Pathways Programme – who spoke passionately about the amazing hands-on experience he was having with the team during their Scotland race week, and how it's going to benefit his studies on EV engineering.
“The ambition for Racing for All is to instil an inclusive mindset and ensure a wider recruitment pipeline. Having five candidates already involved in the series is just the beginning.”
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-20 Attentions turn to Sardinia for RXR
Despite two top-five finishes at the Hydro X Prix, Rosberg X Racing (RXR) lost ground on the leaders at the head of the standings. With the next round in Sardinia being a happy hunting ground for Nico Rosberg’s outfit, Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky reflect on Rounds 3 and 4 and a challenging weekend in Scotland, despite picking up crucial points.
RXR made a fast-start to proceedings at the Hydro X Prix once they finally got underway.
After Saturday’s Qualifying 1 was cancelled, RXR demonstrated their mettle under pressure in Qualifying 1 Heat 2. In a restarted race due to a red flag, following a crash for ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson, Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s clean getaway gave the team a comfortable buffer to the chasing pack before Kristoffersson sealed victory in his run by more than 20 seconds.
The Grand Final, though, did not prove to be as fruitful for the Season 1 champions.
It was X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell who snatched the lead at the start, with RXR’s Kristoffersson close behind in third as the Swede tailed fellow countryman Timmy Hansen in the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E ODYSSEY 21. As Hansen grabbed the lead from McConnell, Kristoffersson seized the initiative to take second.
RXR’s Grand Final was to be short-lived, however, as his ODYSSEY 21 connected with the rocky bank of the course, resulting in a roll and ultimately retirement from Round 3.
On the opening round in Scotland, Kristoffersson said: “Unfortunately, that was not a Grand Final we wanted. We had a good start, but from there on, it was extremely difficult. I couldn’t see anything and unfortunately hit one of the banks and flipped the car.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky added: “The most important thing is that Johan was okay. Motor racing has its highs and lows, and we experienced both in Round 3.”
Round 4 marked an opportunity for RXR to get back on track in Scotland.
Kristoffersson was beaten off the start line by RJ Anderson for No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing and as the action settled after the initial jockeying for positions, RXR were down to third.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky managed to jump up the order to second following an issue for X44 Vida Carbon Racing in the Switch Zone to secure crucial points.
Those points would prove to be vital, as contact at the start of Qualifying 2 Heat 2 between RXR, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team and X44 resulted in retirement for Nico Rosberg’s outfit. They would be classified fourth, however, following a penalty after the race issued to the Spanish outfit for causing the collision, which secured them another Grand Final spot.
As conditions worsened, RXR would have to settle for back-to-back fifth places at the Hydro X Prix.
After falling behind the leaders at the start, RXR would once again engage in wheel-to-wheel contact with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team as they battled for position.
The damage following the contact between Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Laia Sanz ensured both teams were ruled out of contention once more – leaving RXR with a feeling of what could have been from Rounds 3 and 4 in Scotland.
Kristoffersson was in reflective mood after the event: “It was a tough weekend for us. We had to start the Grand Final in a very tricky grid position, and then due to the rain and my wipers not working, visibility was extremely limited. It was not a great weekend, but we still managed to make it to the final on both days and have points on the board, which is important for us.”
Åhlin-Kottulinsky added: “I think we showed good speed, but it was tough circumstances. The guys and girls worked hard to get the car ready for the final, and Johan did the best he could without the wipers. We got them working again at the Switch, but unfortunately, they stopped working on my turn, too and then I experienced a hard hit from the car in front, which is where the race ended for us.
“It is definitely not where we want to be, but sometimes you have weekends like this. We just need to bounce back in Sardinia and do our best there.”
Having taken two victories from the searing heat of Sardinia so far in Extreme E, RXR will look to close the gap at the front when the series returns for Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3 in July.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-18 XE Explains: storms and flooding in Italy
Parts of Italy are currently experiencing the most extreme weather conditions in recent memory, with heavy rains causing flooding in Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna region. As a result, the mayor of Ravenna says his city is now ‘unrecognisable’, while the Emilia-Romagna F1 Grand Prix which was due to take place this weekend has since been cancelled.
With conditions in the region set to continue, we caught up with Peter Wadhams, Emeritus Professor of Ocean Physics at the University of Cambridge, and Richard Washington, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Oxford, from Extreme E’s Scientific Committee to understand more about the extreme weather and its cause.
Extreme E: Can you explain what's currently happening in Italy?
Professor Peter Wadhams: Italy has been afflicted by an unusually intense burst of rain which has caused widespread flooding, with further rain on the way. One of the effects of the storm has been the cancellation of the Emilia-RomagnaGrand Prix at Imola, but of course there is far more to it than that. Nine people have been killed so far, as 21 rivers have burst their banks and sent masses of water over surrounding land.
Extreme E: What is the cause of the flooding and such extreme weather?
Professor Peter Wadhams: One cause has been the drought which has affected northern Italy since January 2022. Rainfall has been at less than a quarter of the normal level, and this caused rivers to dry up and thus the soil in the riverbed to become dry and cracked. The river Po, Italy’s greatest river, which flows close to where I reside, dried up almost completely. Then the rains came.
May was a time of almost continuous rain, and the dried riverbeds absorbed vast quantities of water, which plugged the base of the rivers such that further rain led to a rapid growth of water level.
The centre of the storm was in the northern Adriatic and the coastline of Emilia Romagna (near Ravenna) where more than 50cm of rain fell in a few hours and 14,000 people have been evacuated. Water level rose by more than a metre in Faenza and Cesena, and the centre of Bologna was flooded. Motorways and railways have been blocked, too.
Extreme E: Due to the climate crisis, is extreme weather such as this likely to appear more frequently?
Professor Peter Wadhams: Events of this nature are becoming increasingly common. They are known as ‘extreme weather events’, but because they are so frequent we ought to be changing the name by now to ‘extreme climate events’. They are related to the breakup of the Jet Stream; this is a strong westerly wind system which separates cold polar air from warmer tropical air, but as these two types of air are now very similar, there is less difference than in the past between the speed of the two flows, so the steady wind streams tend to break up into chaotic motions which allow extremes to happen.
Professor Richard Washington: In spring, the temperature difference between the Sahara and Europe is extreme. The temperatures over the Sahara are stinking hot while snow still lies on the Alps just a short distance to the north. This temperature difference drives the jet stream, with winds of around 200 kmh over northern Italy during the floods. The jet is unstable and goes through periods of weeks when it loops around a lot instead of being a straight, non-loopy west to east wind. In the case of the floods over Italy it was very, very loopy.
The jet creates weather systems and those from a loopy jet are able to hang around in the same place for a lot longer than in the case of a less loopy jet. The rain produced from the weather system made by the loopy jet falls on the same patch of ground. Half the years total rain can fall in a few days and this happened for some places in Italy. The jet stream in the northern hemisphere is becoming much more loopy with climate change, likely because of changing coverage of ice.
Extreme E: Should it be even more alarming that such a climate emergency is happening in a mainland European nation?
Professor Peter Wadhams: We certainly should be, however there is little more we can do about that. Nature takes no notice of the level of economic development and can send these anomalies at any time.
Extreme E: What measures can be put in place to address the risk of these occurrences taking place?
Professor Peter Wadhams: The best we can do is strengthen flood defences so that they can withstand more serious weather impacts than at present. And as weather forecasting advances, we can hope to obtain a few hours more notice of an extreme event arrival. These extreme events are a new phenomenon – the first one occurred in 2005- and the frequency is increasing. We need greater knowledge of what is bearing down on us.
Extreme E Season 3 heads to Sardinia on 8-9 July, co-organised by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna, where Extreme E’s Scientific Committee will be using the racing to talk about climate issues and solutions facing the islands, from wildfires to droughts, and its effects on biodiversity on land and in the surrounding coastlines.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-15 Veloce Racing take the win in Round 4 at the Hydro X Prix
Veloce Racing took the win in Round 4, marking a second victory of the season and a return to the top of the standings on home soil at the Hydro X Prix.
Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor led from start to finish, fending off attacks from the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, who secured their second-ever podium in Extreme E at also the team’s home event.
Coming in third were No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, with a maiden podium for RJ Anderson and Amanda Sorensen having been in every Grand Final so far this season.
DNFs for both the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) in the Grand Final see Veloce Racing pull away at the top of the championship standings by 11 points.
Winners of the Redemption Race were JBXE, having seen off Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and ABT CUPRA XE, the only other contenders on course after two DNFs.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “We had a tough weekend, much tougher than Saudi Arabia. We didn’t really have anything on our side yesterday, so to finally get into the Grand Final and have all our support on GridPlay really helped.
“It was nice after Friday, with our double P1s in Free Practice, to come back and actually get on top! It was a huge effort from the team to pull through in such difficult conditions. They gave me full reign for an hour before the Final and quick decisions on set-up and everything. It was really cool to pull it off."
Grand Final
For the first time in Extreme E’s history there was rain falling during a Final, and it was hard to ignore as the cars battled the elements out on-course.
Veloce Racing’s Hansen secured the lead out of the first corner, something that proved crucial as visibility worsened in the increasingly challenging conditions.
Mattias Ekström and Tanner Foust kept the Swede close, as RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson pulled up alongside the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team cars in the slow zone by the cliff face – implemented off the back of earlier accidents in the sector.
As the ODYSSEY 21s progressed towards the ascent out of the quarry, Foust slotted into third for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team behind Ekström and ahead of Kristoffersson.
With clear air ahead Hansen began to extend his lead for Veloce Racing, while behind Foust pulled off what felt impossible given the conditions. The American swung round the outside of Ekström in the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team car, finding the grip to complete the move and take second for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.
Following the driver change, where teams were able to clear the windscreens before the cars exited the Switch Zone, Veloce Racing’s Taylor picked up where Hansen left off with a confident drive to take a second victory for the team this season and a return to the top of the leaderboard.
Behind the Australian, more and more mud was being kicked up by the ODYSSEY 21s as the drivers gave it everything they had. RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinksy and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Laia Sanz came head-to-head once again following their incident in Qualifying 2 – which ended with both teams out of the race.
The Grand Final told a similar tale, but this time it was the RXR car going into the back of the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team machine. As both drivers struggled with visibility and grip, they came into contact again as they tried to resume racing, leaving the door open for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing to take third.
The damage caused from the incident left Åhlin-Kottulinsky with no choice but to come to a stop further down the course. Sanz still had some fight left in her, but it wasn’t long before the Spaniard found herself in the hay bales, which saw ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team drop out of contention and out of their top spot in the championship.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Emma Gilmour and No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen completed their runs without trouble in second and third place, respectively.
This marked a second-ever podium for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, following finishing runners-up at the Season 2 finale in Uruguay, and important championship points achieved on home turf.
Emma Gilmour, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, said: It’s been an amazing trip and it’s been very challenging – the weather conditions have made it even more so.
"It was very stressful, especially when there are slow zones and so many places where you can potentially make a mistake, but you are very happy when you can hand it over to your teammate having done a good job. To get a podium was a big relief for the team – just a great feeling – and everyone has put in so much work so we are all really happy."
For No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, it marks their first podium since Sardinia in Season 2, and a first podium with the driver line-up of Anderson and Sorensen, who now sit fifth in the championship just two points behind RXR in third.
Amanda Sorensen, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: "It’s the direction we want to be moving in, so I’m glad to see that we are still improving. There were a couple setbacks in Saudi and we are happy to have taken steps forward, it’s a positive sign.
“For the last four years I’ve been doing Formula Drift, which does have a slippery surface, in a sense. It’s on asphalt and has some grip, but it definitely translates over to this. For me I actually got to rip the e-brake this weekend which was very exciting – it felt like home for me! Knowing how to take the car into the turn and how to react when the car was getting sideways was something I definitely had in my favour."
Redemption Race
With their best start of the Hydro X Prix double-header, JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud charged to the front of the pack, which lacked a Carl Cox Motorsport car after the damage from the team’s crash in Qualifying 2.
Slotting into second was Timmy Hansen for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, with ABT CUPRA XE’s Nasser Al-Attiyah behind in third.
As the cars slid through the tricky slow zone section, X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell found himself first in the back of the ABT CUPRA XE car and then into the hay bales to his right, marking a disappointing end to the Hydro X Prix after the team’s win in Round 3.
The front three continued as they were into the Switch Zone, where their teammates picked up the mantle and overcame the challenge presented by the worsening weather.
JBXE’s Hedda Hosås crossed the line first, a win that brings redemption for the team after a tough weekend in Scotland that lacked results.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings finished the race second, building on the team’s podium yesterday to add much needed points to their championship tally and move up from tenth in the championship to seventh.
Crossing the line third in the Redemption Race marked the end of a challenging weekend for ABT CUPRA XE which saw two crashes for the team, and they’ll be looking to come back fighting at the next double-header.
Extreme E returns to action in Sardinia for Rounds 5 and 6 in July (8-9). Find out where you can watch the highlights of the Hydro X Prix here.
RESULTS
Grand Final
1. Veloce Racing 12:52.663
2. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +6.419
3. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +20.490
4. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team DNF
5. Rosberg X Racing DNF
Redemption Race
1. JBXE 12:19.448
2. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +4.968
3. ABT CUPRA XE +30.534
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing DNF
5. Carl Cox Motorsport DNS
Championship Standings
1. Veloce Racing: 80 points
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 69 points
3. Rosberg X Racing: 52 points
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 51 points
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 50 points
6. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 36 points
7. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 29 points
8. Carl Cox Motorsport: 23 points
9. ABT CUPRA XE: 20 points
10. JBXE: 15 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-14 Dålig sikt i Extreme E för Johan
Det blev en stökig helg i Extreme E för Rosberg X Racing. Johan Kristoffersson och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky tog sig visserligen till final båda dagarna, men tvingades bryta.
- Det var nästan omöjligt med sikten, säger Kristoffersson.
Den andra tävlingshelgen för säsongen med de eldrivna terrängbilarna kördes i ett tidigare gruvområde i skotska Glenmuckloch. Det visade sig vara en utmanande terräng där bilarna tog ordentligt med stryk.
Lördagen inleddes annars med helt utebliven körning. Tjock dimma över området gjorde att Q1 fick ställas in. Därför blev Q2 helt avgörande för platserna till finalen. Kristoffersson och Åhlin-Kottulinsky klarade den uppgiften och tog sig till sin tredje raka final för säsongen.
Kristoffersson inledde finalen, men fick tyvärr inte möjlighet att lämna över bilen till Åhlin-Kottulinsky. En vindruta fullsmetad med lera gjorde att sikten blev obefintlig.
- Torkarna fungerade inte som de skulle och därefter tappade jag ena torkarbladet. Jag såg inte vart jag var på väg så jag körde in i en vall och rullade. Min första rullning någonsin, konstaterar Kristoffersson.
Med bilen parkerad vid sidan blev det en femteplats för RXR.
Nya tag på söndagen, som inleddes på ett godkänt sätt.
- En ganska okej Q1 efter att pojkarna hade fixat bilen. Allt var frid och fröjd.
Men i Q2 var det slut på friden. Åhlin/Kottulinsky kom iväg bra in mot första svängen, men fick ett par rejäla tryckare bakifrån av Laiz Sanz. Den andra smällen skickade Mikaela helt ur riktningen och hon rammade därpå Cristina Gutierrez, med skador på båda bilarna som följd.
- Laia fick en bestraffning, men det hjälpte ju inte oss, säger Johan.
Efter en del domaringripanden tog sig RXR ändå till finalen.
- Då var det riktigt halkigt och lerigt och vi startade längst ut - som vanligt.
Kristoffersson hamnade i smeten - bokstavligen på det leriga underlaget.
- Tjockt med lera på rutan. Jag var tvungen att lämna en lucka till Mattias Ekström för att kunna åka själv.
Johan lämnade över till Mikaela som fyra. Teamkamraten försökte ta upp jakten, men åter en gång med näst intill obefintlig sikt.
- Torkarna fungerade till en början för Mikaela, men sedan slutade de och då blev det svårt.Efter ny närkontakt med Sanz och medföljande skador på bilen tvingades Mikaela parkera för en ny femteplats.
- Där var racet över för vår del, konstaterar Johan Kristoffersson.
RXR var nu inte det enda teamet att ha problem med lera och halka. Det gjorde att det rörde om en hel del i resultatlistan och tabellsammandraget. Inför nästa tävlingshelg på Sardinien i början av juli leder Veloce Racing med Kevin Hansen och Molly Taylor på 80 poäng. Rosberg X Racing är kvar på sin tredje plats med 52 poäng.
23-05-14 No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing top Qualifying in Round 4 at the Hydro X Prix
With a win in both of their Qualifying Heats in Round 4, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing enter their second Grand Final of the Hydro X Prix.
RJ Anderson and Amanda Sorensen came out on top with a perfect score, after a stop-start Qualifying 2 in which both Heats were red flagged due to incidents in the first sector of the course.
Making it to the Grand Final for the first time this season, the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team recovered well to take second place in Qualifying 2 Heat 1, after driver Emma Gilmour, along with Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider and ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson, all crashed into the hay bales below the cliff face on the opening lap.
Winners of Qualifying 2 Heat 2, Veloce Racing, will also feature in the Round 4 Grand Final. A collision between ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Laia Sanz and Rosberg X Racing’s (RXR) Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky at the first corner of the Heat saw DNFs for both teams, along with damage to the X44 Vida Carbon Racing car.
The ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team were classified as fifth for causing the incident, but qualified fourth in overall Qualifying. Meanwhile RXR’s fourth place in Qualifying 2 Heat 2 was enough to secure the last spot in the Grand Final alongside the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
The remaining five teams will battle it out in the Redemption Race for crucial championship points as the second double-header of Extreme E Season 3 comes to an end.
Qualifying 1 Heat 1
Using the same line that served them well in yesterday’s Qualifying 2, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing swung around the outside of the pack as RJ Anderson took the lead out of Waypoint 1.
Shutting the door on Rosberg X Racing’s Johan Kristoffersson, Fraser McConnell slotted into second for X44 Vida Carbon Racing, with ABT CUPRA XE’s Nasser Al-Attiyah in hot pursuit from fourth. Round 3 podium finishers Carl Cox Motorsport ran in fifth with Christine GZ as the teams approached the driver change.
An issue for X44 Vida Carbon Racing saw Cristina Gutiérrez exit the Switch Zone in fourth, behind RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky and ABT CUPRA XE’s Andersson. The Spaniard fought hard to regain third place, and soon succeeded with a bold overtake up the inside of the ABT CUPRA XE car as they launched over a jump.
A smooth drive from Sorensen up front secured the win for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, while Åhlin-Kottulinsky brought the RXR ODYSSEY 21 home in second.
Post-race the stewards identified that contact from Gutiérrez as she looked to overtake Andersson caused a puncture for the Swede, and X44 Vida Carbon Racing were demoted to fourth place behind ABT CUPRA XE.
Qualifying 1 Heat 2
A strong start for the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team saw Mattias Ekström dominate the inside line to take the lead out of the opening corner. Behind, Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen held his ground to keep second place.
Both Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen and NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust stormed ahead of JBXE to take third and fourth, respectively, as the teams entered the steep climb out of the quarry.
Soon after Hansen entered a spin, re-joining the race nearly a minute off the front and with only rear wheel drive engaged. Up ahead, Foust was closing the gap on Veloce Racing’s Hansen, and soon stole second as the Veloce Racing car struggled with a bent drive shaft.
Following the driver switch, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Sanz crossed the line comfortably first, lapping Catie Munnings as the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E car fought to keep going.
Gilmour retained second place for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor kept third, despite a 10-second penalty for Hansen hitting a Waypoint flag, as he pushed to stay ahead of NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team's Foust.
Technical issues saw JBXE crawl home in fourth with Hedda Hosås behind the wheel, while Munnings nearly caught up with the crippled JBXE ODYSSEY 21 but, ultimately, ended the Heat in fifth.
Qualifying 2 Heat 1
A quick launch off the line gave NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Gilmour the pace she needed to shut out Carl Cox Motorsport’s Scheider. However, this pace also saw the New Zealander slide into the hay bales, promptly followed by Scheider. ABT CUPRA XE’s Andersson then veered off-course to avoid contact with the stationary Carl Cox Motorsport car.
With both Carl Cox Motorsport and ABT CUPRA XE out of contention, the race restarted with one lap to go until the Switch Zone. Gilmour took the lead as the teams entered a slow zone through Waypoints 3 and 4 where the incidents had occurred.
JBXE’s Hosås was slow off the line as the ODYSSEY 21 failed to respond, but the Norwegian was soon on her way, albeit a long way back from No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen in second.
With JBXE far behind, the front two delivered safe runs knowing that, combined with their Qualifying 1 result, first or second place in the Heat would see them through to the Grand Final.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Foust maintained the lead on his two-lap stint after the driver change, but a 30-second penalty for speeding in the slow zone on Gilmour’s lap put the team down to second.
Qualifying 2 Heat 2
As the five female drivers set off from the start line, RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Sanz moved closer and closer together as the pair tussled to secure the inside line in the opening corner.
With neither driver giving up the fight, Sanz clipped the back of Åhlin-Kottulinsky, sending the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team car into a spin and the RXR ODYSSEY 21 over the banking and across the racing line.
While Veloce Racing’s Taylor and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Munnings avoided contact with the out-of-control RXR car, Gutiérrez took a big hit to the front right of her X44 Vida Carbon Racing machine.
The Heat resumed after the red flag with only three teams on-course. The ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team classified fifth, behind RXR, for causing the incident. Despite the DNFs, both teams make it through to the Grand Final after strong performances in Qualifying 1.
Off the start line a second time around, Taylor secured the lead once again for Veloce Racing, with Munnings in second for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E ahead of X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Gutiérrez.
Taylor played it safe heading into the slow zone, and throughout her remaining lap, setting the stage for a dramatic battle between the Hansen brothers. However, difficulties getting Timmy Hansen secured in the Andretti Altawkilat car put the team too far behind to compete with Veloce Racing.
The Switch Zone incident dropped the team into third behind X44 Vida Carbon Racing, but McConnell struggled with his damaged car, losing control in a spin with only rear wheel drive at his dispense.
Hansen soon took second place away from McConnell, but second for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and third for X44 Vida Carbon Racing were not enough to put either team through to the Grand Final.
The win in Heat 2 was just the comeback that Veloce Racing needed to make it through to the Grand Final, keeping their hopes of a third podium after just four rounds alive.
RESULTS
Q1 Heat 1:
1. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing 10:07.156
2. Rosberg X Racing +9.968
3. ABT CUPRA XE +21.564
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +13.458 (change of track position)
5. Carl Cox Motorsport +23.618
Q1 Heat 2:
1. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team 10:13.931
2. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +4.073
3. Veloce Racing +35.251 (PENALISED)
4. JBXE +2:45.950
5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +1 LAP
Q2 Heat 1:
1. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing 55:32.396
2. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +27.017 (PENALISED)
3. JBXE +1:33.392 (PENALISED)
4. Carl Cox Motorsport DNF
5. ABT CUPRA XE DNF
Q2 Heat 2:
1. Veloce Racing 33:38.652
2. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +46.341
3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +1:15.676
4. Rosberg X Racing DNF
5. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team DNF
Qualifying Standings:
1. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 20 points
2. Veloce Racing: 16 points
3. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 16 points
4. Rosberg X Racing: 12 points
5. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 12 points
6. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 10 points
7. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 10 points
8. JBXE: 10 points
9. ABT CUPRA XE: 8 points
10. Carl Cox Motorsport: 6 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-13 X44 Vida Carbon Racing win Round 3 at homecoming Hydro X Prix
Lewis Hamilton’s outfit X44 Vida Carbon Racing maintained their top Qualifying form to take the win in Round 3 at their home event, the Hydro X Prix, in Scotland. The victory marks Fraser McConnell's first win in Extreme E and the Season 2 champions' first win of the 2023 campaign.
McConnell and Cristina Gutiérrez crossed the line in second place, but a penalty for on-course winners Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E dropped British star Catie Munnings and team-mate Timmy Hansen down to second place.
Coming in third were Carl Cox Motorsport, scoring their maiden podium in the championship after just three rounds and at international DJ Carl Cox's home X Prix.
Winners of the Redemption Race were ACCIONA | SAINZ Extreme E Team having seen off championship rivals Veloce Racing.
Fraser McConnell, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: "It's amazing to get my first win for X44. It’s been something that I’ve been working towards not just for me but for the whole team.
"It just goes to show that prioritising opportunity and inclusivity doesn’t have to come at the cost of performance, and we're proud to be showing what's possible here in Extreme E.
"We didn't have the best starting position - second from the outside - so I knew I was going to have to do something a little risky to get in front which I managed. Then I went a little wide and I had to settle in behind the leaders, but that’s racing. We were able to stay close enough to capitalise on their [Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E] penalty. A win is always a win and I am very happy to do this one for X44."
Grand Final
Of the five cars lining up on the start line, two were there for the first time in Extreme E Season 3. For Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E a spot in the Grand Final marked a strong comeback following a difficult Desert X Prix, while for Carl Cox Motorsport it was their first ever Extreme E Grand Final.
All the teams except X44 Vida Carbon Racing used their ENOWA Hyperdrive as they charged towards the first corner. Instead McConnell hung back from the pack, turning early to undercut the ODYSSEY 21s in front and using his ENOWA Hyperdrive late to storm into the lead.
The Jamaican carried this pace into the first steep ascent of the course, but McConnell’s speed caused him to run wide, opening the door for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Hansen to pull up alongside and exit the climb in the lead.
Meanwhile Rosberg X Racing’s (RXR) Johan Kristoffersson kept the tussling pair close at hand, and soon performed an overtake on McConnell to take second place. The Swede would not retain it for long, however, as his ODYSSEY 21 connected with a rocky bank of the course, resulting in a roll that put RXR out of the race.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson slotted into third place, and Carl Cox Motorsport’s Christine GZ ran in fourth as the team’s entered the Switch Zone.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E exited the driver-change with a comfortable lead that Munnings maintained throughout her two-lap stint. The Brit crossed the line in first-place, but celebrations were cut short when a 15.3-second penalty for a Switch Zone infringement dropped Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E to second. Inheriting the win, X44 Vida Carbon Racing move up into third place in the championship standings, above Season 1 champions RXR in fourth.
Catie Munnings, Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E, said: "Podiums are amazing no matter where you are standing, especially when the competition here is so fast. The course is unbelievably quick and so technical, therefore to come away with this result is fantastic.
"We crossed the line in first, and I think we had a good few seconds to spare, but unfortunately we got a pretty hefty penalty in the Switch Zone for leaving a bit too early. The top step wasn’t ours unfortunately, but it feels like a win for us and it’s been a little while since we’ve been on the podium."
Behind the front two misfortune befell No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, as a puncture for RJ Anderson on his run led to trouble for the rest of the race. Carl Cox Motorsport made the most of the opportunity, with Timo Scheider overtaking Amanda Sorensen early on in his stint to claim a first podium for the team and for GZ.
Timo Scheider, Carl Cox Motorsport, said: "Everything is brand new with the team, so it’s an awesome result for all of us. We had a different strategy from some of the others today and we had a long discussion about if we were going to swap our running order, but our strategy played out well in the end.
"Carl Cox has been great. We appreciate having so much positive energy in the team and he is always asking questions. It’s very refreshing to see this and his attitude is all about winning and enjoying what he’s doing. He also has a bit of history in racing, and he’s launched a TCR car in Australia, so he is truly great and I’m proud to to be part of his team here."
Redemption Race
Tied on 46 points as they entered the Hydro X Prix, championship leaders Veloce Racing and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team found themselves in unfamiliar territority as they took on their first-ever Redemption Race.
Only four teams lined up for the race, as ABT CUPRA XE were unable to repair their ODYSSEY 21 following a crash for Klara Andersson in Qualifying.
Veloce Racing nearly secured the early lead as Kevin Hansen stormed up the outside line, but water on course caused the British squad’s ODYSSEY 21 to lose momentum, allowing ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Mattias Ekström to move to the front of the pack.
As Hansen stayed on Ekström’s tail, Emma Gilmour kept the front two in her sights for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. As she pushed to close the gap, Gilmour ran wide into a corner, dropping further behind but staying ahead of JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud.
The teams entered the Switch Zone in this order and, following the driver change, a confident stint from Laia Sanz saw her cross the line in first. The Redemption Race win for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team was further backed up with a victory in the Continental Traction Challenge, and puts the team four points ahead of Veloce Racing at the top of the championship standings.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust pushed hard but took third behind Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor, with Hedda Hosås finishing the race in fourth for JBXE.
Tomorrow’s racing action can be viewed live on STV and ITV in the UK from 1300-1500 BST. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
RESULTS
Grand Final:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing 10:12.670
2. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +8.986 (PENALISED)
3. Carl Cox Motorsport +38.977
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +1:01.716
5. Rosberg X Racing DNF
Redemption Race:
1. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team 09:49.303
2. Veloce Racing +3.650
3. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +16.200
4. JBXE +32.779
5. ABT CUPRA XE DNS
Championship Standings:
1. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 56 points
2. Veloce Racing: 52 points
3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 49 points
4. Rosberg X Racing: 42 points
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 33 points
6. Carl Cox Motorsport: 23 points
7. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 23 points
8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 18 points
9. ABT CUPRA XE: 16 points
10. JBXE: 7 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-13 X44 Vida Carbon Racing top an action-packed Qualifying in Round 3
In the fight for a spot in the Round 3 Grand Final at the Hydro X Prix, it all came down to Qualifying 2 after the opening Qualifying session was cancelled due to low-lying fog, which meant the medical helicopter was unable to fly.
Finishing first in Heat 1 were defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing, as Cristina Gutiérrez and Fraser McConnell led the race from start to finish. Winners of Heat 2 were Season 1 champions Rosberg X Racing (RXR), who finished second overall with a slower time through the Continental Traction Challenge.
A crash for ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson in the opening stages of Heat 2 resulted in a red flag, while a second DNF in the Heat came from a mechanical issue for championship leaders Veloce Racing.
Also in the line-up for the Grand Final are No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and Carl Cox Motorsport with second place in their respective Heats. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E complete the Grand Final grid.
The remaining five teams will fight it out in the Redemption Race to determine sixth to tenth place in the Round 3 standings.
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: “It’s great to finish first as we can go to the Grand Final and we can fight for everything!
“The biggest challenge is the conditions because all the time it’s changing and it’s totally different – so the most important thing is to adapt as much as possible our driving style in the moment that we are racing so it’s a double challenge. We need to be clever and not make mistakes because one mistake makes a lot of difference.
QUALIFYING 2 HEAT 1
Recognising the importance of the first corner ahead of a narrow section of the course, the teams tussled for position on the short opening stretch. Diving into the right-hander, X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Cristina Gutiérrez muscled her way to the front of the pack from the innermost line.
Launching from the other side of the start line was Amanda Sorenson for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing. The American took the wide line into the corner and, avoiding contact with the teams battling in the middle, managed to secure second place heading into her two-lap stint.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Laia Sanz slotted into third, with British talent Catie Munnings taking fourth for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E after a pass on JBXE’s Hedda Hosås as they exited the opening corner.
As Sanz closed in on Sorensen, Munnings kept the pair within reach and soon launched an aggressive overtake on the distracted Sanz. The Brit completed the manoeuvre just in time as the ODYSSEY 21s entered the steep descent down to the Switch Zone.
The intense racing saw plenty of ODYSSEY 21s riding two heels at the end of the third lap, as all five teams pushed for that all-important top three spot in the Heat needed to reach the Grand Final.
A smooth drive from X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell saw the Jamaican cross the line first as the team progresses into the Grand Final. Joining them are No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, entering their third Grand Final from three as RJ Anderson brought the team home in second place.
The quickest lap of the Heat came from Hansen as the Swede finished the Heat in third for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E. This proved crucial, as the team secured a quicker Continental Traction Challenge time than the third-placed team in Heat 2 to head into the Grand Final for the first time this season.
Finishing in fourth and fifth were Ekström and Andreas Bakkerud, meaning both ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and JBXE will battle it out in the Redemption Race.
QUALIFYING 2 HEAT 2
In the fight for the remaining spots in the Grand Final, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky got a good start for RXR to put the team ahead of the pack. Behind her, Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider and ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson went wheel-to-wheel in pursuit of second place.
As the track narrowed the ODYSSEY 21s only got closer, and the ABT CUPRA XE car entered a barrel roll as it ran out of room. Andersson came away unscathed as the session was red flagged.
Klara Andersson, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “Physically I’m ok, but I'm upset. The mechanics have been working all weekend repairing the car from NEOM, and now we are in trouble again and nothing we can do.
“I was on my way to pass and there was no room. I'm very frustrated as we followed the plan but if there's no room there's nowhere for me to go.”
Running in fourth, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust avoided the incident, while behind him a mechanical issue for Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor saw her veer off-course. While the Australian recovered, the damage to the car brought the championship leaders to a stop out on course, meaning they enter the Redemption Race alongside their rivals, the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
Heat 2 resumed from the start line, with the three remaining teams setting off at intervals matching those when the session was flagged. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Foust used his ENOWA Hyperdrive from the outset to close the gap on Scheider in the Carl Cox Motorsport ODYSSEY 21.
The American set up team-mate Emma Gilmour as best as he could, as the other drivers took over for the final two laps of the Heat. However, in their push to make up time, the team received a 5-second penalty for being too far out of their bay in the Switch Zone.
Despite a valiant drive from Gilmour, which saw her pass Christine GZ on the uphill Traction Challenge sector, the New Zealander was unable to build enough of a lead to retain second after the penalty was applied. The NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team will enter the Redemption Race as their combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge is slower than that of Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E.
An untroubled run for RXR saw Johan Kristoffersson finish Heat 2 in first, taking the team through to the Grand Final alongside Carl Cox Motorsport.
The Grand Final and Redemption Race can be viewed live on STV and ITV in the UK from 1300-1500 BST. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
RESULTS
Q2 Heat 1:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing 09:50.935
2. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +6.203
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +8.191
4. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +10.744
5. JBXE +31.551
Q2 Heat 2:
1. Rosberg X Racing 42:43.301
2. Carl Cox Motorsport +20.971
3. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +24.215 (PENALISED)
4. Veloce Racing DNF
5. ABT CUPRA XE DNF
Overall Qualifying Standings:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 10 points
2. Rosberg X Racing: 10 points
3. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 8 points
4. Carl Cox Motorsport: 8 points
5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 6 points
6. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 6 points
7. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 4 points
8. Veloce Racing: 4 points
9. JBXE: 2 points
10. ABT CUPRA XE: 2 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-12 Veloce Racing quickest in Free Practice on challenging Hydro X Prix course
Extreme E debuted in Scotland today for its second-double header of Season 3. The championship’s ten teams put their ODYSSEY 21s to the test in Free Practice on one of the most extreme courses in the series to date, situated in the former opencast coal mine at Glenmuckloch.
The 2.67-kilometre course of the Hydro X Prix provides a new set of challenges for Extreme E’s world-class grid. The 20 drivers are contending with steep inclines, narrow racing lines, and a drastic change in terrain as they exit the old coal mine, which is soon to be transformed into a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plant and wind farm.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “I think we have a great story to tell here. Similarly, to Chile with the copper mines, here we are in an old coal mine which will be converted into a hydro station that will help restore renewable energy.
“The beauty of this site is that you are surrounded by the actual generation of energy. You can see these wind turbines all around us. Scotland gets 97% of its energy from renewables so I think it’s a great place and great story to tell with Extreme E.”
After the Extreme E line-up got a feel for the exciting new course in Free Practice 1, the times began to tumble in the following session, with all teams achieving their best laps the second time around.
Fastest in Free Practice 2 were Veloce Racing with a time of 09:58.466mins. Off the back of a maiden victory at the Desert X Prix, Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor laid down the marker as leaders in the championship, with the former setting the fastest lap of the day.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “We had a really good day today and enjoyed the track. I think from the outside it looks maybe more insane than from the inside. When you are driving you are so focused on the line and everything, so you don’t really take in all the amazing scenery. But it is an incredible location – like I said it is probably the most incredible location we’ve been to in terms of surroundings.
“Veloce as a team has been working super hard over the past few years and really tried to achieve this performance. I think all that hard work came alive and it is such an incredible atmosphere for the team, such a family vibe. I come from a family racing team and it naturally suits me and Molly as well, so it’s a great spirit and that helps us to perform well.”
Defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing enter the Hydro X Prix outside of the championship top three, but were the only other team to break the 10-minute mark in Free Practice with a time of 09:59.988. Just over a second slower than Veloce Racing, Cristina Gutiérrez and Fraser McConnell secured the start they need, with McConnell going quickest through two of the four sectors.
ABT CUPRA XE's Nasser Al-Attiyah went quickest through the first sector, while teammate Klara Andersson completed their commanding stint to put the team third with 10:01.567.
Coming in fourth were ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, despite a mechanical failure cutting their FP1 short, as they look to carry on the momentum from a long-awaited victory at the season-opener. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team completed the Top 5 with a blistering lap from Tanner Foust which secured the best time through the last sector.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing finished sixth and seventh, respectively, with both teams experiencing issues. A puncture for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E was kept under control by Timmy Hansen, while Amanda Sorenson recovered well from a trip off-course and a subsequent penalty for missing the waypoint.
Also receiving penalties were Carl Cox Motorsport in eighth and JBXE in ninth place. Jenson Button’s team welcome former Championship Driver Andreas Bakkerud for this X Prix, who built on his experience of the ODYSSEY 21 today as he prepares for his first Extreme E race tomorrow.
Finding themselves in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the Free Practice timesheet were Rosberg X Racing. Nico Rosberg’s outfit put forward a confident performance, setting the second quickest time in FP1, but a culmination of penalties for dropping waypoint flags impacted their time in FP2.
Free Practice combined timings:
1. Veloce Racing: 09:58.466 (FP2)
2. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 09:59.988 (FP2)
3. ABT CUPRA XE: 10:01.567 (FP2)
4. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 10:05.714 (FP2)
5. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 10:07.199 (FP2
6. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 10:18.160 (FP2)
7. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 10:21.197 (FP2)
8. Carl Cox Motorsport: 10:47.474 (FP2)
9. JBXE: 10:49.812 (FP2)
10. Rosberg X Racing: 10:54.845 (FP2)
The racing action can be viewed live on STV and ITV in the UK from 1300-1500 BST, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-12 Extreme E unveils dramatic Hydro X Prix course
Extreme E has revealed its course in Scotland for the Hydro X Prix, taking place inside the former opencast coal mine at Glenmuckloch this weekend (13-14 May).
The pioneering series’ return to the UK brings the 10 teams and 20 world class drivers face-to-face with the most challenging course by the championship to date.
The Hydro X Prix course features plenty of fast corners and narrow, technical sections, challenging the drivers to adapt their driving style over two races this weekend.
The terrain is that of the old coal mine as the course dives down into the quarry, meaning plenty of clay to stick to the tyres. The drivers will have to contend with ever decreasing grip – especially if there is some Scottish rain – as the course evolves and the clay is kicked up.
As the ODYSSEY 21s progress along the course, they will tackle corners aptly named after Scottish words. Creag, brae, gleann, and cnoc all feature in reference to the rocky hills, slopes, deep valley, and hill pastures that make up the Scotland course for the Hydro X Prix.
Tamara Molinaro, Extreme E Championship Driver, said: “This is probably one of the most extreme courses we have ever had. It will be quite a challenge because in some places it is quite narrow so it is hard to overtake, and the drivers will have to use their creativity to get those overtaking opportunities.
“There are changes in the levels of grip, because there is grass, slimy gravel, and more rocky sections, forcing the drivers to change style at short notice. The weather is also going to be something that the drivers must really take into consideration. A lot of elevation changes will make it even more interesting, and I can’t wait to see what the course delivers this weekend.”
Off the start line there is a wide section that leads into a sharp ninety-degree right turn, before the track narrows as the teams approach the rock face, the key feature of this course with tight lines being taken at high speeds.
It will be crucial to get a better start than your competitors as the narrow track stretches across the full extent of the rock face towards a ninety-degree left turn and up a steeply banked hill, where the cars will scrabble for purchase as they exit the mine.
At the top of the hill is another ninety-degree left into one of the fastest sections of the course, as the ODYSSEY 21s fly across the ridge. Here the terrain is similar, but more exposed to the elements, meaning the cars will slide as they continue to battle for position.
An overtaking opportunity sits directly before a narrow single car section, challenging the drivers to time their manoeuvres perfectly. Following this the drivers approach a downhill corner, where steep banking will help the drivers to hold a slide.
From there the ODYSSEY 21s charge towards the first jump of the course, designed to unsettle the cars as they land right at the point of needing to turn, presenting a new challenge for the Extreme E grid.
Another banked hill leads towards another single file section which brings the drivers into close quarters as they tussle for position.
The next ninety-degree turn takes the cars right and up a steep hill, where the terrain changes from the clay and rock, to grass and mud. This marks another challenge for the ODYSSEY 21s to contend with. As the drivers change their style to instantly adapt to the change in terrain, it will be hard to maintain a rhythm throughout the double-header.
Joining Tamara Molinaro as her fellow Championship Driver is Tommi Hallman, an up and coming Rallycross driver from Finland. Hallman most recently competed in Nitro RX NXT, where he was the overall winner in the 2022/23 season.
Previously, the Finn secured the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship NRX NEXT Europe series title, which followed up his RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites titles success in 2021. His stint as Championship Driver for the Hydro X Prix will mark his Extreme E debut and the first time he has got behind the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21.
The exciting racing action can be seen live on STV and ITV, in the UK from 1300-1500 BST, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-10 Skotsk terräng för Johan i Extreme E
Efter två månaders uppehåll är det dags för den andra tävlingshelgen i Extreme E. Skottland är destinationen för Johan Kristoffersson och hans teamkamrat i Rosberg X Racing, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
- Man vill alltid vinna, men det viktigaste är att samla poäng och skaffa sig en bra position för fortsättningen, säger Kristoffersson.
Den tredje säsongen för de eldrivna terrängbilarna inleddes i mars i Saudiarabien. Kristoffersson och Åhlin-Kottulinsky summerade två tredjeplatser efter en helg med blandad framgång. Den här gången får RXR-teamet slå lite ur underläge.
- Vi ligger trea, femton poäng efter Acciona och Veloce som delar ledningen. Det är ändå rätt okej.
Den här säsongen körs det dubbeltävlingar på samtliga fem spelplatser, en tydlig ökning från förra året.
- Det är ju totalt tio tävlingar i år så det gäller att vara med och plocka poäng hela tiden och ha så högt lägstaresultat som möjligt.
Banan i Skottland är ny för året och är belägen i området Dumfries och Galloway i sydvästra delen av landet. Tävlingen kallas Hydro X Prix och körs vid en nedlagd kolgruva i Glenmuckloch, där man håller på att förvandla området till en anläggning för produktion av vatten- och vindkraft.
- Terrängen är typiskt brittisk skulle jag säga. Det är en blandning av sten, grus och gräs med partier som liknar de vi körde på gräs i Uruguay och på grus i England. Det ser väldigt kuperat ut.
Tävlingsdagarna kommer att börja med kval kl 8:00 centraleuropeisk tid och finalpass vid 14:00 på eftermiddagen.
- Det är tidigt på säsongen än, så det gäller att inte ta alltför stora risker utan att se till att ta poäng i varje tävling, sammanfattar Johan Kristoffersson.
23-05-08 Andreas Bakkerud joins Jenson Button's JBXE for Hydro X Prix
Norwegian rallycross star Andreas Bakkerud will race for Jenson Button’s JBXE team at the upcoming Hydro X Prix in Scotland.
Bakkerud will partner Hedda Hosås at the next round of Extreme E Season 3 (13-14 May), completing an all-Norwegian line-up for the outfit, as well as the remainder of the 2023 campaign. The off-road ace replaces Heikki Kovalainen at JBXE, who drove for the team at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, in March.
The Hydro X Prix marks Bakkerud’s racing debut in the series, but he is no stranger to Extreme E having signed as a Championship Driver ahead of the Season 3 opener alongside Tamara Molinaro. Bakkerud also previously experienced the ODYSSEY 21 during pre-season testing at Chateau de Lastours, France, in 2020.
Andreas Bakkerud, JBXE, said: "I’m super excited to be announced as a competing driver for JBXE. From testing the car in France in the beginning to stepping in as the Championship Driver in Saudi Arabia learning all about the car and the Championship, it’s fantastic to continue being a part of this journey.
“I love what Extreme E is all about, especially their environmental initiatives, how it champions their actions against climate change, and in general, the whole race for the planet ethos, which is also something we in Norway are huge advocates of.”
The 31-year-old has had a long and successful career as a rallycross driver, with his first titles coming in 2011 and 2012 when he clinched back-to-back Super1600 (now Euro RX3) crowns. The Norwegian went on to win seven times along the way. In 2014, Bakkerud stepped up to the World Championship stage and, two years later, following a switch to Hoonigan Racing Division, achieved three wins resulting in third place in the overall standings.
The Norwegian matched that championship finish in 2018, delivering six podium finishes, before he fought fellow Extreme E star Timmy Hansen for the World Rallycross title in 2019, with the pair’s duel going right the way down to the wire. After colliding in a dramatic finale in Cape Town, they ended up tied on points but Bakkerud was beaten to the championship by Hansen on countback.
Bakkerud returned to Euro RX in 2021 and lifted his third European Championship trophy. He also took on Nitro Rallycross in 2021, securing a podium in his inaugural campaign with third place. Building on this performance in 2022, he achieved three podiums and a maiden victory within the first five races for Group E in the Nitro Rallycross calendar.
Jenson Button, Team Owner of JBXE, said: "I am thrilled and honoured to welcome Andreas Bakkerud to JBXE for the next round of the season in Scotland. Andreas’ off-road racing pedigree speaks for itself, and his experience will be invaluable in our new all Norwegian partnership alongside Hedda in the team as we look to kickstart our 2023 campaign.
“We’re hopeful of a positive showing at our home event at the Hydro X Prix and I am excited to see how our new line-up fares out on track.”
Bakkerud added: “Being back in the Extreme E paddock, I look forward to racing with such a great group of drivers, many who I’ve raced against before, I even drove for Mattias! I have never been to Scotland before so I’m excited to visit a new place - I've heard it's an extreme track! I can’t wait to get stuck in and immerse myself in the local culture, definitely some of their local snacks!
“It is my first time racing with a Norwegian so I am looking forward to teaming up with Hedda. I’m hoping we can cultivate a great working relationship and help each other both improve and succeed. For sure, it will take some time to get used to things, but I hope I can steer JBXE in the right direction.”
You can find out how Bakkerud fares in his Extreme E debut alongside Hosås at the Hydro X Prix next month.
The racing action will be available live on STV and ITV, in the UK, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-03 Fraser McConnell on thriving with X44 Vida Carbon Racing
Extreme E: You’ve gone from Championship Driver to working with last season’s champions in the series – how does that feel?
Fraser McConnell: I’m super excited to be competing full time in the series. It’s an amazing feeling to be driving for the reigning champions and for boss man Lewis Hamilton! I’m also really proud that X44 is such a diverse team which prioritises giving people an opportunity to work in motorsport, we have such a young and up and coming team and I love being part of that.
Extreme E: How has your relationship with your new team-mate Cristina Gutiérrez been since joining the team
FM: I’m loving working alongside Cristina. She’s so talented and has really helped me get to grips with everything during the first race weekend. We had some great conversations on track at the Desert X Prix and went to dinner a couple of times too, she has some funny stories about her time with X44 so far!
I’m excited to get back together with her in Scotland and see what we can achieve for the team.
Extreme E: Looking ahead to the next round in Scotland, what are you expecting there?
FM: It’s always fun going to different locations around the world and I have high hopes that Scotland is going to be a lot of fun – I mean, racing in an old coal mine, that’s pretty cool. To be honest I’m now just looking forward to getting on track and getting a better feel for the car on the terrain. I’m also looking forward to trying some traditional Scottish food. Maybe haggis, or the team are telling me a battered Mars bar could be the way to go. I can’t wait!
Extreme E: What experiences do you have of racing in the UK?
FM: I raced at Lydden Hill last year in Nitro Rallycross and I loved it, such an historic circuit and the fans were amazing. There’s such a strong motorsport tradition in the UK and of course most of the X44 team including our boss Lewis are from here, so it’s going to be like a home race for us.
That said, I always try to bring a bit of that Jamaican flavour so you can expect to hear some dancehall tunes coming out of the X44 garage over the weekend.
Extreme E: This season has seen the implementation of double-header events, which means more racing and wheel-to-wheel action. How have you found it?
FM: The more racing, the better! It’s been cool so far; and I love being able to get more time on track to get to grips with the car and learn as much as possible on each terrain as well. I feel very comfortable racing wheel-to-wheel with my go kart and rallycross knowledge so I'm looking forward to being able to give Cristina the car in the switch with a healthy margin.
Extreme E: Lastly, what are your expectations for the Hydro X Prix?
FM: Well as everyone knows by now, anything can happen in Extreme E, so we’re just going to work hard on the car and our strategy to put us in the best place possible. We’re going to go out there and push for the win and with a team as good as ours, we’re confident we can do it.
I’m hearing rumours of a boat party with DJ Carl Cox too so lots to look forward to!
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-05-02 Veloce Racing's Kevin Hansen on preparations for the Hydro X Prix
Extreme E: You’re going into the Hydro X Prix as the championship leader! How does that feel?
Kevin Hansen: It feels great to be the championship leader! It’s exactly where we aim to be and where we hope to be and where we worked to be as well. The team has put an incredible effort in over the past six months especially, but also the last two years to get to this point. It’s great to finally start off on a great note and to be the championship leaders. It’s exactly where we want to be and hope to stay.
Extreme E: Now that the dust has settled - could you sum up in three words the opening round in NEOM?
KH: That’s an interesting one. I would go with ‘Veloce, Live Fast’. The team’s success is down to just hard work and the team spirit that is incredibly nice. Everybody is so hungry for success. We believe in each other and have confidence in the whole team, from content to engineering to drivers and we take on each weekend as a collective group. We go out there on the track to perform at our best and I think that is what we have created our success from.
Each individual in the team is doing their upmost and they’re hungry for doing their best and that is the perfect way to work in this championship.
Extreme E: You picked up a win and a second-place finish in Saudi Arabia. Does the new sporting format suit you?
KH: Yes, I think it suits me. It’s more of a similar amount of driving to what I am used to. There is a lot of on-track action, three times a day, and you still have a lot of time to analyse the racing and to work on your driving. You also get more time in the car which is really cool so I would say the new race format is great. It is definitely more like rallycross – there are more head-to-heads and that is something that I really enjoy. I like the challenge of that and just trying to be a bit clever out on course. Trying different things and being creative is always interesting.
I think the format suits me nicely, and Molly also, which is very good so we work well together, and can prepare really well for the races and strategy out on course.
Extreme E: Looking ahead to Scotland, are you confident of another strong showing at the Hydro X Prix?
KH: I am hopeful that we are going to be up there fighting for wins and podiums once again in Scotland. You never know where the others will be, but I think we will do well. I am hoping we have some strong days out on course where we will be where we want to be with the ODYSSEY 21. Our approach will remain unchanged, too. We will try to do what we did in the last race and prepare as well as we can with our driving, and also when we get to the location and analyse the track, so I think we can be confident in a strong showing so long as we prepare well.
There’s no reason to believe otherwise. We will just do our thing and hope that ends up meaning podiums for us again.
Extreme E: You’ve actually visited the site as part of the race launch! What did you make of it?
KH: From what I saw at the race launch, the location looks really cool! I think it is definitely one of the most interesting and certainly one of the strongest in terms of sustainability that we can showcase at an Extreme E race. It is incredible what is being planned for the future at the race locations in terms of renewable energy and it is going to be exciting to follow that journey.
Like most Extreme E courses I am sure there will be lots of jumps and difficult parts to navigate out on track, but we are really looking forward to it. I think it will be spectacular.
Extreme E: Will it be the most challenging yet and is it comparable to any other location the Championship has visited?
KH: Although we haven’t seen the track yet, it won’t take all of us long to get up to speed during race week to understand the small details that will really boost performance. I think it will be challenging, especially when it comes to elevation changes, but we are all really excited for the Hydro X Prix. Also, the courses are much shorter compared to Season 1, so it is a little bit different in terms of getting familiar with the course and terrain.
We will be prepared for whatever the weekend throws at us and we’re hoping for another strong result!
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-04-13 St. Helena arrives in Scotland with one month to go until Hydro X Prix
Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, has today dropped anchor in Scotland for off-loading in preparation for the series’ much-anticipated return to the UK for the Hydro X Prix next month.
The championship’s floating centrepiece has docked in Greenock to unload the freight and Extreme E ODYSSEY 21s on board as preparations and anticipation grows for the series’ debut in Scotland on May 13-14. She will then be based in Troon throughout the build up to and duration of the Hydro X Prix.
The series’ equipment departed Saudi Arabia following March’s Desert X Prix double-header in NEOM. Passing through the Suez Canal, Egypt, the St. Helena has travelled across the Mediterranean, stopping in Algeciras, Spain, before the final leg to Scotland.
Amongst the all-important cargo to be unloaded, including the fleet of ODYSSEY 21 electric race cars; plus all the race freight which includes the temporary structure based paddock of team garages, Continental tyres, and all operational equipment required to set up the race site in former Scottish opencast coal mine at Glenmuckloch.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “It’s fantastic to see the St. Helena’s safe arrival in Scotland, which marks a huge milestone in our preparations for Extreme E’s next round – the Hydro X Prix.
“The UK is where Extreme E’s global voyage began and although we are an international championship it is always important to return to our roots. Racing in Scotland is going to be unique experience with a backdrop and setting like no other so far in the championship.
“It is going to be an incredible event – with a breathtaking landscape behind some of the fastest drivers in the world battling it out wheel-to-wheel, as well as telling the story of how climate change, and solutions to combat the crisis such as the transformation of this former opencast coal mine into an important source of renewable energy, can be right on our doorstep.”
SamuelHoward©-IG-11The 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.
As for the action on course, the Championship first raced in the UK during its maiden season in 2021, tackling a formidable course located in the British Ministry of Defence Base, at Bovington in Dorset. Now the Hydro X Prix in Scotland offers an exciting return home for the sport for purpose series, as it delivers its third season.
Racing in Dumfries and Galloway will create the exciting opportunity to highlight climate issues and solutions that are not just global, but also right on our doorstep. The racetrack lends into this aim, as it is located in the restored former opencast coal mine, which is about to undergo the next phase of its major transformation into a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plant and wind farm.
Moreover, only 18 months ago world leaders met in Glasgow for COP26, aiming to secure global net zero by the middle of this century. As an off-road rally series which focuses on the promotion of electric vehicles and clean energy innovations, the old mine is the perfect natural amphitheatre to showcase the necessary industry transition to move from fossil fuels to clean energy futures. It will also impactfully act as an example of the important role water can play in future renewables and healthy conservation.
The Hydro X Prix is the second round of Extreme E Season 3. The championship is joint-led for the first time by Veloce Racing and ACCIONA Sainz XE Team, who both secured their maiden wins during the Desert X Prix.
With 46 points, Veloce Racing and ACCIONA Sainz XE hold the lead over nearest rivals Rosberg X Racing, who sit in third on 31 points, followed by X44 Vida Carbon Racing (23 points) and Chip Ganassi (15 points) in fourth and fifth, respectively.
The racing action will be best viewed live on STV and ITV, in the UK, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May to enable the best views. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-31 Mattias Ekström on his return to the championship
Mattias, welcome back to Extreme E! Can you tell us how you got the call to race for the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team?
Mattias Ekström: The week after Carlos had his incident and got hurt is when he asked me if I would be interested, and we started chatting about it. It took a couple of weeks and then we agreed and finally I arrived in Saudi Arabia very happy to go racing again!
XE: What are your memories of driving in Extreme E in Season 1?
Ekström: We had a couple of good races in Season 1, but we also had some issues. Mainly though there was some very cool locations and a lot of adventures, especially with the first event in Saudi Arabia which was pretty dramatic. It was in general a season full of excitement.
Carlos is very persuasive. I respect Carlos a lot and I must say it was a lot of fun to have him with us at the first double-header and hopefully he can come with us to other races as well.
XE: Do you feel the championship has changed a lot since your last race? Has anything stood out and impressed you?
Ekström: The girls and how fast they drive. The girls have really picked up the pace and I see that trend continuing as the series progresses.
Secondly, I would say the cars have also improved quite a bit and Extreme E has grown in the technical department since the series launched.
Thirdly, I think the new format is much more exciting. I prefer the new set-up with five cars – it will have the heartbeat up and continue to entertain people.
XE: Does the car feel different since you last drove it in 2021?
Ekström: The biggest difference this season with the cars is the steering. The car is still very kicky in the jumps, but the dampers have improved which helps a lot in the jumps.
XE: What’s the key to success in this new racing format?
Ekström: I think success in this very much depends on who you race against, and which start line you have into Turn 1. You have to try and read the situation as well as you can with the drivers on the grid.
With so many races happening across a weekend the track changes a lot, too. I think I have learned so much about driving in ruts and sand over the past two years in the Dakar Rally. Driving in ruts might look easy, but it requires a bit more if you want to master it. I'm not scared of ruts anymore – I actually enjoy them!
I always expect really rough racing in this series. There are a lot of ‘winner mentality’ drivers here - nobody wants to lose, everybody wants to win. But I think that's what's motor racing is about, especially for me. We all want to win, and I think with this format you stimulate that even more.
XE: You were on the podium in Round 1. Tell us about your first race back in the series.
Ekström: We had a good day on the first day of racing - we were second in Q1 and we won Q2 so I think you can be fair and say that we are a good pair and we have good pace. We ended up second in the round and also had the fastest Continental Traction Challenge time so it was a very positive day.
XE: You and Laia Sanz went on to get a maiden victory for the team in Round 2. What did Carlos have to say to you on the podium?
Ekström: For me, before the start of any Heat when he comes to grab me, it feels so special. I can really feel he wants me to do well, to show for himself, but also for the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. Carlos’ way of treating me is like my dad used to treat me, and that means a lot.
Extreme E returns to action with the Hydro X Prix in Scotland. The racing action will be best viewed live on STV and ITV, in the UK, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May to enable the best views. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-30 Extreme E reveals plans to race in former Scottish coal mine
Extreme E, the sport for purpose electric off-road rallying series, has today confirmed that the former Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine site in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, will host its next race event, the Hydro X Prix, on 13-14 May 2023.
With legendary motorsport names involved in the series including Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, NEOM McLaren, Andretti and Carl Cox, the restored former coal mine, which is about to undergo the next phase of its major transformation into a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plant and wind farm, will provide a poignant backdrop for the sport which uses its platform to raise awareness of climate change and global solutions.
Just 18 months ago world leaders met in Glasgow for COP26, aiming to secure global net zero by the middle of this century. As an off-road rally series which focuses on the promotion of electric vehicles and clean energy innovations, the old mine is the perfect natural amphitheatre to showcase the necessary industry transition to move from fossil fuels to clean energy futures. It will also impactfully act as an example of the important role water can play in future renewables and healthy conservation.
Alongside far flung racing destinations which have so far included Greenland, the Atacama Desert, Saudi Arabia and Senegal, on the west coast of Africa, the Hydro X Prix in Scotland represents an exciting return home for the sport for purpose series as it delivers its third season, creating the opportunity to highlight climate issues and solutions that are not just global, but also right on our doorstep.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Extreme E is a unique sport for purpose racing series. We are thrilled to be headed to Scotland in May for the Hydro X Prix, and we could not have found a more perfect racing site than the former Glenmuckloch coal mine.
“Extreme E uses its racing platform to tell inspirational stories of global locations on the forefront of climate issues. Here in Scotland, our race site will play homage to the much needed transition of an old coal mine which is being given a new and exciting lease of life as a hydro-project which will provide a fully renewable energy source for the region for centuries to come.
“Not only will this site provide one of the most dramatic and extreme race courses we have seen in our global journey, it will tell a poignant story about transition and the changing of courses that the energy industry and communities must all take if we are to succeed in the fight against climate change.”
Extreme E offers an exciting wheel to wheel racing format and also provides a world-first gender-equal motorsport platform, which sees men and women drivers race equally for success.
Catie Munnings, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, said: “It was really exciting to be in Scotland to kick off the countdown to the Hydro X Prix in May. It’s always great to have a home event, and racing is Scotland is something I am really looking forward to.
“There’s always something unique about every Extreme E course but racing in a location like this which is close to home will be something special for me and the team.
“I've heard the track will be a combination of both fast sections on grass as well as drops into a quarry which will be really interesting to see. The Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team have a lot to build on and we are more hungry than ever to achieve a result that we deserve.”
Jenson Button, JBXE Team Owner, said: “It is brilliant that we will be returning to the UK for Extreme E Season 3 and we are really looking forward to the next round of the championship in Scotland. There is such a passion for motorsport in the UK, and it is great that the series is returning to its roots once again.
“I’ve been lucky enough to race on UK soil many times throughout my career and those memories will always be incredibly special to me, while the last time the series raced in the UK JBXE were able to pick up a podium – and so we will be aiming for similar at the Hydro X Prix.
“Racing in Scotland will provide a totally new challenge for our team, but I am confident we will be able to kick-start our season there.”
Anna Fergusson, Estate Director of Buccleuch’s Queensberry Estate, home of Glenmuckloch said: “Hosting Extreme E is a wonderful opportunity for Buccleuch and the local community. Their commitment to the environment flows through everything they do, and using the sport to highlight local and international nature-based projects enables engagement on so many levels. For me, personally, recognising gender equality sends an incredibly positive message, which is important to recognise.”
The project, which secured funding in 2022, will enhance and aid the balancing of the UK power system, enabling the integration of more renewable generated energy into the country.
Once constructed, the Pump Storage Hydropower plant will have a capacity which can be delivered at a rate of 210 MW per hour, providing eight hours of storage capacity. 1MW is enough to supply the average power requirement for 2,000 homes for an hour Utilising two 105 MW reversible hydro-turbines, the site will store power during periods of excess energy supply and release stored energy at times of peak demand.
The wind farm being built in conjunction with the plant will comprise of eight 4.2 MW turbines and will have the ability, via a direct connection, to power the Pump Storage Hydropower plant.
Extreme E will also embark on a community led project of its own, as part of its Legacy Programme, to implement a multi-stage project, focused on mitigating climate change effects on local salmon stocks. From the impactful re-planting of over a thousand trees, to using innovative technologies being implemented by Official Technology Partner Vodafone Business to monitor water quality and temperatures, Extreme E will focus on a long-term transformation of the River Nith area that will protect the salmon stocks so important to local industries.
On the sporting side, the racing in Scotland will be as exciting as ever with a course currently being designed that will include the natural obstacles of the Scottish terrain while putting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 vehicle to the test.
Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena ship, which was built in Aberdeen and went on to provide a vital lifeline to the island of St Helena for over 30 years, will arrive in Glasgow in mid April to start unloading its freight and vehicles ahead of the race event.
Being a sport which takes its impact seriously, many measures are in place to keep Extreme E’s event footprint to a minimum. These measures include capping the number of team personnel and staff who can attend the event, remote working, and crucially, not having spectators on site.
The racing action will be best viewed live on STV and ITV, in the UK, over both Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May to enable the best views. Outside of the UK, please visit here for broadcaster details.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-28 A tale of two halves for ABT CUPRA XE in opening double-header
t was a weekend of ups and downs for ABT CUPRA XE at the 2023 Desert X Prix, as the team narrowly missed a spot on the podium in the Round 2 Grand Final, despite a damaging crash during Round 1.
Off the back of their maiden victory in the Season 2 Finale in Uruguay, the opening race weekend of Extreme E Season 3 was not without its problems for ABT CUPRA XE. After a damaging roll in the first round’s Redemption Race, the team faced a time-pressured night shift to get the car ready in time for the next day of racing.
Nasser Al-Attiyah started the season’s campaign in Qualifying 1 Heat 1 on the Saturday. The Qatari fell to the back of the pack after contact with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E. However, a roll for Andretti Altawkilat after the Switch Zone meant the team were able to climb the order to finish fourth.
While Qualifying 2 Heat 2 was a much more measured drive for the team, with flashes of speed keeping them in the mix throughout, Al-Attiyah and team-mate Klara Andersson were unable to make up for the mistakes made in Q1 and had to settle for a spot in the Redemption Race.
The Redemption Race was a chance to win some much-needed points, with Al-Attiyah getting a clean jump off the line to chase down NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust in first. However, the five-time Dakar winner rolled following an attempt to pass the leader, forcing an early DNF for the team.
The subsequent task to recover the team’s ODYSSEY 21 was an arduous one, as it soon became clear that the nature of the repairs meant ABT CUPRA XE would have to switch to the championship car for Round 2.
It was an impressive shift and demonstration of true teamwork to get the ODYSSEY 21 prepared to race in the second half of the double-header, with Extreme E’s new race format offering a much-needed haul of points for the team.
The promise of a fresh start on Sunday initially looked at risk, when ABT CUPRA XE faced a 30-second penalty for switching to the replacement car in their first Qualifying Heat of the day.
To make the best of this poor starting position, the team chose a bold strategy, choosing to hang back and take on the Continental Traction Challenge in clear air. The tactics paid off as Andersson and Al-Attiyah secured the quickest time through the sector and improved their chances of reaching the Grand Final despite a P4 finish in the Heat.
This momentum was carried through to Qualifying 2, where Al-Attiyah’s aggressive overtakes meant he entered in Switch Zone in P1, 16.9 seconds clear of the pack. Andersson took over from her teammate to defend the advantage all the way to the finish. That Qualifying 2 win meant a sensational entry into the Round 2 Grand Final.
With an offset strategy the ABT CUPRA XE duo almost staged another brilliant comeback to claim a top three finish, but had to settle for fourth after missing out on a podium by just half a second.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “I will keep the weekend in good memory – especially after everything that happened on Saturday. Our comeback on Sunday with a win in the Qualifying race and a strong performance in the Grand Final was at least a small reward for the guys’ efforts. We learned a lot and will be racing for trophies and wins next time.”
Klara Andersson, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “The fact that we were able to race at all on Sunday is a small miracle and only thanks to the mega guys in the garage. We fought for a podium finish in the Grand Final until the last metre, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite enough. We’re still proud of our weekend and comeback and now come to the races in Scotland even hungrier for a win.”
With two races down, ABT CUPRA XE sits sixth in the championship standings with 15 points total. It will be all to play for once more when the Extreme E Season 3 action resumes on 13-14 May in Scotland.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-17 Consistency is key for Rosberg X Racing as they bid for second Extreme E title
Despite Rosberg X Racing (RXR) making an impressive start to the season at the Desert X Prix, the prized top-spot on the podium remained elusive. For drivers Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, however, two third place finishes and a strong haul of points from Saudi Arabia sets RXR up confidently for the remaining eight races of 2023.
Extreme E Season 3 promised to be the most closely fought in the series thus far and Nico Rosberg’s RXR did not have it all their own way in NEOM – having won on the championship’s two visits to Saudi Arabia.
In Round 1, Qualifying Heat 1 resulted in a shaky start, with RXR finishing in fourth place, before rallying to complete an impressive comeback in Heat 2 – finishing second to bag the crucial points required to secure a spot in the first Grand Final of Season 3.
An incredible first corner from Kristoffersson, where he overtook four cars to lead after Turn One, set the tone and some strong defensive driving to hold off Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen ensured RXR led the field at the Switch Zone.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky took over and crucially maintained the lead to bring the car home first, however Nico Rosberg’s outfit were soon to be denied that all-important first win of the campaign.
A misjudgement by the Swede in the Slow Zone following an incident which left GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson stricken ODYSSEY 21 stranded out on course resulted in a 136-second penalty by race control for over speeding and gaining an advantage.
This ultimately led to Veloce Racing claiming their maiden victory and RXR dropping down to third place retrospectively when the penalty was applied.
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “In the end, third place in Round One was a good result. We began the day with a tricky start position in Q1. Q2 was better, and I had a good start in the Grand Final. I had a plan and strategy and managed to execute it. I tried to be safe during the first lap, trying not to make any mistakes as it’s difficult to overtake.
“During the second lap, I tried to open up some breathing space for Mikaela. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication with the slow zone, so the penalty meant we couldn’t take home the win. Of course, It hurts a bit not to win when you finish first, but that’s how it is.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “Johan did an amazing start, and the pace was good. Unfortunately, I had issues understanding where the slow zone was regarding the Waypoints. But the team has done an amazing job, and it was a good start to the season.”
Despite the setback, the all-new racing format meant that RXR had a second chance to fight for the win in Round 2. They certainly set a strong tone, winning their Q1 Heat and securing second spot in Q2 to comfortably reach their second Grand Final in Saudi Arabia.
After an initial false start in Q1, Kristoffersson delivered a superb start once more by timing his ENOWA Hyperdrive usage perfectly to surge to the front of the pack. After handing over to Åhlin-Kottulinsky, a nail-biting two laps ensued, with RXR finishing in P1.
Q2 saw contact between RXR, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE and ABT CUPRA XE team following a feisty start. Despite this, Åhlin-Kottulinsky fiercely stood her ground to enter the switch zone in third. Kristoffersson then used his ENOWA Hyperdrive on the shoreline straight, passing X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell to finish the Heat in second.
The Grand Final saw RXR finish in third for the second time in two days – with the team embroiled in a race-long battle with Veloce Racing for second place. It was the British outfit who came out on top in that battle, with Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky settling for third and banking a crucial podium.
Although the team would have wanted the victory, securing 31 championship points and two podiums from the first event ensures RXR remain poised to continue their success in the upcoming races.
With eight more races, the Extreme E Season 1 champions will have plenty of opportunities to close the gap to the top of the standings.
Kristoffersson said: “Both me and Mikaela had good starts this weekend, and we had a great race craft, which was key to the result this weekend. This terrain isn’t mine or Mikaela's preferable surface compared to many of the other races that are coming so, considering that, two podiums are a good result.
“Even though we weren’t always the fastest on track this weekend, we still collected good points.
“So many strong teams didn’t make it to the Grand Final during this X Prix, so we will take the points, regroup, and analyse this result with the team ahead of Scotland and come back well-prepared.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky added: “I felt like this wasn’t my strongest weekend as I struggled quite a bit to understand the terrain, but all things considered, I’m very happy to bring home two P3s! The team did a great job with the car, and I’m very happy to have Johan as my teammate. He’s done an amazing job and was super quick. I’m looking forward to Scotland and the next doubleheader.”
Kimmo Liimatainen, Rosberg X Racing Team Principal, concluded: “Obviously, we always aim for P1, but all in all, it was a solid and clean weekend. With a double podium and good points in the bag, we will go home and analyse what we can do better and find more pace.
"I’m optimistic that we can strike back in Scotland.”
You can see how RXR fare in their attempts to strike back in Scotland at the next round of Extreme E Season 3 on 13-14 May.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-16 Focus shifts to Scotland after challenging opening round for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E
As the first race of Season 3 got underway, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E suffered a Desert X Prix beset by bad luck – with the team coming away from Saudi Arabia with just five points from the opening round.
The team’s weekend had started well with Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen looking to convert the promise shown last season into podium positions.
On Friday, the driver duo delivered strong performances in both Free Practice sessions, collecting valuable data about the new off-road course and finished second in both outings.
However, when the racing got underway is when the trouble began for the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team. In Qualifying 1, Munnings chased Carl Cox Motorsport’s Christine GZ hard for second place – but in attempting an overtake bounced on an unforgiving bulge in the terrain, unfortunately rolling her ODYSSEY 21.
It was then all hands-on deck for the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team in the blistering desert heat, as they impressively got their car onto the start line for their Qualifying 2 Heat. After negotiating a difficult start, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E took fourth and a place in the Round 1 Redemption Race.
However, once more they were unable to demonstrate their earlier Practice pace in the Redemption Race as the team suffered another roll, this time with Hansen behind the wheel, ensuring a tenth place finish from the first round of the new season.
Catie Munnings, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team, said: “The new race format leaves a fair bit to chance, and we’ve been unlucky to start the season this way. My incident from the first qualifying session meant we started from grid slot five and the visibility was so poor for parts of the lap. It also made it difficult to find any rhythm and pull back some time to the car ahead.
“Overall, Round 1 was not reflective of our pace from the Free Practice sessions. I know that we are capable of a good result if everything aligns for us, so that’s what we’ll focus on now.
Timmy Hansen, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team, said: "Round 1 was probably one of the worst race days I’ve had in many years. Two rolls in one day pretty much sums up how things went for us. It just wasn’t our day today. In Extreme E, the margins are so tight, meaning one incident may cause bigger problems for the rest of your day."
Round 2 offered a chance at a comeback with plenty of racing and points opportunities on the table.
Hansen had a great launch off the line in Qualifying 1 and coming into the Switch Zone the team clocked the fastest time and maintained the lead. However, late overtakes by Veloce Racing and X44 Vida Carbon Racing ensured the team finished third in their Heat.
Qualifying 2 also showed promise, yet an unfortunate landing from a jump after exiting the Switch Zone ensured yet another roll for Hansen – and the team’s third across the weekend. Fortunately, their ODYSSEY 21 had only suffered minor damage, but resultant incident ensured the Swede and Munnings would have to settle for another Redemption Race for Round 2.
In a scrappy final race of the weekend for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E team, they were able to finish third in the Redemption Race, and eighth overall, to conclude what had been a frustrating opening X Prix of 2023.
Munnings added: "The Redemption Race in Round 2 was more like the Crazy Race! I took over the car, but there were yellow zones and cars off from incidents ahead. From the position that we had after losing a place in the Switch Zone, there was not much I could do in the conditions but, hopefully, there will be some valuable data from the race that we can use and learn more about the car.
“We know we’re far more capable of what we’ve been able to show in Saudi Arabia. We always have to look at the positives and, as a team, we’re strong at doing so. We know we have the pace, so we’ve just got to be able to convert it now.”
Hansen concluded: “I think we had the pace when there was a clear track but, unfortunately, we weren’t able to convert that into any results. We had a couple of crashes that cost us on both days, which is not how we were hoping to start the season.
“Nonetheless, it’s been a great event in Saudi Arabia – seeing everyone from Altawkilat and getting the season started in this stunning location. We’ve got a good team behind us who have been with us since Season 1, so we’ll keep our heads down and focus on Scotland next on the calendar.”
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E will have the opportunity to bounce back at the next Extreme E round in Scotland on 13-14 May.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-14 Two new winners at Season 3 opener hints at closest championship yet
Veloce Racing and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team competitive season yet in the series, with several teams showing signs of challenging for wins in 2023.
Having claimed just one podium from their first two Extreme E campaigns, for Veloce Racing the Desert X Prix in NEOM was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround.
Having finished 2022 tenth in the overall standings, the British outfit top the Extreme E standings at the end of the first X Prix double-header having taken a debut victory and a deserved second place from their desert excursions in Saudi Arabia.
For drivers Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen, their start to life at Veloce Racing could not have been much stronger.
Molly Taylor, Veloce Racing, said: “As weekends go it couldn’t have gone much better. Everyone in the team has done such a great job and I don’t think I have ever had so much fun along the way.
“A victory, a double podium and being inside the top two in every session is not easy to achieve, particularly in this championship, so we can all be delighted with the performance and look forward to the rest of the season.”
The duo made their debuts for Veloce Racing at the Season 2 finale in Punta del Este, Uruguay, where they became the first team outside of X44 Vida Carbon Racing and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) to finish as top Qualifier.
It is evident that such momentum has been carried into the 2023, with the team aiming to ensure their success in Saudi Arabia is not a flash in the pan.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “We have shown that we can lead from the front, but we can also go wheel-to-wheel for position, as both Molly and I have made up places during the weekend. Both of us believe so much in what the engineers and mechanics are doing, so we feel so safe when we get in the car. We believe in what we are going to drive, and I think that is also giving some results.
“We know we have the right package in place, and we look forward to taking this confidence to Scotland in May.”
Taylor added: “I've obviously been out of the car for a little while – so you need confidence in yourself that you can deliver. But the team have been so supportive and brilliant at bringing the best out of every aspect that we look into.
“Our Team Principal Luc [Alphand] knows what it takes to win. Having that faith in someone like that, who's got the scores on the board, who knows what you're feeling, and knows how to translate that into results, I think that's a real advantage for us.”
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team join Veloce Racing at the head of the Extreme E Season 3 standings with their debut win in Round 2 at the first X Prix of the year.
Although a contender throughout their time in Extreme E, their maiden victory had been elusive up until the second leg in NEOM, where Laia Sanz and new team-mate Mattias Ekström crossed the line first to secure that long awaited win.
Having been so close to victory on a number of occasions, Sanz and Ekström hope that this victory will take the team from front-runner to championship contender in the series.
Although unable to drive for the team currently due to injury, the Spanish outfit still has talismanic Carlos Sainz Snr. in their corner this term.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: "Finally! I think we did a great job. Not only this weekend, but these two years with Carlos [Sainz Snr.] and all the team. I think he really deserved this win and they deserve this win and I'm super happy also with Mattias [Ekström] who has helped me so much and played a huge part in the good results in Saudi Arabia.
“This victory is for all the people on the team because they truly deserve it for all the work we have done to be in this position, especially for Carlos. I learned so much with him as my teammate and it is fantastic that he is with us here, helping us and giving advice.
"Look how difficult it was to get to the Final that we won, though. For us, it was really close. We felt we were strong throughout but then you can see the other teams performing well and being strong – it will be a long season.
“We can feel proud, but we must keep up the good work. To win the championship we need to avoid big mistakes.”
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “It's always great to be racing and to be on the podium, but I think this one is a little different. It was a late c-all for me to join the team, and I'm really happy that Carlos [Sainz Snr.] called me and trusted me to step in for him.
“During the weekend, when you are not driving, it can be difficult to keep looking at data and finding the motivation throughout the days to look for details. But Carlos can do the same thing five times and he never get bored. He can repeat, repeat, repeat – that’s so impressive and crucial to our performance as a team.
“We have had strong pace so far this season, though, with two very positive days of racing. We can be happy with a lot of things in this championship to date.”
Such strong weekends from the aforementioned debut winners have indicated just how competitive it will be in Season 3, and that X44 Vida Carbon Racing and RXR may not have it all their own way in their pursuit of a second Extreme E championship.
The pioneering series now looks towards its next race weekend in Scotland (13-14 May), which will be just as closely fought as the opening round in the desert of Saudi Arabia.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-12 Carlos Sainz's team claim long-awaited victory at Desert X Prix Round 2
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team secured their first ever win in Extreme E with a dominant run in the Grand Final, finishing ahead of Round 1 winners Veloce Racing in second and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) in third on the sands of NEOM, Saudi Arabia.
Laia Sanz and Mattias Ekström, supported on-site by team owner Carlos Sainz Snr., dominated the race from start to finish, establishing a comfortable lead as Veloce Racing and RXR fought over the runners-up spot.
In fourth place were ABT CUPRA XE, having recovered well from a crash in Round 1’s Redemption Race to make it to the Grand Final second time around.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing finished fifth, marking two Grand Finals out of two for the team’s new driver-pairing of RJ Anderson and Extreme E newcomer Amanda Sorensen.
Winners of the Redemption Race were X44 Vida Carbon Racing. Having tied fifth in Qualifying with eventual Round 2 winners, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, Fraser McConnell and Cristina Gutiérrez lost out on a spot in the Grand Final due to a slower time in the Continental Traction Challenge.
X44 Vida Carbon Racing came back swinging, ending Round 2 with the quickest time in the Traction Challenge on their way to victory in the Redemption Race, securing a valuable 10 points in the championship battle.
The Desert X Prix double-header delivered two maiden victories, with wins for Veloce Racing and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. What’s more, with the Round 2 podium featuring the same top three teams from Round 1, they will be the ones to watch as the series heads into the next X Prix weekend in Scotland on May 13-14.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “I am very happy, both for myself and the team. We clinched our maiden win in Extreme E! I want to thank Mattias for giving me the car with such a good advantage over the rest of the field. I did a good stint and was able to keep the distance, so I am more than satisfied.
"This victory is for all the people on the team because they truly deserve it for all the work we have done to be in this position, especially for Carlos Sainz. It was an honor that he called me to ask if I wanted to race with him in Extreme E and I am trying to pay back his trust with all my motivation and my willingness to improve even further. I learned so much with him as my teammate and it is fantastic that he is with us here, helping us and giving advice. Today we can feel proud, but we must keep up the good work.”
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We had designed a strategy for the Grand Final and I executed it as well as I could. I am really happy that it turned out to be fruitful. It is always easier to race in front and have a clear view in front than being behind another car and having to deal with all the dust. I really enjoyed every corner. Laia drove very well and managed the gap perfectly. It is a good victory for the team.
"It is also very special for Carlos. We have been teammates at the Dakar Rally for the past two years, but ever since I joined ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team he has been really caring. He has taught me many things, as a father would. He is a great guy and it makes me really happy that we can dedicate this victory to him.”
Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, added: “I am really happy that the first victory of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team is finally here because we have worked a lot of time to achieve it. Laia and Mattias were spectacular and they already showed that they are one of the strongest driver pairings in the Championship.
"We have grown steadily and so have our results. Starting the Championship in this fashion is a good sign. We must keep up the good work and I hope the team is able to keep the same trend in the next race because our goal is to fight for the Championship. Today is also a day to be thankful to our sponsors, like Acciona, Santander Private Banking, and Asterra because without them it would be really difficult to achieve a success like this.”
Grand Final
As the top five teams from Qualifying took on the Grand Final in Extreme E, Ekström set the tone for the race as he charged into the lead for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
Behind the Swede, Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen dug deep to get ahead of RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson to take second place, as the RXR machine bounced sideways through the dips in the course.
Just as the front three got some breathing space from No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Anderson and ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson in fourth and fifth, respectively, Hansen accidentally hit the pit limiter. The Veloce Racing ODYSSEY 21 dropped back into third while Hansen recovered from the sudden loss of speed.
Ekström continued to extend his lead for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team as the other teams lost time tussling for position, with Kristoffersson defending hard against Hansen until the Veloce Racing driver took a wider line and completed the overtake on RXR for second place.
Following the driver change, which saw Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor and RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky door-to-door as they exited the Switch Zone, it was a comfortable run for Sanz in the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team car.
The Spaniard kept a cool head to complete a clean run, while Taylor brought her ODYSSEY 21 home in second for Veloce Racing.
RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky fended off Nasser Al-Attiyah in the final stages of the race to claim the third step on the podium, with ABT CUPRA XE finishing fourth after Al-Attiyah got past No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen.
Molly Taylor, Veloce Racing, said: "It was a really cool weekend for us and a great way to start the new season! For me coming back in – I’ve obviously been out of the car for a little while – so you like to have confidence and belief in yourself but then you’ve obviously got to get out there and prove yourself.
"The new format means there’s more racing which is a good thing and more fun for sure. We’ve seen how close everyone is. The teams that were on the podium were fast but there were plenty of teams that were also very fast and not on the podium."
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: "It has been great to kick off the season like this and to get two podiums to start the year. For sure it was a big challenge, and the ruts were almost the same height as the car at some points in the finals but we managed to come through.
"It was a treat to start this way but there were the same three teams up there on the podium so we can expect all the others to improve as well before the next race and we need to do the same."
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: "Getting a double podium on a weekend like this is obviously great, but it has also been a tough weekend. I found it hard to pick up pace and be in there, but I’ve really been struggling to improve and to get better.
"We are happy with P3 today and, of course, it was a shame about yesterday, but it’s so important just to collect points. There are so many great teams out there, so to be in the Grand Final every time and keep collecting those points is what is going to get you the championship in the end."
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: "The track was very challenging but was rewarding if you were prepared to take risks. In the final today, I was a little bit too cautious and that allowed Kevin [Hansen] to pass me, but I think the weekend wasn’t too bad.
"It always feels a little bit like you left something on the table, especially yesterday and maybe today with that overtaking from Kevin, but in the end you know with the new format and tricky start conditions from both Q1’s Saturday and Sunday, to score important points is good."
Redemption Race
The remaining five teams fought it out in the Redemption Race in pursuit of those all important sixth to tenth place championship points.
Carl Cox Motorsport looked to have taken an early lead in the race as Timo Scheider pushed his ODYSSEY 21 to the limit, bouncing round the outside of the opening right-hander. X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell, however, stuck to his trusted inside line to jump to the front of the pack.
Behind them was Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen, followed by NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust in fourth, and JBXE’s Heikki Kovalainen in fifth, until Foust pulled out onto a wider line and cut back in to overtake Hansen for third place.
Scheider kept just two seconds adrift of X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s McConnell as the German ran in second for Carl Cox Motorsport. Meanwhile the front three pulled away from Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and JBXE, and as they approached the Switch Zone Scheider was late on the brakes, making contact with McConnell as they entered.
Carl Cox Motorsport managed to get the better of X44 Vida Carbon Racing at the driver change, as Christine GZ emerged ahead of Cristina Gutiérrez. The X44 Vida Carbon Racing driver soon retook the lead, however, as the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team continued a trouble free run behind.
The same cannot be said for Carl Cox Motorsport’s GZ and JBXE’s Hedda Hösas, though, as both suffered a roll during their stint. GZ was able to crawl home in fourth, handing second and third place to NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, respectively, while JBXE ended their Desert X Prix with a DNF.
Results:
Grand Final:
1. ACCIONA SAINZ XE Team 11:10.821
2. Veloce Racing +5.527
3. Rosberg X Racing +7.429
4. ABT CUPRA XE +7.987
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +22.321
Redemption Race:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing 11:10.132
2. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +10.150
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +33.296
4. Carl Cox Motorsport +2:43.534 (PENALISED)
5. JBXE DNF
Championship Standings:
1. Veloce Racing: 46 points
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 46 points
3. Rosberg X Racing: 31 points
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 23 points
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 21 points
6. ABT CUPRA XE: 15 points
7. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 14 points
8. Carl Cox Motorsport: 8 points
9. JBXE: 5 points
10. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 5 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-12 Två pallplatser i Extreme E-premiären
Två tredjeplatser blev facit för Rosberg X Racing i premiären av Extreme E i Saudiarabien. Johan Kristoffersson och Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky körde stabilt och undvek misstag i den tuffa terrängen vid Röda havet.
- När vi får smälta det här kommer vi nog tycka att det var ganska bra, säger Johan.
Kristoffersson och Åhlin-Kottulinsky fick en tung start i lördagens race med en fjärdeplats i sitt första kvalificeringsheat.
- Vi fick en dålig lottning och startade i ett svårt läge. Jag tycker vi hade speeden på fria träningen, men det spelar ingen roll om man inte startar på rätt ställe, säger Johan.
Bättre gick det i andra heatet, där en andraplats räckte till sista platsen i finalen. Även där med ett knepigt utgångsläge.
- Vi hamnade längst ut igen. Jag hade valt en plan och satsade allt på ett kort. Det gick vägen, berättar Johan, som mycket elegant tog sig in från sitt ytterspår och svepte förbi samtliga motståndare och upp i ledning.
- Därifrån försökte jag bara ta bilen säkert hem till Mikaela. Det var ganska slagigt och svårt, men jag kunde i alla fall öppna upp ett gap på några sekunder.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky tog sedan RXR-bilen över mållinjen som etta, vilket skulle ha betytt tre raka premiärsegrar för teamet i Extreme E. Men det stora segerjublet uteblev. RXR hade överskridit hastigheten i byteszonen under Mikaelas runda och fick en bestraffning som betydde nerflyttning till tredje plats.
- Det blev en miss i kommunikationen där. Tråkigt, men vi slutade trea och fick med oss många poäng, så det var ändå bra, menar Johan.
Till skillnad från första dagen inleddes andra dagens tävling på allra bästa sätt. RXR tog hem Q1 efter att Johan än en gång levererat en suverän start från ytterspår. Den här gången hittade han vinnarspåret längst ut och svepte hela fältet.
Mikaela skötte resten av jobbet och ordnade maximala tio kvalpoäng till RXR.
- Gott att vi kunde gå in i Q2 med att redan ha säkrat tio poäng, tycker Kristoffersson.
I andra kvalheatet var det Åhlin-Kottulinsky som inledde. Hon följde teamkamratens exempel och levererade ett stycke startmagi fram till ledning. Denna fick hon dock släppa efter tuff närkontakt från Nasser al-Attiyah, men läget var ändå bra för Johan när han gav sig ut och säkrade andraplatsen.
Med kvalplaceringarna 1-2 summerade RXR en andraplats totalt i kvalet, men hamnade åter en gång långt ut i startspåren.
- Jag fick en bra start där också, men det går inte att göra så mycket mer därifrån.
Johan kom ut som trea, tog sig förbi Kevin Hansen som strulade till det, men bjöd tillbaka med ett eget misstag.
- Det var rejält slagigt där. I efterhand kan jag tycka att jag var lite för försiktig, men det finns ett långsiktigt tänk där man inte vill tappa poäng genom att köra sönder bilen.
Just säsongen som helhet finns med när Kristoffersson summerar första tävlingshelgen, med två tredjeplatser och en tredjeplats totalt i mästerskapet.
- Det är otroligt starka team som inte ens kommer till final någon av dagarna. Så här kommer det att bli, att det svänger fram och tillbaka under säsongen. Då är det viktigt att vara med där framme så mycket som möjligt.
Och de sandiga dynerna i Saudiarabien är inte heller någon specialitet för Rosberg X Racing-förarna.
- Det svider förstås lite att vi lämnade en del på bordet åt de andra, men det är inte vare sig min eller Mikaelas favorit att åka i sand. Nu säkrar vi ändå två tredjeplatser och får med en bra säck med poäng hem.
- Fantastiskt bra jobb av hela teamet under helgen. Nu ska vi analysera det här och ta nya tag i Skottland i maj!
23-03-12 Veloce Racing and Rosberg X Racing win Q1 Heats in Desert X Prix Round 2
Veloce Racing and Rosberg X Racing (RXR) secured a strong start to Round 2 in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, with wins in their respective Qualifying 1 Heats.
Having both made the Final in Round 1 of the Desert X Prix, with Veloce Racing taking their maiden victory in the series, the two teams continued their impressive form in an action-packed Q1.
Qualifying 1 - Heat 1
As the five teams charged towards the opening corner, it was the Hansen brothers who made the best start. Timmy chose the inside line for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E as Kevin charged around the outside for Round 1 victors Veloce Racing.
As Veloce Racing slotted into second, X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell was close behind in third, followed by Timo Scheider in fourth for Carl Cox Motorsport.
ABT CUPRA XE dropped to the back of the pack at the start, with the team set to serve a 30-second penalty in the Switch Zone for using the championship car, following damage to the chassis of their own ODYSSEY 21 when Nasser Al-Attiyah rolled in Round 1’s Redemption Race.
They made the most of their situation, however, hanging back to take on the Continental Traction Challenge with clear air ahead of them. This bold strategy paid off as the team went fastest through the sector, which could prove crucial if they tie on points with another outfit in Round 2’s overall Qualifying.
Up ahead the front four remained tightly packed, as Veloce Racing’s Hansen put pressure on his brother for first and Carl Cox Motorsport’s Scheider attacked X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s McConnell for third.
The teams approached the driver change in these pairs, but problems for Carl Cox Motorsport in the Switch Zone saw Christine GZ stuck in her bay as the team suffered another Qualifying DNF.
Exiting the Switch Zone, Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor set her sights on Catie Munnings in the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E ODYSSEY 21. The Australian refused to play it safe, pushing Munnings from the very start of their two-lap stint.
Behind them X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Cristina Gutiérrez closed the gap as the drama continued to build, with Taylor’s bonnet flying clean off as she attempted an overtake. Taylor made use of her ENOWA Hyperdrive to complete the pass on Munnings and claim the lead for Veloce Racing on the shoreline straight.
Gutiérrez held on to her ENOWA Hyperdrive until late on, timing it perfectly as she stole second place for X44 Vida Carbon Racing as the teams approached the finish line. Munnings tried to recover but ran out of course, thus finishing third just 0.293 seconds behind Gutiérrez, with ABT CUPRA XE’s Al-Attiyah bringing the car home safely in fourth.
Veloce Racing and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E had initially received penalties for speeding in the Switch Zone giving X44 Vida Carbon Racing the win however, following a review, these were rescinded ensuring the on-course finishing positions were retained.
Qualifying 1 - Heat 2
After an initial false start the Heat got going at the second attempt, with RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson sandwiched between the JBXE and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team cars as the teams approached the first corner.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust pushed for the lead as he charged up the inside line, but despite being squeezed Kristoffersson timed his ENOWA Hyperdrive perfectly to surge to the front as No.99 GMC HUMMER EV’s RJ Anderson picked up the fight for second with Foust.
Mattias Ekström was close behind for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, and gained a position as Foust tussled with Anderson, the former dropping to fourth in the melee for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team.
All five teams remained congested, but only JBXE’s Heikki Kovalainen had held onto his ENOWA Hyperdrive, which the Finn used to take fourth place from Foust as the front three pulled away.
Anderson tried new lines as he tried take the lead for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, but RXR’s Kristoffersson shut the door repeatedly as the teams approached the Switch Zone.
Laia Sanz and Amanda Sorensen were side by side as they exited their bays, but Sanz soon slotted into third for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team behind the No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing car.
A nail-biting two laps ensued, with the frontrunners close together as they approached the end of the race.
As Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky crossed the line in first for RXR, Sanz attempted to steal second with her ENOWA Hyperdrive. The Spaniard fell 0.619 seconds short of pulling off the overtake, placing ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team third behind No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team came fourth, despite a penalty for speeding in the Switch Zone, after Emma Gilmour managed to get round JBXE’s Hedda Hösas who finished a close fifth.
With Qualifying 2, the Redemption Race and the Grand Final all still to come today, find out where you can watch the action here.
Qualifying 1 Results:
Heat 1:
1. Veloce Racing 11:25.061
2. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +2.777
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +3.070
4. ABT CUPRA XE +1:09.044 (PENALISED)
5. Carl Cox Motorsport DNF
Heat 2:
1. Rosberg X Racing 11:27.999
2. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +0.996
3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +1.615
4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +12.047 (PENALISED)
5. JBXE +12.342
Overall Qualifying 1 Standings:
1. Veloce Racing: 10 points
2. Rosberg X Racing: 10 points
3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 8 points
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 8 points
5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 6 points
6. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 6 points
7. ABT CUPRA XE: 4 points
8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 4 points
9. JBXE: 2 points
10. Carl Cox Motorsport: 0 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-11 Veloce Racing claims maiden victory in Desert X Prix Round 1
Veloce Racing secured their first ever victory in Extreme E following a penalty for on course winners Rosberg X Racing (RXR) in the Grand Final of the opening round in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.
Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor put in a consistent drive for the Desert X Prix Round 1 Grand Final, and while it looked like an outright win was within their grasp they ended the race in second behind Nico Rosberg’s outfit.
After crossing the finish line in first place, RXR received a penalty for speeding under a yellow flag, dropping the team from first to third and ensuring Veloce Racing took the top step on the podium for the first time. ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team finished third on course, but jumped up to second after RXR received their time penalty.
Winners of the series’ first Redemption Race were the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team having seen off championship debutants Carl Cox Motorsport. Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour came out as best of the rest in a race of two halves, as the session was red flagged following racing incidents for Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E and ABT CUPRA XE.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “It feels great. To come back to Saudi Arabia and get my first Extreme E win with this new team, with Molly, and in the country that I had such a career changing accident, this is such a highlight.
“Both of us believe so much in what the engineers and mechanics are doing, so we feel so safe when we get in the car. We believe in what we are going to drive and I think that is also giving some results.”
Molly Taylor, Veloce Racing, said: “I think all of us in the team clicking right from the beginning and developing and improving. We were able to start at a really good level in Uruguay form there they've been really good at bringing the best out of every aspect that we look into.
“Our Team Principal Luc [Alphand] knows what it takes to win. Having that faith in someone like that, who's got the scores on the board, who knows what you're feeling, and knows how to translate that into results, I think that's a real advantage for us.”
Grand Final
As the top five teams from Qualifying took on the first ever Grand Final in Extreme E, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Mattias Ekström seemed to have the better start of the group.
As the Swede swung round the outside, RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson stayed closest to the apex of the corner, and the inside line paid off as he charged to the front of the field.
Veloce Racing’s Hansen slotted into second place behind Kristofferson after an impressive move on the outside saw him pass Ekström and No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganssi Racing’s RJ Anderson. The American then dropped to the back of the pack behind Fraser McConnell in the X44 Vida Carbon Racing ODYSSEY who took fourth.
The front four were nose-to-tail with no team gaining an advantage having all used their ENOWA Hyperdrive at the start. As the Swedish trio broke away, Hansen refused to let Kristoffersson go as Ekström also held them both in his sights.
McConnell began to reel in the cars in front as he pushed his ODYSSEY 21, with No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing out of contention having come to a stop on course. The race was soon over for X44 Vida Carbon Racing as well, as technical issues denied Lewis Hamilton’s outfit a shot at the podium.
Up ahead the drama continued, with Ekström beginning to drop off the pace as Kristoffersson continued to shut the door on Hansen in the Veloce Racing ODYSSEY 21 as the teams entered the Switch Zone.
Following the driver change, Veloce Racing’s Taylor took up the chase as she looked to take the lead away from RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. The Australian looked in with a chance, until she ran wide and dropped time.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky crossed the line in first, with Veloce Racing finishing second and Laia Sanz coming home in third for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. Celebrations were interrupted, however, when Nico Rosberg;’s outfit were penalised for speeding in a yellow flagged zone. The 136-second penalty saw the team drop to third, handing Veloce Racing their maiden victory in Extreme E.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We have had a good start to the championship so I think in the end it was a great day!
“We showed good pace in Qualifying and we got the Traction Challenge points so we are happy as we showed that we can win some races. But the level is crazy and everyone fights so hard so it will be difficult.”
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We are really happy to have finished second today! I’m happy for myself on getting the call from Carlos [Sainz Snr.] but even more happy for him as team boss being here to see us finish second.
“It was all going well until I came to RJ’s [Anderson] car which was a misunderstanding on my part with the slow zone but I will take that lesson with me.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “The team did an amazing job, there were tough fights out there in Qualifying 1 and 2 but the team put the car back together amazingly.
“We were happy to make it the Final. Johan made an amazing start but then I made a mistake in the slow zone. I thought it was 18 for the slow zone not 17, so that was unfortunate of course but in the end a good job from the team.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: “It’s always nice to be on the podium but it’s never the nicest thing to cross the finish line first and not win!
“Given that the track is so rough, its impressive that no cars stopped because of the hard impacts from the bumps so that’s well done to Spark for making the cars so reliable and also well done to our team.”
Redemption Race
The remaining five teams fought it out in the Redemption Race to determine sixth to tenth place in the Desert X Prix Round 1 standings.
A strong start from eventual race winners NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team saw Tanner Foust take the lead ahead of ABT CUPRA XE’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and JBXE’s Heikki Kovalainen, whose impressive Extreme E debut showed no signs of faltering.
An incident at the back of the pack saw the Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E ODYSSEY 21 endure its second roll of the day. As Al-Attiyah shut the door on Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider, the German veered into Timmy Hansen sending his ODYSSEY 21 into a spin and Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E out of the race.
This was the first of three DNFs in the race, as Al-Attiyah also rolled his ABT CUPRA XE ODYSSEY 21 over the top of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team as the Qatari attempted to undercut Foust for the lead.
The remaining trio still on the move avoided the wreckage, with Kovalainen taking the lead in the chaos, and pulled into the Switch Zone as the leader as a Red Flag stopped the race.
As the action got back underway, Gilmour used her ENOWA Hyperdrive immediately to close the gap on Hedda Hösas, but the JBXE team soon dropped to the back before retiring from the race with technical issues, meaning the New Zealander crossed the finish line first ahead of Carl Cox Motorsport’s Christine GZ.
Results:
Grand Final:
1. Veloce Racing 11:56.291
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +16.709
3. Rosberg X Racing +2:08.041 (PENALISED)
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing DNF
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing DNF
Redemption Race:
1. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team 28:55.292
2. Carl Cox Motorsport +5.552
3. JBXE DNF
4. ABT CUPRA XE DNF
5. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E DNF
Championship Standings:
1. Veloce Racing: 26 points
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 21 points
3. Rosberg X Racing: 15 points
4. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 13 points
5. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 11 points
6. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 8 points
7. Carl Cox Motorsport: 6 points
8. JBXE: 4 points
9. ABT CUPRA XE: 2 points
10. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E: 1 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-11 X44 Vida Carbon Racing and GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing win Q1 Heats
Defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing and Season 2 title contenders GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing secured the perfect start to their Season 3 campaign with wins in their respective Qualifying 1 Heats.
Despite both outfits fielding a debutant they secured the top spots in a dramatic Q1, which saw a roll for Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and multiple ODYSSEY 21s missing some bodywork.
Qualifying 1 - Heat 1
As the five teams charged towards the opening corner, it was RJ Anderson in the lead for GMC HUMMER EV, ahead of Extreme E returner Mattias Ekström in the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team car.
Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider slotted into third, with Timmy Hansen and Nasser Al-Attiyah rounding out the pack after the ABT CUPRA XE driver made contact with the back of the Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E car.
Out in front Ekström soon closed in on Anderson, pulling up alongside the American but falling short of the overtake as Anderson clung onto the inside line.
Anderson held off multiple attempts by the Swede before entering the Switch Zone in first, with Scheider, Hansen and Al-Attiyah maintaining their track position not far behind the leading pair.
As Laia Sanz took over the wheel for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, she tried an alternate line, putting the pressure on Extreme E newcomer Amanda Sorensen as they approached the shoreline section.
The move proved too much as the Spaniard ran wide into the water, giving Sorensen the breathing room she needed to take a win on debut for GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing ahead of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team in second.
Klara Andersson suffered a similar fate to Sanz, running wide onto the water as she pushed to close the gap from fifth for ABT CUPRA XE. Ahead of the Swede, a tight battle ensued between Carl Cox Motorsport and Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E as Chirstine GZ and Catie Munnings fought hard for third and those all important points for a place in the Grand Final.
As the tussling pair left the shoreline, Munnings made an aggressive move on the inside of GZ but rolled as her ODYSSEY 21 bounced on an unforgiving bump in the terrain.
The incident put Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E out of the race, ensuring a comfortable third on debut for Carl Cox Motorsport and fourth place for the recovering ABT CUPRA XE team.
Qualifying 2 - Heat 2
Heat 2 was no less action-packed, as the new sporting format delivered excitement from the outset.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E’s Tanner Foust emerged at the front of the pack initially, closely followed by Rosberg X Racing’s (RXR) Johan Kristoffersson as the pair took a wider line into the first corner.
In their rear view mirror, X44 Vida Carbon Racing debutant Fraser McConnell stuck to the inside line of the tight right-hander, and cut through from fourth place all the way to first.
A steady start from JBXE’s Heikki Kovalainen saw the Finn in third, behind Foust and ahead of Kristoffersson in his first Extreme E race.
Having followed the same line as McConnell, Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen was cut off and left to chase down Kristoffersson from fifth place. Hansen soon passed his fellow Swede, making use of his ENOWA Hyperdrive on the shoreline straight.
Up ahead a confident drive from McConnell saw the Jamaican extend his lead, though only just over six seconds separated the pack from front to back. The wheel-to-wheel action behind him resulted in contact between Kovalainen and Hansen as the latter tried to make the overtake.
Returning to the shoreline straight on the second lap, Foust lost time as he dipped a wheel into the water, opening the door for Kovalainen to surge into second place as NEOM McLaren Extreme E dropped to third in front of Veloce Racing and RXR.
The teams entered the Switch Zone in this order, but Veloce Racing’s Molly Taylor managed to leapfrog Emma Gilmour in the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team car. As that tight-knit pack launched out of the Switch Zone, Taylor then got the better of JBXE’s Hedda Hosås to take second place, forcing the Norwegian to take the alternate, and ultimately slower, line.
Behind them RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky stole fourth place from Gilmour right by the water’s edge. The NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team driver then made contact with the RXR ODYSSEY 21 as she tried and failed to take back the position.
X44 Vida Carbon Racing pulled clear to take the win, followed by Veloce Racing in a comfortable second place after a tricky opening. JBXE’s Hosås, coming under pressure from RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky, made use of her ENOWA Hyperdrive to hold onto that all important third place in the Heat ahead of RXR and NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team in fifth.
With Qualifying 2, the Redemption Race and the Grand Final all still to come today, find out where you can watch the action here.
Qualifying 1 Results:
Heat 1:
1. GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing 11:32:914
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +3.384
3. Carl Cox Motorsport +18.663
4. ABT CUPRA XE +2:09.126 (PENALISED)
5. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E DNF
Heat 2:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing 11:32.993
2. Veloce Racing +8.734
3. JBXE +19.100
4. Rosberg X Racing +20.980
5. NEOM McLaren Extreme E +28.728 (PENALISED)
Overall Qualifying 1 Standings:
1. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 10 points
2. GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 10 points
3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 8 points
4. Veloce Racing: 8 points
5. Carl Cox Motorsport: 6 points
6. JBXE: 6 points
7. Rosberg X Racing: 4 points
8. ABT CUPRA XE: 4 points
9. NEOM McLaren Extreme E: 2 points
10. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E: 0 points
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-10 Veloce
Racing quickest in Free Practice as Season 3 gets underway in NEOM
The championship’s ten teams got back behind the wheel in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, along the shores of the Red Sea for what promises to be the most tightly fought season to-date.
The 3.4-kilometre course of the 2023 Desert X Prix will provide many challenges. The sandy terrain will be difficult to manage, while navigating the racing lines as the track develops throughout the weekend will also prove pivotal.
As the drivers got a feel for the course, Extreme E marks an exciting start to its third season with an all-new sporting format. With each X Prix now a double-header, the series’ contenders have even more of opportunity to steal glory from defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, said: “It is always an honour and a pleasure to host these events that are important to us. We’re a big fan of sport and have a lot to offer here, especially for rallying. We also have a lot of plans for the future around sustainability and preserving this environment which provides that backdrop to racing.
“Formula E was the first motorsport that we ever hosted and Extreme E one of the latest, so we hope that shows our commitment to clean energy.
“NEOM is all about attracting people to join us on our mission to develop a better way of living that is sustainable and efficient. We want to diversify our economy and it is our job to preserve the world and provide clean energy. Saudi Arabia is investing into new technologies and NEOM represents the pinnacle of that.”
After all twenty drivers got back into the swing of things in Free Practice 1, the times began to tumble in the second session.
Fastest in Free Practice 2 were Veloce Racing with a time of 11:27.589mins. Having shown promising pace on debut for the team in Uruguay, Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor laid down the marker on the shores of NEOM, with Hansen dominating Sector 3 and Taylor securing the quickest time of all the drivers through Sector 4 in FP2.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “The confidence and spirit within Veloce Racing is extremely high and we’re ready for the Desert X Prix double-header in NEOM.
“This is the best preparation I have had before an XE season, and the team pulled out all the stops with the testing programme in Dubai and with their efforts here in NEOM so far. The ingredients are in place so now we need to go out and execute the plan over the weekend.”
Molly Taylor, Veloce Racing, said: “We’ve already had such a great few weeks of preparation in both Dubai and here in NEOM, and now we can’t wait for the opening rounds of the new Extreme E season to begin.
“The car has felt good during testing and practice, and we’re confident that we can be fighting at the front this weekend.”
Defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing enter the season-opener on the backfoot, with penalties in FP1 and technical issues ending their second run prematurely. With the top four teams separated by just over four seconds across Free Practice, the battle is on to find the performance needed to come away from Saudi Arabia victorious.
Veloce Racing’s nearest challengers were Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E who, off the back of seventh in the championship standings last season, have started the opening sessions of the new campaign strongly with a best time of 11:29.867mins (FP2).
Also setting their fastest time in the second session were ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team who rounded out the top three with 11:30.372. The fastest individual lap of the day came from Mattias Ekström. The Swede returns to Extreme E in place of injured Carlos Sainz Snr. and showed no signs of rust on his comeback to the series.
Coming in a close fourth were Rosberg X Racing as they look to bounce back after a disappointing end to their title fight last season, while ABT CUPRA XE closed out the day in fifth off the back of a maiden victory at the Season 2 finale in Uruguay.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and JBXE finished sixth and seventh, respectively, as their new drivers get up to speed with the ODYSSEY 21 and hope to show their hand as the first round of the Desert X Prix gets underway tomorrow.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E team looked quick across both practice sessions, topping the time sheet in FP1 before failing to record a time in FP2 when Tanner Foust incorrectly entered the Switch Zone instead of completing his final lap.
Making their Extreme E debut Carl Cox Motorsport finished in ninth with a time of 12:05.095 as Timo Scheider and Christine GZ grow accustomed to their new surroundings.
Free Practice combined timings:
1. Veloce Racing: 11:27.589 (FP2)
2. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E: 11:29.867 (FP2)
3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 11:30.372 (FP2)
4. Rosberg X Racing: 11:31.885 (FP2)
5. ABT CUPRA XE: 11:40.273 (FP2)
6. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 11:54.158 (FP2)
7. JBXE: 11:56.093 (FP2)
8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E: 12:00.397 (FP1)
9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 12:05.095 (FP2)
10. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 12:31.374 (FP1)
Extreme E’s Season 3 curtain-raiser promises to be a thriller. Find out where you can watch all of the action here.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
The championship’s ten teams got back behind the wheel in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, along the shores of the Red Sea for what promises to be the most tightly fought season to-date.
The 3.4-kilometre course of the 2023 Desert X Prix will provide many challenges. The sandy terrain will be difficult to manage, while navigating the racing lines as the track develops throughout the weekend will also prove pivotal.
As the drivers got a feel for the course, Extreme E marks an exciting start to its third season with an all-new sporting format. With each X Prix now a double-header, the series’ contenders have even more of opportunity to steal glory from defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, said: “It is always an honour and a pleasure to host these events that are important to us. We’re a big fan of sport and have a lot to offer here, especially for rallying. We also have a lot of plans for the future around sustainability and preserving this environment which provides that backdrop to racing.
“Formula E was the first motorsport that we ever hosted and Extreme E one of the latest, so we hope that shows our commitment to clean energy.
“NEOM is all about attracting people to join us on our mission to develop a better way of living that is sustainable and efficient. We want to diversify our economy and it is our job to preserve the world and provide clean energy. Saudi Arabia is investing into new technologies and NEOM represents the pinnacle of that.”
After all twenty drivers got back into the swing of things in Free Practice 1, the times began to tumble in the second session.
Fastest in Free Practice 2 were Veloce Racing with a time of 11:27.589mins. Having shown promising pace on debut for the team in Uruguay, Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor laid down the marker on the shores of NEOM, with Hansen dominating Sector 3 and Taylor securing the quickest time of all the drivers through Sector 4 in FP2.
Kevin Hansen, Veloce Racing, said: “The confidence and spirit within Veloce Racing is extremely high and we’re ready for the Desert X Prix double-header in NEOM.
“This is the best preparation I have had before an XE season, and the team pulled out all the stops with the testing programme in Dubai and with their efforts here in NEOM so far. The ingredients are in place so now we need to go out and execute the plan over the weekend.”
Molly Taylor, Veloce Racing, said: “We’ve already had such a great few weeks of preparation in both Dubai and here in NEOM, and now we can’t wait for the opening rounds of the new Extreme E season to begin.
“The car has felt good during testing and practice, and we’re confident that we can be fighting at the front this weekend.”
Defending champions X44 Vida Carbon Racing enter the season-opener on the backfoot, with penalties in FP1 and technical issues ending their second run prematurely. With the top four teams separated by just over four seconds across Free Practice, the battle is on to find the performance needed to come away from Saudi Arabia victorious.
Veloce Racing’s nearest challengers were Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E who, off the back of seventh in the championship standings last season, have started the opening sessions of the new campaign strongly with a best time of 11:29.867mins (FP2).
Also setting their fastest time in the second session were ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team who rounded out the top three with 11:30.372. The fastest individual lap of the day came from Mattias Ekström. The Swede returns to Extreme E in place of injured Carlos Sainz Snr. and showed no signs of rust on his comeback to the series.
Coming in a close fourth were Rosberg X Racing as they look to bounce back after a disappointing end to their title fight last season, while ABT CUPRA XE closed out the day in fifth off the back of a maiden victory at the Season 2 finale in Uruguay.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and JBXE finished sixth and seventh, respectively, as their new drivers get up to speed with the ODYSSEY 21 and hope to show their hand as the first round of the Desert X Prix gets underway tomorrow.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E team looked quick across both practice sessions, topping the time sheet in FP1 before failing to record a time in FP2 when Tanner Foust incorrectly entered the Switch Zone instead of completing his final lap.
Making their Extreme E debut Carl Cox Motorsport finished in ninth with a time of 12:05.095 as Timo Scheider and Christine GZ grow accustomed to their new surroundings.
Free Practice combined timings:
1. Veloce Racing: 11:27.589 (FP2)
2. Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E: 11:29.867 (FP2)
3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 11:30.372 (FP2)
4. Rosberg X Racing: 11:31.885 (FP2)
5. ABT CUPRA XE: 11:40.273 (FP2)
6. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 11:54.158 (FP2)
7. JBXE: 11:56.093 (FP2)
8. NEOM McLaren Extreme E: 12:00.397 (FP1)
9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 12:05.095 (FP2)
10. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 12:31.374 (FP1)
Extreme E’s Season 3 curtain-raiser promises to be a thriller. Find out where you can watch all of the action here.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-09 Continental
reveal more robust and sustainable CrossContact tyre for Season 3
Extreme E Founding Partner, Continental, will once again supply a new version of the CrossContact Extreme E tyre for the new season of the pioneering series.
The 2023 campaign begins on 11-12 March in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and in the development of the new tyre Continental placed an emphasis on using an even higher proportion of sustainable materials.
As a result, the new CrossContact Extreme E now consists of around 43 per cent recycled and renewable materials. Among these is silica obtained from the ash of rice husks, a waste material of agriculture. Alongside processed steel and carbon black, Continental is again integrating polyester yarn from recycled PET plastic bottles into the tyre’s construction.
As well as increasing its use of new, more sustainable solutions, the tyre manufacturer has reduced the overall weight of the CrossContact Extreme E tyre by two kilograms. And that leads to emissions savings in the transportation process.
Continental is a founding partner of Extreme E and exclusive tyre supplier to the championship, which is now in its third season.
Nels von Schnakenburg, Technical Manager for Extreme E at Continental, said: “We have focused even more strongly on the use of sustainable and recyclable materials with this tyre and are extremely well prepared for the challenges of the 2023 season.
“We’ve also made further gains with handling performance and have therefore improved drivability. The performance and robustness of the tyre mean it will be able to withstand the full range of challenges Extreme E can throw at it.”
The third-generation CrossContact Extreme E also employs the ContiRe.Tex technology developed by Continental. This includes polyester yarn produced without any intermediate chemical steps from used PET bottles that are not recycled elsewhere. The bottles used for this technology are sourced exclusively from regions which do not have a closed recycling loop.
Continental will supply 30 tyres to each of the ten teams competing in the third season of Extreme E, and each of those tyres will contain polyester from around 60 processed PET bottles. The company currently offers road car drivers three series-produced tyre models with polyester from recycled PET bottles, each in five dimensions: the PremiumContact 6, the EcoContact 6 and the AllSeasonContact all-season tyre.
Together with rubber, fillers like silica are also an essential part of a tyre’s construction. Silica helps to significantly improve characteristics such as grip, rolling resistance and mileage.
In the CrossContact Extreme E, rice husks provide the base material for the sustainably manufactured silica. Rice husks are a waste product of rice production and cannot be used as food or animal feed.
The manufacture of silica is more energy efficient when it is obtained from the ash of rice husks than when conventional materials like quartz sand are used.
The third generation of the CrossContact Extreme E will be used in all five events on the 2023 calendar and has been optimized to deliver maximum performance across all climate zones and on all surfaces. The size, diameter and width of the tyre are unchanged at 37 x 12.50 R17 – which means a diameter of 37 inches, width of 12.5 inches and 17-inch wheel rims.
Continental’s tyre sector is pursuing a holistic approach to sustainability across all phases of the tyre value chain. Continental has set itself the mission of becoming the most progressive tyre company in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
For Continental, circular economy solutions represent an important route to achieving its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality throughout its value chain by 2050 at the latest.
You can see the CrossContact Extreme E Season 3 tyre in action as the first X Prix of 2023 gets underway in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (11-12 March).
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
Extreme E Founding Partner, Continental, will once again supply a new version of the CrossContact Extreme E tyre for the new season of the pioneering series.
The 2023 campaign begins on 11-12 March in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and in the development of the new tyre Continental placed an emphasis on using an even higher proportion of sustainable materials.
As a result, the new CrossContact Extreme E now consists of around 43 per cent recycled and renewable materials. Among these is silica obtained from the ash of rice husks, a waste material of agriculture. Alongside processed steel and carbon black, Continental is again integrating polyester yarn from recycled PET plastic bottles into the tyre’s construction.
As well as increasing its use of new, more sustainable solutions, the tyre manufacturer has reduced the overall weight of the CrossContact Extreme E tyre by two kilograms. And that leads to emissions savings in the transportation process.
Continental is a founding partner of Extreme E and exclusive tyre supplier to the championship, which is now in its third season.
Nels von Schnakenburg, Technical Manager for Extreme E at Continental, said: “We have focused even more strongly on the use of sustainable and recyclable materials with this tyre and are extremely well prepared for the challenges of the 2023 season.
“We’ve also made further gains with handling performance and have therefore improved drivability. The performance and robustness of the tyre mean it will be able to withstand the full range of challenges Extreme E can throw at it.”
The third-generation CrossContact Extreme E also employs the ContiRe.Tex technology developed by Continental. This includes polyester yarn produced without any intermediate chemical steps from used PET bottles that are not recycled elsewhere. The bottles used for this technology are sourced exclusively from regions which do not have a closed recycling loop.
Continental will supply 30 tyres to each of the ten teams competing in the third season of Extreme E, and each of those tyres will contain polyester from around 60 processed PET bottles. The company currently offers road car drivers three series-produced tyre models with polyester from recycled PET bottles, each in five dimensions: the PremiumContact 6, the EcoContact 6 and the AllSeasonContact all-season tyre.
Together with rubber, fillers like silica are also an essential part of a tyre’s construction. Silica helps to significantly improve characteristics such as grip, rolling resistance and mileage.
In the CrossContact Extreme E, rice husks provide the base material for the sustainably manufactured silica. Rice husks are a waste product of rice production and cannot be used as food or animal feed.
The manufacture of silica is more energy efficient when it is obtained from the ash of rice husks than when conventional materials like quartz sand are used.
The third generation of the CrossContact Extreme E will be used in all five events on the 2023 calendar and has been optimized to deliver maximum performance across all climate zones and on all surfaces. The size, diameter and width of the tyre are unchanged at 37 x 12.50 R17 – which means a diameter of 37 inches, width of 12.5 inches and 17-inch wheel rims.
Continental’s tyre sector is pursuing a holistic approach to sustainability across all phases of the tyre value chain. Continental has set itself the mission of becoming the most progressive tyre company in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
For Continental, circular economy solutions represent an important route to achieving its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality throughout its value chain by 2050 at the latest.
You can see the CrossContact Extreme E Season 3 tyre in action as the first X Prix of 2023 gets underway in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (11-12 March).
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-08
Johan jagar tredje raka premiärsegern
Johan Kristoffersson går in i sin tredje säsong i Extreme E med Rosberg X Racing och den andra tillsammans med teamkamraten Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Premiären körs i Saudiarabien.
- Vi har vunnit båda premiärerna i Saudi, men jag kan inte säga att det är min största styrka att köra i sand, menar Kristoffersson.
RXR vann premiärsäsongen av offroad-serien Extreme E 2021, då med Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor som förare i teamets elbil. Förra året såg det länge ut att bli en ny titel, men i de sista deltävlingarna gick det mesta emot och titeln gled Rosberg X Racing ur händerna.
- Vi startade säsongen riktigt bra, men sedan blev inte avslutningen lika bra, medger Kristoffersson, som nu tar nya tag tillsammans med Värmlands-kollegan Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
- Vi får försöka bygga vidare på det vi gjorde ifjol. Ju fler race vi kör tillsammans, desto lättare blir det att förstå varandra. Och så har vi kört lite grann i vinter också.
Årets säsong bjuder på en del nyheter i tävlingsformatet. Alla helger blir dubbeltävlingar, en på lördag och en på söndag, totalt tio tävlingar fördelat på de fem tävlingsplatserna. Det individuella tidskvalet har plockats bort, vilket betyder att det blir heatkörning varje gång.
- Varken jag eller Mikaela har några problem med hjul-mot-hjul-körning, så det blir spännande.
Årets första tävlingsplats är förlagd till området vid Röda havet i närheten av Neom. Efter Saudiarabien väntar Skottland i maj, italienska ön Sardinien i juli, Amazonas eller USA i september innan säsong tre går i mål i Chile första helgen i december.
- Alla startar på noll nu, så det gäller att inte ta alltför stora risker i början av säsongen men ändå samla så mycket poäng det går.
I de konkurrerande teamen har det rört på sig en del i förarbesättningarna. I Acciona Sainz dyker rallycrossbekantingen Mattias Ekström upp medan ännu en RX-förare återfinns på Sébastien Loebs tidigare plats i regerande mästarteamet X44: Fraser McConnell. JBXE har plockat in förre formel 1-föraren Heikki Kovalainen. Gott om kvalificerade motståndare alltså, men Kristoffersson lägger inte så stor vikt vid vilka som sitter i de andra bilarna.
- Vi fokuserar på vårt och det vi kan påverka själva. Målet är att göra allt så bra vi kan.
Johan Kristoffersson går in i sin tredje säsong i Extreme E med Rosberg X Racing och den andra tillsammans med teamkamraten Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. Premiären körs i Saudiarabien.
- Vi har vunnit båda premiärerna i Saudi, men jag kan inte säga att det är min största styrka att köra i sand, menar Kristoffersson.
RXR vann premiärsäsongen av offroad-serien Extreme E 2021, då med Kristoffersson och Molly Taylor som förare i teamets elbil. Förra året såg det länge ut att bli en ny titel, men i de sista deltävlingarna gick det mesta emot och titeln gled Rosberg X Racing ur händerna.
- Vi startade säsongen riktigt bra, men sedan blev inte avslutningen lika bra, medger Kristoffersson, som nu tar nya tag tillsammans med Värmlands-kollegan Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
- Vi får försöka bygga vidare på det vi gjorde ifjol. Ju fler race vi kör tillsammans, desto lättare blir det att förstå varandra. Och så har vi kört lite grann i vinter också.
Årets säsong bjuder på en del nyheter i tävlingsformatet. Alla helger blir dubbeltävlingar, en på lördag och en på söndag, totalt tio tävlingar fördelat på de fem tävlingsplatserna. Det individuella tidskvalet har plockats bort, vilket betyder att det blir heatkörning varje gång.
- Varken jag eller Mikaela har några problem med hjul-mot-hjul-körning, så det blir spännande.
Årets första tävlingsplats är förlagd till området vid Röda havet i närheten av Neom. Efter Saudiarabien väntar Skottland i maj, italienska ön Sardinien i juli, Amazonas eller USA i september innan säsong tre går i mål i Chile första helgen i december.
- Alla startar på noll nu, så det gäller att inte ta alltför stora risker i början av säsongen men ändå samla så mycket poäng det går.
I de konkurrerande teamen har det rört på sig en del i förarbesättningarna. I Acciona Sainz dyker rallycrossbekantingen Mattias Ekström upp medan ännu en RX-förare återfinns på Sébastien Loebs tidigare plats i regerande mästarteamet X44: Fraser McConnell. JBXE har plockat in förre formel 1-föraren Heikki Kovalainen. Gott om kvalificerade motståndare alltså, men Kristoffersson lägger inte så stor vikt vid vilka som sitter i de andra bilarna.
- Vi fokuserar på vårt och det vi kan påverka själva. Målet är att göra allt så bra vi kan.
23-03-08 Excitement
builds for closest Extreme E season yet
When you think of the legendary Carl Cox - you don’t think of a man obsessed with cars, extracting m
New racing format for Season 3 brings double the action with zero additional carbon footprint impact
Lewis Hamilton's X44 Vida Carbon Racing set out to defend their Season 2 title with Fraser McConnell and Cristina Gutiérrez
Legendary DJ Carl Cox and eponymous team aim to start first campaign on a high
New line-ups for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and JBXE
Mattias Ekström races in place of injured Carlos Sainz Snr.
Building on the success of its first two campaigns, Extreme E Season 3 promises to be the most action-packed yet. Double the races and new driver line-ups have set the stage for the tightest championship battle so far.
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing will defend their Season 2 crown, with last year’s runners-up Rosberg X Racing (RXR) looking to reclaim the championship they won in 2021.
The new campaign also marks the return of Mattias Ekström and Christine GZ alongside debuts for Heikki Kovalainen, Amanda Sorensen and legendary DJ Carl Cox’s eponymous team.
The Season 3 opener sees Extreme E return to the familiar grounds of NEOM, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (11-12 March), only this time in a slightly new location. While teams will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, the 2023 Desert X Prix will pose a new challenge set on the shores of the Red Sea.
NEOM is the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to grow and diversify the Saudi economy and position the country as a leader in global sustainable development.
Built from the ground up, NEOM will be a new model for liveability in the face of climate change, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. This will include the world’s first large-scale renewable energy system, pioneering the use of green hydrogen, as well as a world hub for clean energy generation research and innovation.
Beyond being a hub for sustainability, entrepreneurs and business leaders, NEOM is also set to be the home of adventure sports – creating active communities and a host destination for dynamic and challenging sports - Extreme E being among the first.
The opening round Extreme E Season 3 will take place on the shores of the Red Sea close to the location of the 2022 NEOM Beach Games, which hosted over 300 athletes from 25 countries.
The change of scene brings a new challenge for the twenty world-class drivers, ensuring that they will have to be at the top of their game to claim podium positions.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We cannot wait for the third season of Extreme E to begin in NEOM next week.
“Our first two campaigns have been a huge success and this season promises to be the most competitive and closely fought season yet.
“We are going to have some spectacular racing, and to now have a ten-race championship in Extreme E is a tantalising prospect for everyone on board.
"We believe the increased number of races will only enhance our series, starting with the Desert X Prix.”
Championship winners X44 Vida Carbon Racing will return in Season 3 to defend their maiden title, after clinching the victory in Uruguay last November. The team will be fighting for back-to-back titles with Cristina Gutiérrez and new recruit Fraser McConnell, with Sebastien Loeb leaving the team.
The Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix Final went down to the wire, with Lewis Hamilton’s outfit securing championship glory, finishing third in the Final by just half a second.
This sets the tone for a close and competitive campaign this year, which can only be made more exciting by the introduction of a new sporting format.
New Sporting Format
Season 3 will see the calendar double from five to ten rounds, with all race weekends serving as double-headers - showcasing twice the action for minimal additional carbon output.
The new doubleheader format will run as follows:
Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 will both consist of two heats, five cars each. This means four wheel-to-wheel races will determine who comes out on top.
Intermediate Classification Points are awarded for Q1 and Q2, with a single championship point awarded to the winners of each Heat – something that could prove crucial in the closing stages of the season.
This will be followed by the Grand Final, starring the top five teams from Qualifying, with the winner taking the top step of the podium.
The remaining five teams will battle it out in Redemption Race, where all important championship points are still at stake.
The above format will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning two winners will be crowned at each race weekend. It promises to deliver some breath-taking competition, with double the opportunity for wins, podiums, and crucial points across the ten-race calendar, raising the stakes to a whole new level.
Qualifying
Qualifying 1 Heat 1: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Qualifying 1 Heat 2: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Intermediate Classification points are awarded in the Qualifying 1, Heats 1 and 2, on the following basis:
1st 10 points + 1 championship point
2nd 8 points
3rd 6 points
4th 4 points
5th 2 points
Starting positions for Qualifying 1 allocated through a lottery
Qualifying 2 Heat 1: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Qualifying 2 Heat 2: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Starting positions for Qualifying 2 determined by finishing order of the Heats in Qualifying Round 1
Intermediate Classification points are awarded in the Qualifying 2, Heats 1 and 2, on the following basis:
1st 10 points + 1 championship point
2nd 8 points
3rd 6 points
4th 4 points
5th 2 points
Finals
The combined points for each team from Qualifying Rounds 1 and 2 will determine the overall classification at the end of Qualifying for final positions as follows:
Top 5 – Grand Final
Bottom 5 – Redemption Race
In the event of the same points being achieved after Qualifying Rounds 1 and 2, the Team with the fastest Continental Traction Challenge time of the Qualifying Rounds shall be deemed to be the quicker.
Championship Points
1st: 25 points (Winner of Grand Final)
2nd: 18 points (2nd in GF)
3rd: 15 points (3rd in GF)
4th: 12 points (4th in GF))
5th: 10 points (5th in GF)
6th: 8 points (Winner of Redemption Race)
7th: 6 points (2nd in RR)
8th: 4 points (3rd in RR)
9th: 2 points (4th in RR)
10th: 1 point (5th in RR)
Continental Traction Challenge
Still playing a crucial role in the championship fight is the Continental Traction Challenge. The team that sets the fastest time through the allocated sector will win the Continental Traction Challenge and now earn two championship points. This will run for each of the individual race days on Saturday and Sunday.
A team’s Traction Challenge time will be the combination of both the male and female drivers’ fastest time through the allocated sector over the course of a race day as part of the series’ continued ambitions around equality.
GridPlay
With the renewed and intense competition ahead, GridPlay will be crucial at the Desert X Prix.
GridPlay returns in Season 3, with grid positions for the Grand Final determined through the fan voting process. The teams that do not make it to The Grand Final must ‘gift’ their votes to their preferred team on The Grand Final grid. Grid position for the Redemption Race will be defined by the Intermediate Classification results, with the team that finished 6th choosing grid position first, followed by the team that finished 7th, and so on.
Driver Line-Ups
The 10 teams and 20 drivers for the 2023 Desert X Prix are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE – Nasser Al-Attiyah / Klara Andersson
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team – Mattias Ekström / Laia Sanz
Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E – Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Carl Cox Motorsport – Timo Scheider / Christine GZ
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team – Tanner Foust / Emma Gilmour
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing – RJ Anderson / Amanda Sorensen
JBXE – Heikki Kovalainen / Hedda Hosås
Rosberg X Racing – Johan Kristoffersson / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Veloce Racing – Kevin Hansen / Molly Taylor
X44 Vida Carbon Racing – Fraser McConnell / Cristina Gutiérrez
Count Us In
Season 3 is set to launch a new strategy to engage fans and promote sustainability. This season, there will be a single call to action per race, making it a total of five easy-to-follow calls to action over the course of the year.
Fans visit the Extreme E - Count Us In website during the campaign period, take a pledge, and choose which team they support. The pledges will be counted in the form of a team leader board, and the winning team with the highest number of pledges taken by their fans will be announced at the end of the season.
At the end of each race, the team with the most pledges will be awarded a digital award. At the last race in Chile, the Extreme E Sustainability Award will be given to the team with the highest number of pledges taken throughout the season. This new approach is expected to increase engagement among fans while promoting sustainability in motorsports.
Legacy Programme
Beyond the racing, the Desert X Prix will also host Extreme E’s first legacy programme of the campaign. On 9 March, just ahead of the Extreme E opening race weekend, race team personnel, including several of the drivers themselves, will travel to the NEOM Nature Reserve and assist in the release of Arabian oryx, Red Neck ostriches and Arabian Sand gazelle into the area.
This will be pivotal in rebuilding the areas ecosystem, reintroducing species that were originally prolific in these deserts, but have not roamed freely here for over a century. The project plans to have a long-term and revitalising impact on the 25,000 km2 Nature Reserve, helping to deliver the nature conservation of Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). This will be complimented by Extreme E continuing to plant more trees in the region as part of its regreening initiative.
With less than a week to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
When you think of the legendary Carl Cox - you don’t think of a man obsessed with cars, extracting m
New racing format for Season 3 brings double the action with zero additional carbon footprint impact
Lewis Hamilton's X44 Vida Carbon Racing set out to defend their Season 2 title with Fraser McConnell and Cristina Gutiérrez
Legendary DJ Carl Cox and eponymous team aim to start first campaign on a high
New line-ups for No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and JBXE
Mattias Ekström races in place of injured Carlos Sainz Snr.
Building on the success of its first two campaigns, Extreme E Season 3 promises to be the most action-packed yet. Double the races and new driver line-ups have set the stage for the tightest championship battle so far.
Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing will defend their Season 2 crown, with last year’s runners-up Rosberg X Racing (RXR) looking to reclaim the championship they won in 2021.
The new campaign also marks the return of Mattias Ekström and Christine GZ alongside debuts for Heikki Kovalainen, Amanda Sorensen and legendary DJ Carl Cox’s eponymous team.
The Season 3 opener sees Extreme E return to the familiar grounds of NEOM, Saudi Arabia, this weekend (11-12 March), only this time in a slightly new location. While teams will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, the 2023 Desert X Prix will pose a new challenge set on the shores of the Red Sea.
NEOM is the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to grow and diversify the Saudi economy and position the country as a leader in global sustainable development.
Built from the ground up, NEOM will be a new model for liveability in the face of climate change, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. This will include the world’s first large-scale renewable energy system, pioneering the use of green hydrogen, as well as a world hub for clean energy generation research and innovation.
Beyond being a hub for sustainability, entrepreneurs and business leaders, NEOM is also set to be the home of adventure sports – creating active communities and a host destination for dynamic and challenging sports - Extreme E being among the first.
The opening round Extreme E Season 3 will take place on the shores of the Red Sea close to the location of the 2022 NEOM Beach Games, which hosted over 300 athletes from 25 countries.
The change of scene brings a new challenge for the twenty world-class drivers, ensuring that they will have to be at the top of their game to claim podium positions.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We cannot wait for the third season of Extreme E to begin in NEOM next week.
“Our first two campaigns have been a huge success and this season promises to be the most competitive and closely fought season yet.
“We are going to have some spectacular racing, and to now have a ten-race championship in Extreme E is a tantalising prospect for everyone on board.
"We believe the increased number of races will only enhance our series, starting with the Desert X Prix.”
Championship winners X44 Vida Carbon Racing will return in Season 3 to defend their maiden title, after clinching the victory in Uruguay last November. The team will be fighting for back-to-back titles with Cristina Gutiérrez and new recruit Fraser McConnell, with Sebastien Loeb leaving the team.
The Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix Final went down to the wire, with Lewis Hamilton’s outfit securing championship glory, finishing third in the Final by just half a second.
This sets the tone for a close and competitive campaign this year, which can only be made more exciting by the introduction of a new sporting format.
New Sporting Format
Season 3 will see the calendar double from five to ten rounds, with all race weekends serving as double-headers - showcasing twice the action for minimal additional carbon output.
The new doubleheader format will run as follows:
Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2 will both consist of two heats, five cars each. This means four wheel-to-wheel races will determine who comes out on top.
Intermediate Classification Points are awarded for Q1 and Q2, with a single championship point awarded to the winners of each Heat – something that could prove crucial in the closing stages of the season.
This will be followed by the Grand Final, starring the top five teams from Qualifying, with the winner taking the top step of the podium.
The remaining five teams will battle it out in Redemption Race, where all important championship points are still at stake.
The above format will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning two winners will be crowned at each race weekend. It promises to deliver some breath-taking competition, with double the opportunity for wins, podiums, and crucial points across the ten-race calendar, raising the stakes to a whole new level.
Qualifying
Qualifying 1 Heat 1: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Qualifying 1 Heat 2: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Intermediate Classification points are awarded in the Qualifying 1, Heats 1 and 2, on the following basis:
1st 10 points + 1 championship point
2nd 8 points
3rd 6 points
4th 4 points
5th 2 points
Starting positions for Qualifying 1 allocated through a lottery
Qualifying 2 Heat 1: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Qualifying 2 Heat 2: 5 cars with a switch halfway
Starting positions for Qualifying 2 determined by finishing order of the Heats in Qualifying Round 1
Intermediate Classification points are awarded in the Qualifying 2, Heats 1 and 2, on the following basis:
1st 10 points + 1 championship point
2nd 8 points
3rd 6 points
4th 4 points
5th 2 points
Finals
The combined points for each team from Qualifying Rounds 1 and 2 will determine the overall classification at the end of Qualifying for final positions as follows:
Top 5 – Grand Final
Bottom 5 – Redemption Race
In the event of the same points being achieved after Qualifying Rounds 1 and 2, the Team with the fastest Continental Traction Challenge time of the Qualifying Rounds shall be deemed to be the quicker.
Championship Points
1st: 25 points (Winner of Grand Final)
2nd: 18 points (2nd in GF)
3rd: 15 points (3rd in GF)
4th: 12 points (4th in GF))
5th: 10 points (5th in GF)
6th: 8 points (Winner of Redemption Race)
7th: 6 points (2nd in RR)
8th: 4 points (3rd in RR)
9th: 2 points (4th in RR)
10th: 1 point (5th in RR)
Continental Traction Challenge
Still playing a crucial role in the championship fight is the Continental Traction Challenge. The team that sets the fastest time through the allocated sector will win the Continental Traction Challenge and now earn two championship points. This will run for each of the individual race days on Saturday and Sunday.
A team’s Traction Challenge time will be the combination of both the male and female drivers’ fastest time through the allocated sector over the course of a race day as part of the series’ continued ambitions around equality.
GridPlay
With the renewed and intense competition ahead, GridPlay will be crucial at the Desert X Prix.
GridPlay returns in Season 3, with grid positions for the Grand Final determined through the fan voting process. The teams that do not make it to The Grand Final must ‘gift’ their votes to their preferred team on The Grand Final grid. Grid position for the Redemption Race will be defined by the Intermediate Classification results, with the team that finished 6th choosing grid position first, followed by the team that finished 7th, and so on.
Driver Line-Ups
The 10 teams and 20 drivers for the 2023 Desert X Prix are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE – Nasser Al-Attiyah / Klara Andersson
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team – Mattias Ekström / Laia Sanz
Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E – Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Carl Cox Motorsport – Timo Scheider / Christine GZ
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team – Tanner Foust / Emma Gilmour
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing – RJ Anderson / Amanda Sorensen
JBXE – Heikki Kovalainen / Hedda Hosås
Rosberg X Racing – Johan Kristoffersson / Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Veloce Racing – Kevin Hansen / Molly Taylor
X44 Vida Carbon Racing – Fraser McConnell / Cristina Gutiérrez
Count Us In
Season 3 is set to launch a new strategy to engage fans and promote sustainability. This season, there will be a single call to action per race, making it a total of five easy-to-follow calls to action over the course of the year.
Fans visit the Extreme E - Count Us In website during the campaign period, take a pledge, and choose which team they support. The pledges will be counted in the form of a team leader board, and the winning team with the highest number of pledges taken by their fans will be announced at the end of the season.
At the end of each race, the team with the most pledges will be awarded a digital award. At the last race in Chile, the Extreme E Sustainability Award will be given to the team with the highest number of pledges taken throughout the season. This new approach is expected to increase engagement among fans while promoting sustainability in motorsports.
Legacy Programme
Beyond the racing, the Desert X Prix will also host Extreme E’s first legacy programme of the campaign. On 9 March, just ahead of the Extreme E opening race weekend, race team personnel, including several of the drivers themselves, will travel to the NEOM Nature Reserve and assist in the release of Arabian oryx, Red Neck ostriches and Arabian Sand gazelle into the area.
This will be pivotal in rebuilding the areas ecosystem, reintroducing species that were originally prolific in these deserts, but have not roamed freely here for over a century. The project plans to have a long-term and revitalising impact on the 25,000 km2 Nature Reserve, helping to deliver the nature conservation of Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI). This will be complimented by Extreme E continuing to plant more trees in the region as part of its regreening initiative.
With less than a week to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-08 Carl
Cox looks ahead to Season 3 with Off-Track podcast
When you think of the legendary Carl Cox - you don’t think of a man obsessed with cars, extracting mega horsepower or supporting a NZ sidecar team.
But what you do expect is his ability to energise a room, draw attention to whatever it is that he’s passionate about and bring joy to millions - which is clearly evident in this episode.
Carl sat down with James Baldwin to discuss his new gig as an Extreme E team owner, where his love and passion for motorsport comes from and what he’s excited for in Season 3.
The latest episode of Off Track is available for free on all major podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, as well as www.extreme-e.com.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
When you think of the legendary Carl Cox - you don’t think of a man obsessed with cars, extracting mega horsepower or supporting a NZ sidecar team.
But what you do expect is his ability to energise a room, draw attention to whatever it is that he’s passionate about and bring joy to millions - which is clearly evident in this episode.
Carl sat down with James Baldwin to discuss his new gig as an Extreme E team owner, where his love and passion for motorsport comes from and what he’s excited for in Season 3.
The latest episode of Off Track is available for free on all major podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, as well as www.extreme-e.com.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-07 Sir
Lewis Hamilton’s championship-winning X44 Vida Carbon Racing announces
new team direction for Extreme E Season 3
X44 Vida Carbon Racing, the Extreme E team founded by seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, has today announced its Season 3 line-up.
As a Black-owned team, X44 Vida Carbon Racing recognises that motorsport has traditionally been dominated by a narrow demographic, an issue that team owner Sir Lewis Hamilton has long been dedicated to addressing through The Hamilton Commission, his research project in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, and his charitable foundation Mission44.
Off the back of their Extreme E Season 2 Championship win, his race team X44 Vida Carbon Racing now heads into Season 3 of the series with a renewed focus on breaking down these barriers and creating a more diverse and inclusive environment within the sport.
With this new focus, X44 Vida Carbon Racing hopes to inspire a new generation of drivers and fans to become involved in motorsport and push the industry forward, ensuring it is more reflective of the world we live in. Ultimately, the team believes that better diversity and inclusion is the only path towards the long-term success of the sport, with the most talented people chosen for the job, no matter their background.
To achieve these goals, X44 Vida Carbon Racing is taking a holistic look at how the team can create a more diverse and inclusive environment in motorsport by placing opportunity as its top priority.
Initial commitments include:
Partnering with Rodin Carlin to ensure the X44 Vida Carbon Racing team is made up of a diverse group of talented executives, mechanics and engineers, and building a team structure which places developing the next generation of motorsport talent front and centre.
Led by Team Principal Stephanie Carlin, long time Carlin executive and Team Principal of Carlin’s team in the upcoming F1 Academy, the new team structure will include;
Deputy Team Principal Stephanie Travers, an experienced engineer and motorsport executive, known for breaking barriers in Formula 1, including being the first Black woman on a Formula 1 race podium;
Race Engineer George Imafidon, a member of The Hamilton Commission who has worked within X44 Vida Carbon across the inaugural two seasons;
And a number of team members from a range of backgrounds.
Continuing to support Extreme E’s Racing for All initiative, founded in line with The Hamilton Commission findings, which allows each team in the series an additional team member, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity, to get a first step on the career ladder. For Season 3, X44 Vida Carbon Racing will be introducing Calvin Langat who will take on the role of junior engineer.
Using the X44 Vida Carbon Racing platform to champion underrepresented voices, and ensure the world hears diverse perspectives on climate issues.
Working alongside team partners to ensure all activity is inclusive; from working with diverse content creators to tell sustainability stories from around the world – including the global south – to providing storytelling opportunities for the next generation of aspiring social media producers.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, X44 Vida Carbon Racing owner and seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion, said: “I’m so proud of the incredible work that my team has undertaken so far in Extreme E, and I can’t wait for us to take it to the next level this year.
"We know from the findings of The Hamilton Commission that the motorsport industry is an incredibly difficult place to break into, and I hope that X44 Vida Carbon Racing can be a powerful platform to provide opportunities to the next generation. It has never been more important that we, as an industry, take real action to move our sport forward, and X44 Vida Carbon’s new direction is one of the ways I am committing to making that genuine change.”
The new reset will be undertaken in partnership with Rodin Carlin, a name synonymous with rising talent and racing excellence. The team has been winning races and developing motorsport talent across various categories for over 20 years, with their race winning heritage set in British F3, where the team established their foundations in the late 1990s.
Since then, victories in championships such as Formula 2, Formula Renault 3.5, British F4, FIAF3 European Championship, GP3 Series, Indy Lights and even Asian Le Mans Series have cemented the team’s winning reputation. This history of developing talent and younger drivers made Rodin Carlin the ideal partners to join X44 Vida Carbon Racing on their journey as a team that prioritises opportunity, and the next generation.
Stephanie Carlin, X44 Vida Carbon Racing Team Principal, said: "At Rodin Carlin, we are so excited to join forces with X44 Vida Carbon Racing and I am proud to be leading such an inclusive and diverse team into Season 3 of the series. As fits with our ethos at Rodin Carlin, it is a privilege to be able to provide opportunities for up-and-coming engineers, mechanics and technicians, who we believe are truly the next generation of promising talent in our industry."
X44 Vida Carbon are also excited to announce a refreshed driver line up, with up-and-coming Jamaican driver Fraser McConnell joining the team. Fraser, winner of the 2019 American Rallycross Championship, is the most competitively successful Jamaican driver in the history of international rallycross racing.
Making his rallycross debut in 2018, competing in North America’s ARX2 series, he recorded the fastest-out-of-the-box time in his first race and went on to win all of his heat races, starting his first finals in pole position. His maiden international racing campaign came just one year later, with Olsbergs MSE in the FIA RX2 Championship, where he finished 4th among the World’s best young rallycross drivers.
In 2021, Fraser graduated to the supercar class and became the first and only Jamaican to claim a supercar victory in the Rally X Nordic Championship, going on to debut in the Nitro Rallycross Series later that year.
Fraser will be joined by current X44 Vida Carbon Racing driver and reigning Extreme E champion Cristina Gutiérrez for the 2023 season. Gifted Spanish driver Cristina is a promising talent who is rewriting the rulebook for female drivers. Cristina has made history as the first woman to ever win the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, the second to win a stage in the Dakar Rally (2021) and the third to stand on a podium in the Dakar Rally (2022).
Fraser McConnell, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: "I am delighted to join X44 Vida Carbon Racing, and to be part of a Championship-winning team. I am so impressed with Cristina’s performances in the first two seasons of Extreme E and I can’t wait to drive alongside her; I am sure that we will work well together and I hope to learn a lot from her prior experience. It’s never a bad thing to race alongside a World Champion!
“I’m also looking forward to being part of a team that uses its platform to make the world a better place. I have always admired Lewis’s dedication to making our sport more inclusive and opening up opportunities for young talent, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey with him.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: “Following last season’s win, I am so excited to get back on track and give it my all again for the team. Fraser is an exciting young talent and I am looking forward to racing with him this year. I’m also looking forward to meeting the new team, and I feel privileged to be part of the journey towards a fairer, more inclusive industry. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Season 3 of the racing series will continue to see the team race at some of the most remote corners of the planet, to highlight the range of climate issues faced by different ecosystems.
The sport for purpose championship continues on its voyage, kicking off their Season 3 on March 11-12 at the Desert X Prix.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
X44 Vida Carbon Racing, the Extreme E team founded by seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, has today announced its Season 3 line-up.
As a Black-owned team, X44 Vida Carbon Racing recognises that motorsport has traditionally been dominated by a narrow demographic, an issue that team owner Sir Lewis Hamilton has long been dedicated to addressing through The Hamilton Commission, his research project in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, and his charitable foundation Mission44.
Off the back of their Extreme E Season 2 Championship win, his race team X44 Vida Carbon Racing now heads into Season 3 of the series with a renewed focus on breaking down these barriers and creating a more diverse and inclusive environment within the sport.
With this new focus, X44 Vida Carbon Racing hopes to inspire a new generation of drivers and fans to become involved in motorsport and push the industry forward, ensuring it is more reflective of the world we live in. Ultimately, the team believes that better diversity and inclusion is the only path towards the long-term success of the sport, with the most talented people chosen for the job, no matter their background.
To achieve these goals, X44 Vida Carbon Racing is taking a holistic look at how the team can create a more diverse and inclusive environment in motorsport by placing opportunity as its top priority.
Initial commitments include:
Partnering with Rodin Carlin to ensure the X44 Vida Carbon Racing team is made up of a diverse group of talented executives, mechanics and engineers, and building a team structure which places developing the next generation of motorsport talent front and centre.
Led by Team Principal Stephanie Carlin, long time Carlin executive and Team Principal of Carlin’s team in the upcoming F1 Academy, the new team structure will include;
Deputy Team Principal Stephanie Travers, an experienced engineer and motorsport executive, known for breaking barriers in Formula 1, including being the first Black woman on a Formula 1 race podium;
Race Engineer George Imafidon, a member of The Hamilton Commission who has worked within X44 Vida Carbon across the inaugural two seasons;
And a number of team members from a range of backgrounds.
Continuing to support Extreme E’s Racing for All initiative, founded in line with The Hamilton Commission findings, which allows each team in the series an additional team member, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity, to get a first step on the career ladder. For Season 3, X44 Vida Carbon Racing will be introducing Calvin Langat who will take on the role of junior engineer.
Using the X44 Vida Carbon Racing platform to champion underrepresented voices, and ensure the world hears diverse perspectives on climate issues.
Working alongside team partners to ensure all activity is inclusive; from working with diverse content creators to tell sustainability stories from around the world – including the global south – to providing storytelling opportunities for the next generation of aspiring social media producers.
Sir Lewis Hamilton, X44 Vida Carbon Racing owner and seven-time Formula 1™ World Champion, said: “I’m so proud of the incredible work that my team has undertaken so far in Extreme E, and I can’t wait for us to take it to the next level this year.
"We know from the findings of The Hamilton Commission that the motorsport industry is an incredibly difficult place to break into, and I hope that X44 Vida Carbon Racing can be a powerful platform to provide opportunities to the next generation. It has never been more important that we, as an industry, take real action to move our sport forward, and X44 Vida Carbon’s new direction is one of the ways I am committing to making that genuine change.”
The new reset will be undertaken in partnership with Rodin Carlin, a name synonymous with rising talent and racing excellence. The team has been winning races and developing motorsport talent across various categories for over 20 years, with their race winning heritage set in British F3, where the team established their foundations in the late 1990s.
Since then, victories in championships such as Formula 2, Formula Renault 3.5, British F4, FIAF3 European Championship, GP3 Series, Indy Lights and even Asian Le Mans Series have cemented the team’s winning reputation. This history of developing talent and younger drivers made Rodin Carlin the ideal partners to join X44 Vida Carbon Racing on their journey as a team that prioritises opportunity, and the next generation.
Stephanie Carlin, X44 Vida Carbon Racing Team Principal, said: "At Rodin Carlin, we are so excited to join forces with X44 Vida Carbon Racing and I am proud to be leading such an inclusive and diverse team into Season 3 of the series. As fits with our ethos at Rodin Carlin, it is a privilege to be able to provide opportunities for up-and-coming engineers, mechanics and technicians, who we believe are truly the next generation of promising talent in our industry."
X44 Vida Carbon are also excited to announce a refreshed driver line up, with up-and-coming Jamaican driver Fraser McConnell joining the team. Fraser, winner of the 2019 American Rallycross Championship, is the most competitively successful Jamaican driver in the history of international rallycross racing.
Making his rallycross debut in 2018, competing in North America’s ARX2 series, he recorded the fastest-out-of-the-box time in his first race and went on to win all of his heat races, starting his first finals in pole position. His maiden international racing campaign came just one year later, with Olsbergs MSE in the FIA RX2 Championship, where he finished 4th among the World’s best young rallycross drivers.
In 2021, Fraser graduated to the supercar class and became the first and only Jamaican to claim a supercar victory in the Rally X Nordic Championship, going on to debut in the Nitro Rallycross Series later that year.
Fraser will be joined by current X44 Vida Carbon Racing driver and reigning Extreme E champion Cristina Gutiérrez for the 2023 season. Gifted Spanish driver Cristina is a promising talent who is rewriting the rulebook for female drivers. Cristina has made history as the first woman to ever win the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, the second to win a stage in the Dakar Rally (2021) and the third to stand on a podium in the Dakar Rally (2022).
Fraser McConnell, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: "I am delighted to join X44 Vida Carbon Racing, and to be part of a Championship-winning team. I am so impressed with Cristina’s performances in the first two seasons of Extreme E and I can’t wait to drive alongside her; I am sure that we will work well together and I hope to learn a lot from her prior experience. It’s never a bad thing to race alongside a World Champion!
“I’m also looking forward to being part of a team that uses its platform to make the world a better place. I have always admired Lewis’s dedication to making our sport more inclusive and opening up opportunities for young talent, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey with him.”
Cristina Gutiérrez, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, said: “Following last season’s win, I am so excited to get back on track and give it my all again for the team. Fraser is an exciting young talent and I am looking forward to racing with him this year. I’m also looking forward to meeting the new team, and I feel privileged to be part of the journey towards a fairer, more inclusive industry. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.”
Season 3 of the racing series will continue to see the team race at some of the most remote corners of the planet, to highlight the range of climate issues faced by different ecosystems.
The sport for purpose championship continues on its voyage, kicking off their Season 3 on March 11-12 at the Desert X Prix.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-03 Formula
One winner Heikki Kovalainen joins JBXE to partner Hedda Hosås for Extreme
E Season 3
After finishing third in Season 1, Jenson Button’s outfit dropped to ninth in the standings last term – despite securing a podium finish in NEOM Island X Prix I. JBXE will be aiming to bounce back with their new driver line-up in 2023 with their Nordic duo behind the wheel.
Jenson Button, Team Owner of JBXE, said: "Delighted to be announcing Heikki as our new male driver and also to have Hedda continue with the team! To bring such an established name from the world of motorsport and someone I had the pleasure of racing against in Formula One is brilliant for the team and the series.
“Following his move into the world of rally, it was a no brainer for the team to approach him and I’m over the moon he’s agreed to join the team and equally delighted to be keeping Hedda after she has continued to make great progress in the car, she fully deserves her place."
Kovalainen secured his single career victory at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, becoming the 100th driver to win a Formula One race. The 41-year-old becomes the fourth F1 name to enter Extreme E as he joins team owners Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, with whom he is all too familiar.
In his early career, the Finn finished runner-up in the Formula One junior series, GP2, behind Rosberg, while he was a team-mate to Hamilton when competing for McLaren in Formula One during 2008 and 2009 – claiming his sole victory and pole position for the team which now also contests in Extreme E.
Kovalainen raced in Formula One from 2007 to 2013, where as well as McLaren, the Finn represented Renault, Team Lotus, Caterham and Lotus F1 Team, securing four podiums in total.
Following his success in Formula One, Kovalainen switched to the Japanese Super GT series in 2015, winning the championship a year later before changing lanes to take on the world of off-road motorsport full-time.
Driving for JBXE this season will not be Kovalainen’s first outing in off-road racing. That moment came when Kovalainen competed in the Race of Champions (ROC), a feat he would take on five times between 2004 and 2010. His debut saw Kovalainen overcome motorsport legends David Coulthard, Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Sébastien Loeb on his way to victory at his very first attempt. The Finn also won the ROC Nations Cup with Marcus Grönholm in 2006.
Kovalainen's first foray into rallying in Japan came in 2016 and has since competed in the Japan Rally Championship, where he dominated the JN-2 class championship to clinch the title with a round to spare, the Japan Super Rally Series and made his World Rally Championship debut at last year’s Rally Japan in a WRC2 car.
Extreme E’s marks Kovalainen’s latest venture in off-road racing but first time in an all-electric championship, as he teams up with Hosås to take on some of the most challenging environments in motorsport.
Heikki Kovalainen, JBXE, said: "I'm really excited to join JBXE in the Extreme E series in Saudi Arabia! It's a great championship with great teams and drivers so I'm looking forward to competing with them.
“It'll be something new again in my career. After my Formula One stint I've done GTs as well as some rallying and I'm always looking for new challenges and looking forward to giving this a try. It'll be a steep learning curve no doubt but I'm up for it and hopefully we'll get up to speed quickly.”
Currently a Veloce Racing Development Driver, Hosås has competed in Extreme E for JBXE since the double-header in Sardinia last term. Hosås made her series debut at the opening round of Season 2 last year, stepping in for the injured Christine GZ at Veloce Racing in Saudi Arabia, before switching to Jenson Button’s outfit at the next round.
The Norwegian teamed up with Kevin Hansen in the number 22 car and the Scandinavian duo raced to third place in the NEOM Island X Prix I, marking the podium on her debut for JBXE.
Hosås’ early career comprised largely of motocross competition before making the transition to rallycross. More recently, she has been competing in the Norwegian Rallycross Championship and made a guest appearance in the Danish championship in 2021.
Hedda Hosås, JBXE, said: "Super excited to be driving again for my second season with JBXE in Extreme E. To have the support and expertise of both Jenson and Heikki, two ex F1 drivers, will help me to continue my development as a driver.
“NEOM was my first ever race in the series when I stepped in as a reserve driver last year, so incredibly excited to be going back to where it started for me. I'm looking forward to working with my new team mate Heikki, he has a lot of experience from F1 to rally so I am sure he will adapt to Extreme E very quickly."
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer, said: I’m absolutely delighted to see such a strong pairing and how Extreme E has brought in a renowned former Formula One driver into our Championship, I cannot wait to see their journey start in NEOM for the Desert X Prix.
“With crossovers from both worlds of motorsport, this is fantastic to see for our series, reinforcing our approach to building a family with the best of motorsport to tackle climate change.”
Kovalainen will make his Extreme E debut alongside Hosås at the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on 11-12 March.
As part of the all-electric series’ new sporting format, the Finn will have two shots at his first Extreme E victory, as all X Prix weekends become double-headers in Season 3, for double the racing but zero the impact on the environment.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
After finishing third in Season 1, Jenson Button’s outfit dropped to ninth in the standings last term – despite securing a podium finish in NEOM Island X Prix I. JBXE will be aiming to bounce back with their new driver line-up in 2023 with their Nordic duo behind the wheel.
Jenson Button, Team Owner of JBXE, said: "Delighted to be announcing Heikki as our new male driver and also to have Hedda continue with the team! To bring such an established name from the world of motorsport and someone I had the pleasure of racing against in Formula One is brilliant for the team and the series.
“Following his move into the world of rally, it was a no brainer for the team to approach him and I’m over the moon he’s agreed to join the team and equally delighted to be keeping Hedda after she has continued to make great progress in the car, she fully deserves her place."
Kovalainen secured his single career victory at the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, becoming the 100th driver to win a Formula One race. The 41-year-old becomes the fourth F1 name to enter Extreme E as he joins team owners Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, with whom he is all too familiar.
In his early career, the Finn finished runner-up in the Formula One junior series, GP2, behind Rosberg, while he was a team-mate to Hamilton when competing for McLaren in Formula One during 2008 and 2009 – claiming his sole victory and pole position for the team which now also contests in Extreme E.
Kovalainen raced in Formula One from 2007 to 2013, where as well as McLaren, the Finn represented Renault, Team Lotus, Caterham and Lotus F1 Team, securing four podiums in total.
Following his success in Formula One, Kovalainen switched to the Japanese Super GT series in 2015, winning the championship a year later before changing lanes to take on the world of off-road motorsport full-time.
Driving for JBXE this season will not be Kovalainen’s first outing in off-road racing. That moment came when Kovalainen competed in the Race of Champions (ROC), a feat he would take on five times between 2004 and 2010. His debut saw Kovalainen overcome motorsport legends David Coulthard, Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Sébastien Loeb on his way to victory at his very first attempt. The Finn also won the ROC Nations Cup with Marcus Grönholm in 2006.
Kovalainen's first foray into rallying in Japan came in 2016 and has since competed in the Japan Rally Championship, where he dominated the JN-2 class championship to clinch the title with a round to spare, the Japan Super Rally Series and made his World Rally Championship debut at last year’s Rally Japan in a WRC2 car.
Extreme E’s marks Kovalainen’s latest venture in off-road racing but first time in an all-electric championship, as he teams up with Hosås to take on some of the most challenging environments in motorsport.
Heikki Kovalainen, JBXE, said: "I'm really excited to join JBXE in the Extreme E series in Saudi Arabia! It's a great championship with great teams and drivers so I'm looking forward to competing with them.
“It'll be something new again in my career. After my Formula One stint I've done GTs as well as some rallying and I'm always looking for new challenges and looking forward to giving this a try. It'll be a steep learning curve no doubt but I'm up for it and hopefully we'll get up to speed quickly.”
Currently a Veloce Racing Development Driver, Hosås has competed in Extreme E for JBXE since the double-header in Sardinia last term. Hosås made her series debut at the opening round of Season 2 last year, stepping in for the injured Christine GZ at Veloce Racing in Saudi Arabia, before switching to Jenson Button’s outfit at the next round.
The Norwegian teamed up with Kevin Hansen in the number 22 car and the Scandinavian duo raced to third place in the NEOM Island X Prix I, marking the podium on her debut for JBXE.
Hosås’ early career comprised largely of motocross competition before making the transition to rallycross. More recently, she has been competing in the Norwegian Rallycross Championship and made a guest appearance in the Danish championship in 2021.
Hedda Hosås, JBXE, said: "Super excited to be driving again for my second season with JBXE in Extreme E. To have the support and expertise of both Jenson and Heikki, two ex F1 drivers, will help me to continue my development as a driver.
“NEOM was my first ever race in the series when I stepped in as a reserve driver last year, so incredibly excited to be going back to where it started for me. I'm looking forward to working with my new team mate Heikki, he has a lot of experience from F1 to rally so I am sure he will adapt to Extreme E very quickly."
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer, said: I’m absolutely delighted to see such a strong pairing and how Extreme E has brought in a renowned former Formula One driver into our Championship, I cannot wait to see their journey start in NEOM for the Desert X Prix.
“With crossovers from both worlds of motorsport, this is fantastic to see for our series, reinforcing our approach to building a family with the best of motorsport to tackle climate change.”
Kovalainen will make his Extreme E debut alongside Hosås at the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on 11-12 March.
As part of the all-electric series’ new sporting format, the Finn will have two shots at his first Extreme E victory, as all X Prix weekends become double-headers in Season 3, for double the racing but zero the impact on the environment.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-03-01 New
driver line-up for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team as Mattias Ekström joins to
partner Laia Sanz for Extreme E Season 3
1 March 2023, London: ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team have unveiled their driver pairing for Extreme E Season 3, with Mattias Ekström teaming up with Laia Sanz for the Spanish outfit.
The Swede replaces Carlos Sainz Snr., as the two-time World Rally Champion is still recovering from a crash suffered in this year’s Dakar Rally, in which he fractured two vertebrae. Nevertheless, Sainz Snr. will travel to NEOM, Saudi Arabia, to work and help the team throughout the Desert X Prix later this month.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team finished sixth in the standings in Season 1, scoring their first ever podium with third at the Arctic X Prix in Greenland. The Spanish team built upon their first season performance, and had the pace to secure third in the championship in Extreme E Season 2 - reaching four out of the five Finals and finishing on the podium twice – and will be keen to secure that long-awaited maiden victory in 2023.
Joan Orús, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Team Principal, said: “This season is very important for the entire ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. We start the year in a tough situation with the news that Carlos will not be in the car in Saudi Arabia, but we still feel we have found the best possible driver to complete the team with Laia.
“Mattias Ekström is one of the best rallycross, track and off-road drivers in the world, and his illustrious racing record will surely help us further develop as a team. Our aim is to win and we know that we can fight for the title if we all do our work right.”
Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Mattias is the best signing we could have hoped for, for this new season. I know him well and I trust him completely because I know what he is capable of: I believe he is one of the best and most multifaceted race drivers in the world, and therefore it is an honour that he gets to defend the colours of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. I have raced against him in Extreme E and know him as my teammate in Audi in the raids, so I am aware of his potential and strengths.
“I myself will do all I can to help the team achieve its goals. I will be attending the races and supporting them to get the best results we can. Regarding Laia, she keeps growing as a race driver and she knows the team throughout. I would also like to thank Acciona, Santander Private Banking, Asterra and all our sponsors for their trust in this sustainable, egalitarian, thrilling project again.”
Ekström joins the team after a prolific racing career in the Rallycross World Championship, which he conquered in 2016, and the DTM, which he won twice in 2004 and 2007. He is also familiar with Extreme E having raced during the maiden season in 2021, finishing on the podium at the Island X Prix for ABT CUPRA XE, and is a four-time winner of the Race of Champions, securing another victory earlier this year.
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Carlos is one of my childhood idols and since we are teammates in Audi Dakar project, we’ve become friends, so it feels special and even emotional to join his team at Extreme E. With me stepping in for Carlos, it will give him more time to recover from the accident he suffered at Dakar. I also know Laia since my very first Extreme E race and I’ve seen her progress a lot and she has shown her speed on track.
“Even though it was a very late decision to join the team, I will do my best to bring success to ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team this season and I hope we can fight for race wins and titles. I look forward on meeting all the team members in person and working with Carlos as my team boss, as I’m sure it will be a fun and valuable experience.”
Sanz will race for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team once again, and has established herself as one of the best female off-road and Extreme E drivers since debuting in 2021. This will be her third season with the team.
Prior to her switch to cars, Sanz was crowned Trial World Champion 14 times, Enduro World Champion on five occasions, and has finished the Dakar Rally thirteen times in a row between 2011 and 2023. The Spaniard marked her car debut in the 2022 Dakar Rally, and this year finished 14th in the 4x2 traction prototypes class.
The Spaniard finished ninth overall in the 2015 Dakar Rally, achieving the best result ever by a woman in the motorcycle category at the event.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “I am really looking forward to the start of the Extreme E season. I feel like I improved a lot last year, but I haven’t reached my maximum and I am convinced that this season I will be able to contribute even more to the team’s success.
"It will definitely be strange not having Carlos on my side in Saudi Arabia, but his advice will be as important as always to try and achieve the result we all want.
“I am thrilled to be working with Mattias, who doesn’t really need any introduction because he has achieved so much in his long career in motorsports.”
You can find out how ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s new driver line-up gets on at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on 11-12 March.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
1 March 2023, London: ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team have unveiled their driver pairing for Extreme E Season 3, with Mattias Ekström teaming up with Laia Sanz for the Spanish outfit.
The Swede replaces Carlos Sainz Snr., as the two-time World Rally Champion is still recovering from a crash suffered in this year’s Dakar Rally, in which he fractured two vertebrae. Nevertheless, Sainz Snr. will travel to NEOM, Saudi Arabia, to work and help the team throughout the Desert X Prix later this month.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team finished sixth in the standings in Season 1, scoring their first ever podium with third at the Arctic X Prix in Greenland. The Spanish team built upon their first season performance, and had the pace to secure third in the championship in Extreme E Season 2 - reaching four out of the five Finals and finishing on the podium twice – and will be keen to secure that long-awaited maiden victory in 2023.
Joan Orús, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Team Principal, said: “This season is very important for the entire ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. We start the year in a tough situation with the news that Carlos will not be in the car in Saudi Arabia, but we still feel we have found the best possible driver to complete the team with Laia.
“Mattias Ekström is one of the best rallycross, track and off-road drivers in the world, and his illustrious racing record will surely help us further develop as a team. Our aim is to win and we know that we can fight for the title if we all do our work right.”
Carlos Sainz Snr., ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Mattias is the best signing we could have hoped for, for this new season. I know him well and I trust him completely because I know what he is capable of: I believe he is one of the best and most multifaceted race drivers in the world, and therefore it is an honour that he gets to defend the colours of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. I have raced against him in Extreme E and know him as my teammate in Audi in the raids, so I am aware of his potential and strengths.
“I myself will do all I can to help the team achieve its goals. I will be attending the races and supporting them to get the best results we can. Regarding Laia, she keeps growing as a race driver and she knows the team throughout. I would also like to thank Acciona, Santander Private Banking, Asterra and all our sponsors for their trust in this sustainable, egalitarian, thrilling project again.”
Ekström joins the team after a prolific racing career in the Rallycross World Championship, which he conquered in 2016, and the DTM, which he won twice in 2004 and 2007. He is also familiar with Extreme E having raced during the maiden season in 2021, finishing on the podium at the Island X Prix for ABT CUPRA XE, and is a four-time winner of the Race of Champions, securing another victory earlier this year.
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “Carlos is one of my childhood idols and since we are teammates in Audi Dakar project, we’ve become friends, so it feels special and even emotional to join his team at Extreme E. With me stepping in for Carlos, it will give him more time to recover from the accident he suffered at Dakar. I also know Laia since my very first Extreme E race and I’ve seen her progress a lot and she has shown her speed on track.
“Even though it was a very late decision to join the team, I will do my best to bring success to ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team this season and I hope we can fight for race wins and titles. I look forward on meeting all the team members in person and working with Carlos as my team boss, as I’m sure it will be a fun and valuable experience.”
Sanz will race for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team once again, and has established herself as one of the best female off-road and Extreme E drivers since debuting in 2021. This will be her third season with the team.
Prior to her switch to cars, Sanz was crowned Trial World Champion 14 times, Enduro World Champion on five occasions, and has finished the Dakar Rally thirteen times in a row between 2011 and 2023. The Spaniard marked her car debut in the 2022 Dakar Rally, and this year finished 14th in the 4x2 traction prototypes class.
The Spaniard finished ninth overall in the 2015 Dakar Rally, achieving the best result ever by a woman in the motorcycle category at the event.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “I am really looking forward to the start of the Extreme E season. I feel like I improved a lot last year, but I haven’t reached my maximum and I am convinced that this season I will be able to contribute even more to the team’s success.
"It will definitely be strange not having Carlos on my side in Saudi Arabia, but his advice will be as important as always to try and achieve the result we all want.
“I am thrilled to be working with Mattias, who doesn’t really need any introduction because he has achieved so much in his long career in motorsports.”
You can find out how ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s new driver line-up gets on at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, on 11-12 March.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-02-27 Extreme
E reveals supercharged format Season 3 sporting format
As Extreme E Season 3 draws ever closer, the championship is delighted to reveal an exciting new racing format for 2023 – ultimately showcasing double the racing action with no additional carbon footprint.
Each X Prix will now be a doubleheader and play host to back-to-back rounds across the weekend. This means double the opportunity for wins, podiums and crucial points across the ten race calendar over the course of the campaign, crucially without adding any additional carbon footprint, in line with the series’ goals to keep carbon footprint to a minimum.
Likened to ‘Star Wars Pod Racing meets Dakar Rally’, the series devised an innovative format unlike any other for Seasons 1 and 2, delivering some breath-taking competition. Season 3 sees the championship take things even further, with an all-new format designed to bring even more wheel-to-wheel racing out on the course.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “Since launching Extreme E, we have worked hard to improve the level of racing out on course to ensure it is thrilling to watch with plenty of action.
“This new sporting format goes even further to deliver that, with now double the amount of racing action on some of the toughest courses in the world, leaving zero additional impact on the planet.
“To have a ten-race championship in Extreme E is a tantalising prospect for everyone on board and we believe the increased number of races will only enhance our series. We cannot wait for our opening races of the campaign in NEOM to get our biggest season yet underway for 2023.”
Season 3 will feature the pressure of five-car races in both Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. Qualifying Round 1 and Qualifying Round 2 will now both consist of two heats, five cars each. This means four wheel-to-wheel races will determine who comes out on top in what promises to be a nail-biting contest.
Intermediate Classification Points are awarded for Q1 and Q2, with a single Championship point awarded to the winners of each Heat – something that could prove crucial in the closing stages of the season.
This will be followed by the Grand Final, starring the top five teams from Qualifying, with the winner taking the top step of the podium. The remaining five teams will battle it out in Redemption Race, where all important Championship points are still at stake.
The excitement doesn’t stop there, with the doubleheader element, the above format will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning two winners will be crowned at each race weekend.
James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E, added: “We’ve continuously improved the racing spectacle since launching Extreme E, but for Season 3 we wanted to create something spectacular and we feel this new sporting format achieves that.
“At each round, there will be double the opportunity for points and podiums - meaning a lot more to play for at each race weekend, while drivers and teams will have to navigate that racing tightrope of risk and reward to ensure they achieve the maximum result.
“Having a ten race championship should really close up those standings as the season progresses, meaning a thrilling Extreme E campaign should be in store for 2023 and we cannot wait for it to begin.”
Distances for each X Prix course and the number of laps will vary depending on the characteristics of the location, such as the terrain and the environmental conditions. What remains consistent is a driver changeover in the ‘Switch Zone’, taking place at the halfway point.
GridPlay will also be returning in Season 3, with grid positions for The Grand Final determined through the fan voting process. The teams that do not make it to The Grand Final must ‘gift’ their votes to their preferred team on The Grand Final grid. Grid position for the Redemption Race will be defined by the Intermediate Classification results, with the team that finished 6th choosing grid position first, followed by the team that finished 7th, and so on.
The Continental Traction Challenge will be returning in 2023 and will be crucial to the overall points total once again. The team that sets the fastest time, a combination of both the male and female drivers’ fastest times, through the allocated sector will win the Continental Traction Challenge and earn two championship points. This will run for each of the individual race days on Saturday and Sunday.
If any teams are tied in the Qualifying standings, their positioning will be determined by their time in the Continental Traction Challenge - the team with the quicker run through the allocated sector during Qualifying will receive the higher overall position.
An ‘ENOWA Hyperdrive’ boost will also be available to all drivers in the race. Activated when the driver presses a button on their steering wheel, they will enjoy an increase in power for a fixed amount of time – the timing for this will be a key decision.
With only weeks to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
As Extreme E Season 3 draws ever closer, the championship is delighted to reveal an exciting new racing format for 2023 – ultimately showcasing double the racing action with no additional carbon footprint.
Each X Prix will now be a doubleheader and play host to back-to-back rounds across the weekend. This means double the opportunity for wins, podiums and crucial points across the ten race calendar over the course of the campaign, crucially without adding any additional carbon footprint, in line with the series’ goals to keep carbon footprint to a minimum.
Likened to ‘Star Wars Pod Racing meets Dakar Rally’, the series devised an innovative format unlike any other for Seasons 1 and 2, delivering some breath-taking competition. Season 3 sees the championship take things even further, with an all-new format designed to bring even more wheel-to-wheel racing out on the course.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO at Extreme E, said: “Since launching Extreme E, we have worked hard to improve the level of racing out on course to ensure it is thrilling to watch with plenty of action.
“This new sporting format goes even further to deliver that, with now double the amount of racing action on some of the toughest courses in the world, leaving zero additional impact on the planet.
“To have a ten-race championship in Extreme E is a tantalising prospect for everyone on board and we believe the increased number of races will only enhance our series. We cannot wait for our opening races of the campaign in NEOM to get our biggest season yet underway for 2023.”
Season 3 will feature the pressure of five-car races in both Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. Qualifying Round 1 and Qualifying Round 2 will now both consist of two heats, five cars each. This means four wheel-to-wheel races will determine who comes out on top in what promises to be a nail-biting contest.
Intermediate Classification Points are awarded for Q1 and Q2, with a single Championship point awarded to the winners of each Heat – something that could prove crucial in the closing stages of the season.
This will be followed by the Grand Final, starring the top five teams from Qualifying, with the winner taking the top step of the podium. The remaining five teams will battle it out in Redemption Race, where all important Championship points are still at stake.
The excitement doesn’t stop there, with the doubleheader element, the above format will take place on both Saturday and Sunday, meaning two winners will be crowned at each race weekend.
James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E, added: “We’ve continuously improved the racing spectacle since launching Extreme E, but for Season 3 we wanted to create something spectacular and we feel this new sporting format achieves that.
“At each round, there will be double the opportunity for points and podiums - meaning a lot more to play for at each race weekend, while drivers and teams will have to navigate that racing tightrope of risk and reward to ensure they achieve the maximum result.
“Having a ten race championship should really close up those standings as the season progresses, meaning a thrilling Extreme E campaign should be in store for 2023 and we cannot wait for it to begin.”
Distances for each X Prix course and the number of laps will vary depending on the characteristics of the location, such as the terrain and the environmental conditions. What remains consistent is a driver changeover in the ‘Switch Zone’, taking place at the halfway point.
GridPlay will also be returning in Season 3, with grid positions for The Grand Final determined through the fan voting process. The teams that do not make it to The Grand Final must ‘gift’ their votes to their preferred team on The Grand Final grid. Grid position for the Redemption Race will be defined by the Intermediate Classification results, with the team that finished 6th choosing grid position first, followed by the team that finished 7th, and so on.
The Continental Traction Challenge will be returning in 2023 and will be crucial to the overall points total once again. The team that sets the fastest time, a combination of both the male and female drivers’ fastest times, through the allocated sector will win the Continental Traction Challenge and earn two championship points. This will run for each of the individual race days on Saturday and Sunday.
If any teams are tied in the Qualifying standings, their positioning will be determined by their time in the Continental Traction Challenge - the team with the quicker run through the allocated sector during Qualifying will receive the higher overall position.
An ‘ENOWA Hyperdrive’ boost will also be available to all drivers in the race. Activated when the driver presses a button on their steering wheel, they will enjoy an increase in power for a fixed amount of time – the timing for this will be a key decision.
With only weeks to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-02-21 Rosberg
X Racing retains Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson
for Extreme E Season 3
Inaugural Extreme E winners and Season 2 runners-up Rosberg X Racing (RXR) have retained their driver line-up for the forthcoming campaign. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson will be back behind the wheel for the team founded?by 2016 Formula 1™ World Champion Nico Rosberg.
RXR were narrowly denied back-to-back championship honours in the Extreme E Season 2 finale, when victory at the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix last November went the way of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
Mechanical issues at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix meant the team failed to start in an Extreme E Final for the first time. This misfortune in the penultimate round, combined with falling short of a spot in the Final in Uruguay, saw Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Kristoffersson finish just two points behind Season 2 champions Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.
Their pace in the RXR ODYSSEY 21 was never in doubt. Out of the five X Prix in the calendar, the Swedish duo finished as fastest qualifiers three times, and took the top step of the podium twice – at the season-opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and the second round of the Sardinian double-header. What's more, the pair scored the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge in three out of the five race weekends.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “Joining RXR last year was a dream come true. I learnt so much from Johan and the team, so to come back for another season is fantastic. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and give it everything I’ve got. It’s going to be an epic season!”
Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO, said: “I’m super happy that Mikaela and Johan have signed for another season. With the experience and track record of both drivers, we will be prepared for the battle and hopefully make for some exciting action on track. Last year, we sadly didn't take home the championship trophy, but this year we plan on giving it our all!”
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “I am very happy to continue with RXR. I am confident that we can build on our experience and come back stronger than ever. Having Mikaela on my side for another season is an extra motivation. She’s a great person on and off the track and and she has really impressed me with her development and her will to work.”
Kristoffersson, who has now secured five wins for RXR across two seasons, is the most-decorated FIA World Rallycross Championship driver in history and secured his fifth World Rallycross crown in 2022. Since joining World Rallycross in 2014, Kristoffersson has amassed 35 wins and 50 podiums.
Alongside his Extreme E and World Rallycross championship wins, Kristoffersson has won titles in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC), Superstars International Series, and Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. The Swede brings extensive experience and skill in multiple disciplines to his Extreme E efforts, as RXR bid for their second title this year.
Prior to joining RXR, Åhlin-Kottulinsky competed for JBXE, claiming third place in the first-ever Extreme E season. The Swede started her career with Rallycross, before moving to the circuit to become the first woman to win a race in the German Scirocco R-Cup in 2014.
Only four years later, she made history with a race win in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship as the first female driver to ever compete in the series. In 2021, she finished second in the STCC, having secured four wins during her time competing in the championship.
2022 marked a strong season for Åhlin-Kottulinsky in multiple disciplines, with first place finishes in the Rally Jameel and Sprint Challenge Scandinavia alongside third in Nitro Rallycross.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky also continues in her role as test driver for Extreme E’s Founding Partner Continental, helping to develop the CrossContact tyre for the series’ ODYSSEY 21 e-SUVs.
Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s success in the sport was acknowledged last year when both were awarded the Motor Prince Medal, alongside fellow Extreme E driver Timmy Hansen. Åhlin-Kottulinsky is the first ever female driver to receive this honour.
Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky will kick of their Extreme E Season 3 campaign in the NEOM season-opener on 11-12 March.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
Inaugural Extreme E winners and Season 2 runners-up Rosberg X Racing (RXR) have retained their driver line-up for the forthcoming campaign. Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson will be back behind the wheel for the team founded?by 2016 Formula 1™ World Champion Nico Rosberg.
RXR were narrowly denied back-to-back championship honours in the Extreme E Season 2 finale, when victory at the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix last November went the way of Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
Mechanical issues at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix meant the team failed to start in an Extreme E Final for the first time. This misfortune in the penultimate round, combined with falling short of a spot in the Final in Uruguay, saw Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Kristoffersson finish just two points behind Season 2 champions Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez.
Their pace in the RXR ODYSSEY 21 was never in doubt. Out of the five X Prix in the calendar, the Swedish duo finished as fastest qualifiers three times, and took the top step of the podium twice – at the season-opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, and the second round of the Sardinian double-header. What's more, the pair scored the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge in three out of the five race weekends.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, said: “Joining RXR last year was a dream come true. I learnt so much from Johan and the team, so to come back for another season is fantastic. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and give it everything I’ve got. It’s going to be an epic season!”
Nico Rosberg, Rosberg X Racing Founder and CEO, said: “I’m super happy that Mikaela and Johan have signed for another season. With the experience and track record of both drivers, we will be prepared for the battle and hopefully make for some exciting action on track. Last year, we sadly didn't take home the championship trophy, but this year we plan on giving it our all!”
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “I am very happy to continue with RXR. I am confident that we can build on our experience and come back stronger than ever. Having Mikaela on my side for another season is an extra motivation. She’s a great person on and off the track and and she has really impressed me with her development and her will to work.”
Kristoffersson, who has now secured five wins for RXR across two seasons, is the most-decorated FIA World Rallycross Championship driver in history and secured his fifth World Rallycross crown in 2022. Since joining World Rallycross in 2014, Kristoffersson has amassed 35 wins and 50 podiums.
Alongside his Extreme E and World Rallycross championship wins, Kristoffersson has won titles in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship (STCC), Superstars International Series, and Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia. The Swede brings extensive experience and skill in multiple disciplines to his Extreme E efforts, as RXR bid for their second title this year.
Prior to joining RXR, Åhlin-Kottulinsky competed for JBXE, claiming third place in the first-ever Extreme E season. The Swede started her career with Rallycross, before moving to the circuit to become the first woman to win a race in the German Scirocco R-Cup in 2014.
Only four years later, she made history with a race win in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship as the first female driver to ever compete in the series. In 2021, she finished second in the STCC, having secured four wins during her time competing in the championship.
2022 marked a strong season for Åhlin-Kottulinsky in multiple disciplines, with first place finishes in the Rally Jameel and Sprint Challenge Scandinavia alongside third in Nitro Rallycross.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky also continues in her role as test driver for Extreme E’s Founding Partner Continental, helping to develop the CrossContact tyre for the series’ ODYSSEY 21 e-SUVs.
Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s success in the sport was acknowledged last year when both were awarded the Motor Prince Medal, alongside fellow Extreme E driver Timmy Hansen. Åhlin-Kottulinsky is the first ever female driver to receive this honour.
Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky will kick of their Extreme E Season 3 campaign in the NEOM season-opener on 11-12 March.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-02-14 Anticipation
builds with one month to go until Extreme E Season 3
After two years filled with drama, excitement, and plenty of on-course action, Extreme E is set to return with its biggest campaign yet, as the 2023 season begins in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, in a month’s time.
Season 3 will deliver fresh faces, an exciting new team as superstar DJ Carl Cox enters the championship, and even more thrilling wheel-to-wheel action showcased across some of the toughest and most environmentally challenged terrains on the planet.
As the pioneering championship continues to evolve, Extreme E Season 3 promises to captivate on and off the course, whilst delivering on its overall purpose to address climate change through sport, starting with the Desert X Prix on 11-12 March.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, commented: “We are very excited to welcome Extreme E back to the Kingdom for the third consecutive year of action-packed racing. This successful partnership goes well beyond the sporting element, however, as it builds on our shared long-term commitment to build a more sustainable future for all.
"In addition, it perfectly aligns with one of the most important pillars of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to make the Kingdom a leader in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Using our sport for purpose platform, Extreme E truly stepped things up another level last year and delivered some of the best racing action in the series so far. Now, we are ready to go and do it all again, with more ambition than ever before.
“Entering our third season, we are proud to welcome legendary DJ Carl Cox to the party and are excited to see his team, Carl Cox Racing, take on the rest of our star-studded grid. We have such a strong field in Extreme E for 2023, from our championship-winning outfits led by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, respectively, to strong challenger line-ups in the likes of NEOM McLaren Extreme E, Veloce Racing, and ABT CUPRA XE preparing to push competition boundaries.
“We are thrilled to open the season once again in NEOM. The ambition for NEOM and its targets are the same values that we have in Extreme E. NEOM’s principle of sustainability will provide an environment for living in harmony with nature, and all this meets the values of our championship.
“With all this excitement we cannot lose sight of our overall purpose – this championship is a race for the planet. We are determined to build on the success our platform has had in raising awareness of climate issues and we are ready to take things even further as we explore the sustainable solutions that we can all be part of.”
NEOM is the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to grow and diversify the Saudi economy and position the country as a leader in global sustainable development.
Built from the ground up, NEOM will be a new model for livability in the face of climate change, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. This will include the world’s first large-scale renewable energy system, pioneering the use of green hydrogen, as well as a world hub for clean energy generation research and innovation.
Beyond being a hub for sustainability, entrepreneurs and business leaders, NEOM is also set to be the home of adventure sports – creating active communities and a host destination for dynamic and challenging sports - Extreme E being among the first.
The sport infrastructure in NEOM will include the broadest spectrum of sports, from grassroots to high performance. NEOM's ambitions also include a strong focus on environmental conservation, in line with the project's plans to preserve 95 per cent of its natural environment.
NEOM’s involvement in Extreme E grew even further last season, becoming the title sponsor at NEOM McLaren Extreme E. The partnership with McLaren Electric Racing builds on NEOM’s growing involvement in electric motorsport and aims to establish NEOM as an innovative hub for global sport. A multi-year relationship with ENOWA was also announced, NEOM’s energy, water and hydrogen subsidiary, to introduce green hydrogen power to their global sustainable racing series.
ENOWA is the engine room for sustainable energy, water and hydrogen at NEOM. Green hydrogen is widely seen as the most promising green energy carrier for the future. This technology supports the transportation of renewable energy over long distances and the decarbonisation of major industries and infrastructure. Both work to implement innovative green hydrogen-based technologies to not only power the championship towards a 100 per cent “leave no trace” ambition but also to showcase the opportunities around this technology.
The Desert X Prix marks Extreme E’s third event in the region, pursuing the mutual goal of combining sustainability with global sporting events.
Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, added: “We are delighted to welcome Extreme E back to NEOM to kick off the 2023 season. Hosting Extreme E aligns with NEOM’s vision to become a unique host destination in the world for global sport by combining the principles of exciting competition with sustainable best practices."
The opening round of the season will take place on the shores of the Red Sea close to the location of the 2022 NEOM Beach Games, which hosted over 300 athletes from 25 countries.
Teams will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though a very different challenge and location to the deserts of the series’ past two visits to Saudi Arabia.
Many of the drivers will have experienced a shoreline course before, at the Ocean X Prix in Senegal in 2021, but all will have to be at the top of their game to meet the unique demands of this terrain.
NEOM will start the global voyage of Season 3, highlighting the impact of climate change and human interference in one of the most remarkable and remote locations in the world, whilst promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the fight to help preserve the environment and protect the planet.
Alongside returning to Saudi Arabia, Sardinia, and Chile, Extreme E will also make its debut in Scotland, and possibly the USA or Brazil.
With less than five weeks to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
After two years filled with drama, excitement, and plenty of on-course action, Extreme E is set to return with its biggest campaign yet, as the 2023 season begins in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, in a month’s time.
Season 3 will deliver fresh faces, an exciting new team as superstar DJ Carl Cox enters the championship, and even more thrilling wheel-to-wheel action showcased across some of the toughest and most environmentally challenged terrains on the planet.
As the pioneering championship continues to evolve, Extreme E Season 3 promises to captivate on and off the course, whilst delivering on its overall purpose to address climate change through sport, starting with the Desert X Prix on 11-12 March.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company, commented: “We are very excited to welcome Extreme E back to the Kingdom for the third consecutive year of action-packed racing. This successful partnership goes well beyond the sporting element, however, as it builds on our shared long-term commitment to build a more sustainable future for all.
"In addition, it perfectly aligns with one of the most important pillars of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to make the Kingdom a leader in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “Using our sport for purpose platform, Extreme E truly stepped things up another level last year and delivered some of the best racing action in the series so far. Now, we are ready to go and do it all again, with more ambition than ever before.
“Entering our third season, we are proud to welcome legendary DJ Carl Cox to the party and are excited to see his team, Carl Cox Racing, take on the rest of our star-studded grid. We have such a strong field in Extreme E for 2023, from our championship-winning outfits led by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, respectively, to strong challenger line-ups in the likes of NEOM McLaren Extreme E, Veloce Racing, and ABT CUPRA XE preparing to push competition boundaries.
“We are thrilled to open the season once again in NEOM. The ambition for NEOM and its targets are the same values that we have in Extreme E. NEOM’s principle of sustainability will provide an environment for living in harmony with nature, and all this meets the values of our championship.
“With all this excitement we cannot lose sight of our overall purpose – this championship is a race for the planet. We are determined to build on the success our platform has had in raising awareness of climate issues and we are ready to take things even further as we explore the sustainable solutions that we can all be part of.”
NEOM is the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to grow and diversify the Saudi economy and position the country as a leader in global sustainable development.
Built from the ground up, NEOM will be a new model for livability in the face of climate change, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation. This will include the world’s first large-scale renewable energy system, pioneering the use of green hydrogen, as well as a world hub for clean energy generation research and innovation.
Beyond being a hub for sustainability, entrepreneurs and business leaders, NEOM is also set to be the home of adventure sports – creating active communities and a host destination for dynamic and challenging sports - Extreme E being among the first.
The sport infrastructure in NEOM will include the broadest spectrum of sports, from grassroots to high performance. NEOM's ambitions also include a strong focus on environmental conservation, in line with the project's plans to preserve 95 per cent of its natural environment.
NEOM’s involvement in Extreme E grew even further last season, becoming the title sponsor at NEOM McLaren Extreme E. The partnership with McLaren Electric Racing builds on NEOM’s growing involvement in electric motorsport and aims to establish NEOM as an innovative hub for global sport. A multi-year relationship with ENOWA was also announced, NEOM’s energy, water and hydrogen subsidiary, to introduce green hydrogen power to their global sustainable racing series.
ENOWA is the engine room for sustainable energy, water and hydrogen at NEOM. Green hydrogen is widely seen as the most promising green energy carrier for the future. This technology supports the transportation of renewable energy over long distances and the decarbonisation of major industries and infrastructure. Both work to implement innovative green hydrogen-based technologies to not only power the championship towards a 100 per cent “leave no trace” ambition but also to showcase the opportunities around this technology.
The Desert X Prix marks Extreme E’s third event in the region, pursuing the mutual goal of combining sustainability with global sporting events.
Jan Paterson, Managing Director of Sport at NEOM, added: “We are delighted to welcome Extreme E back to NEOM to kick off the 2023 season. Hosting Extreme E aligns with NEOM’s vision to become a unique host destination in the world for global sport by combining the principles of exciting competition with sustainable best practices."
The opening round of the season will take place on the shores of the Red Sea close to the location of the 2022 NEOM Beach Games, which hosted over 300 athletes from 25 countries.
Teams will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though a very different challenge and location to the deserts of the series’ past two visits to Saudi Arabia.
Many of the drivers will have experienced a shoreline course before, at the Ocean X Prix in Senegal in 2021, but all will have to be at the top of their game to meet the unique demands of this terrain.
NEOM will start the global voyage of Season 3, highlighting the impact of climate change and human interference in one of the most remarkable and remote locations in the world, whilst promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the fight to help preserve the environment and protect the planet.
Alongside returning to Saudi Arabia, Sardinia, and Chile, Extreme E will also make its debut in Scotland, and possibly the USA or Brazil.
With less than five weeks to go until the opening X Prix of the campaign, Extreme E Season 3 is all set to be another spectacular campaign.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-02-07 Turning
racing tyres into living space: Founding Partner Continental opens basketball
court made from recycled Extreme E tyres
Founding Partner of Extreme E, Continental Tyres, has opened a cutting-edge and sustainably built basketball court in the Linden-Süd district of Hanover, Germany.
This is no ordinary court – the innovative new build has been constructed using 200 recycled racing tyres from the first season of the Extreme E electric racing series, which Continental supports as a main sponsor.
Since its inception, a core value of Extreme E and its supporting partners has been sustainability, which has been actioned through examples such as electrification, legacy programmes, and a Scientific Committee. Being able to give new life to these old racing tyres is a further impactful development to this goal and demonstrates the significance of a major manufacturer adapting to match a purpose driven mission.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted with this initiative from our partner Continental, which pushes the boundaries of how we can re-purpose resources in a way that will benefit so many people.
“Over the past two Extreme E season campaigns, it has become clear that both creative thinking and a great deal of ingenuity is required to deliver the solutions necessary to combat the climate crisis. This fantastic initiative certainly achieves that.”
Continental’s partnership with Extreme E has already seen the launch of two generations of the pioneering CrossContact racing tyre – credited as a fundamental development in pushing the boundaries in tyre technology.
In its second year of partnership, Continental launched its most sustainable tyre ever, the second generation of the Extreme E CrossContact.
The application of old PET bottles, making up 100% of the tyre carcass, and a new silica material created from rice husks, a waste product from agriculture, pushes the boundaries in tyre technology ahead of plans to integrate the new technology into volume production of various Continental premium tyres later this year.
This high-level basketball court has taken this innovation one step further, turning old tyres into the foundation of the sporting and social space, in line with the aim of “turning racing tyres into living space”. This, in sum, strives to give people a lively place to play, burn off energy, and train.
Christian Kötz, Member of the Executive Board Tires at Continental, said: “These tyres raced in Saudi Arabia, Greenland, and Senegal. Now, in the form of a basketball court, they are helping to bring young people together and get them excited about sport.
“We’re delighted that the Extreme E tyres are getting a second life after the end of their racing career. Circularity – in this case the reuse and continued use of tyres – is an important area, and one in which Continental is working hard.”
The court was created as part of a collaboration between the city of Hanover, property construction company Hanova, the BasKIDball project, the VIA Linden, and Serve the City Hannover associations and the SV Linden 07 club, on whose premises the half-court has been built. Elastomer processing company REGUPOL handled the transformation of the tyres into rubber paving blocks, and the court was assembled by Hanover-based company Kretschmer.
Belit Onay, Hanover’s Mayor, added: “We would like to thank Continental and all those involved for this new basketball court, which creates a new space for kids and young people and brings sport and sustainability together in the same conversation.
“Initiatives like this show what is possible when so many people help to turn a community project into reality in our city. I’m grateful for all their contributions.”
Christian Kötz and Belit Onay led the official opening. After the first few passes on the court, Kötz and Onay then handed it over to the children from the BasKIDball project, a Germany-wide initiative that aims to use sport to break through barriers and shine the spotlight on the social side of group participation.
BasKIDball stands for values such as team spirit and trust, health, and fairness. With the social aspect playing a central role, it is fitting that Continental will support this approach with the help of Extreme E resources, as all involved stand for progression, sustainability and equality.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
Founding Partner of Extreme E, Continental Tyres, has opened a cutting-edge and sustainably built basketball court in the Linden-Süd district of Hanover, Germany.
This is no ordinary court – the innovative new build has been constructed using 200 recycled racing tyres from the first season of the Extreme E electric racing series, which Continental supports as a main sponsor.
Since its inception, a core value of Extreme E and its supporting partners has been sustainability, which has been actioned through examples such as electrification, legacy programmes, and a Scientific Committee. Being able to give new life to these old racing tyres is a further impactful development to this goal and demonstrates the significance of a major manufacturer adapting to match a purpose driven mission.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted with this initiative from our partner Continental, which pushes the boundaries of how we can re-purpose resources in a way that will benefit so many people.
“Over the past two Extreme E season campaigns, it has become clear that both creative thinking and a great deal of ingenuity is required to deliver the solutions necessary to combat the climate crisis. This fantastic initiative certainly achieves that.”
Continental’s partnership with Extreme E has already seen the launch of two generations of the pioneering CrossContact racing tyre – credited as a fundamental development in pushing the boundaries in tyre technology.
In its second year of partnership, Continental launched its most sustainable tyre ever, the second generation of the Extreme E CrossContact.
The application of old PET bottles, making up 100% of the tyre carcass, and a new silica material created from rice husks, a waste product from agriculture, pushes the boundaries in tyre technology ahead of plans to integrate the new technology into volume production of various Continental premium tyres later this year.
This high-level basketball court has taken this innovation one step further, turning old tyres into the foundation of the sporting and social space, in line with the aim of “turning racing tyres into living space”. This, in sum, strives to give people a lively place to play, burn off energy, and train.
Christian Kötz, Member of the Executive Board Tires at Continental, said: “These tyres raced in Saudi Arabia, Greenland, and Senegal. Now, in the form of a basketball court, they are helping to bring young people together and get them excited about sport.
“We’re delighted that the Extreme E tyres are getting a second life after the end of their racing career. Circularity – in this case the reuse and continued use of tyres – is an important area, and one in which Continental is working hard.”
The court was created as part of a collaboration between the city of Hanover, property construction company Hanova, the BasKIDball project, the VIA Linden, and Serve the City Hannover associations and the SV Linden 07 club, on whose premises the half-court has been built. Elastomer processing company REGUPOL handled the transformation of the tyres into rubber paving blocks, and the court was assembled by Hanover-based company Kretschmer.
Belit Onay, Hanover’s Mayor, added: “We would like to thank Continental and all those involved for this new basketball court, which creates a new space for kids and young people and brings sport and sustainability together in the same conversation.
“Initiatives like this show what is possible when so many people help to turn a community project into reality in our city. I’m grateful for all their contributions.”
Christian Kötz and Belit Onay led the official opening. After the first few passes on the court, Kötz and Onay then handed it over to the children from the BasKIDball project, a Germany-wide initiative that aims to use sport to break through barriers and shine the spotlight on the social side of group participation.
BasKIDball stands for values such as team spirit and trust, health, and fairness. With the social aspect playing a central role, it is fitting that Continental will support this approach with the help of Extreme E resources, as all involved stand for progression, sustainability and equality.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
23-01-27 ABT
CUPRA XE confirms Klara Andersson and Nasser Al-Attiyah for Extreme E Season
3ABT CUPRA XE have confirmed that Klara Andersson will be continuing
alongside five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah for the team in Extreme
E Season 3.
The young Swede secures her spot after two impressive performances at the end of last season whilst deputising for Jutta Kleinschmidt. A podium finish on debut at the penultimate round in Chile, and the team’s maiden victory at the season finale in Uruguay, saw Andersson and ABT CUPRA XE finish the year as they mean to go on.
Having completed its second season, which culminated in sixth-place in the championship standings, the ABT CUPRA XE team is focused on achieving more podiums in its third Extreme E campaign in 2023.
Klara Andersson, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “I am super excited to join ABT CUPRA XE for the full Extreme E season in 2023.
“It is an amazing team - I have done two races already for ABT CUPRA XE stepping in for Jutta, and those went very well. I am extremely excited to join full-time and race alongside Nasser again. He’s an amazing driver and person overall, and so I am really happy to continue the momentum that we got last year in Chile and Uruguay.?
“We want to fight for the Extreme E title. That’s what every team wants and we will do our best to perform as well as we can."
Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT CUPRA XE, said: "We are ready for the 2023 season and I am really happy that Klara is joining me behind the wheel at ABT CUPRA XE.
"I am very excited and really looking forward to fighting for the championship this year. We have updated the livery - which looks amazing - and we are ready to drive, get out there on track and take some wins for the team."
The Swedish-Qatari duo will be looking to make an impact, and a new livery for their ODYSSEY 21 will certainly be turning heads. A multi-layered and chameleonic body colour, combining a deep purple and neon yellow, will take to the Extreme E grid for Season 3.
This season, the team’s car features an updated livery to match the UrbanRebel, the ABT CUPRA GEN3 Formula E car and the CUPRA e-Racer. This is testament to how Extreme E is enhancing CUPRA’s electrification research while promoting electrification, sustainability, environmental awareness, and gender equality.
The Tavascan XE hints at CUPRA’s design for the future series production CUPRA Tavascan, the brand’s second 100% electric model, which will hit European and overseas markets in 2024.
Xavi Serra, Head of CUPRA Racing, said: “Our second season saw us make serious progress in terms of understanding how we work best as a team. We ended the season with a run of strong results, and we’re keen to build on that. Our goals are clear: We are here to fight for the titles. Adding Klara to the team provides race win experience, and I can’t wait to see both her and Nasser out competing once more.”
Now in his second season for ABT CUPRA XE, five-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah continues alongside World RX rising star Andersson.
Al-Attiyah has seen great success during his time in motorsport, becoming the 2006 Production World Rally Champion, WRC-2 Champion in 2014 and 2015, a 16-time Middle East Rally Champion, five times winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross-County Rallies, and winner of the Dakar in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022 and this year’s 2023 edition.
Getting behind the wheel at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix marked a long-awaited series debut for the Swedish protégé, having made her first appearance at the Season 1 Rookie Test with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
As well as competing in Extreme E last year, Andersson enjoyed a strong 2022 season. The 22-year-old currently competes in World RX as the first permanent female competitor in WRX history with Construction Equipment Dealer Team.
Andersson recorded her best WRX result to date by finishing third in Portugal – becoming the first-ever female driver to step on the podium in the championship's history.
The Tavascan XE complete with new livery will be showcased with Andersson behind the wheel during the Race of Champions this weekend (28-29 January) in Pite Havsbad, Sweden.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
The young Swede secures her spot after two impressive performances at the end of last season whilst deputising for Jutta Kleinschmidt. A podium finish on debut at the penultimate round in Chile, and the team’s maiden victory at the season finale in Uruguay, saw Andersson and ABT CUPRA XE finish the year as they mean to go on.
Having completed its second season, which culminated in sixth-place in the championship standings, the ABT CUPRA XE team is focused on achieving more podiums in its third Extreme E campaign in 2023.
Klara Andersson, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “I am super excited to join ABT CUPRA XE for the full Extreme E season in 2023.
“It is an amazing team - I have done two races already for ABT CUPRA XE stepping in for Jutta, and those went very well. I am extremely excited to join full-time and race alongside Nasser again. He’s an amazing driver and person overall, and so I am really happy to continue the momentum that we got last year in Chile and Uruguay.?
“We want to fight for the Extreme E title. That’s what every team wants and we will do our best to perform as well as we can."
Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT CUPRA XE, said: "We are ready for the 2023 season and I am really happy that Klara is joining me behind the wheel at ABT CUPRA XE.
"I am very excited and really looking forward to fighting for the championship this year. We have updated the livery - which looks amazing - and we are ready to drive, get out there on track and take some wins for the team."
The Swedish-Qatari duo will be looking to make an impact, and a new livery for their ODYSSEY 21 will certainly be turning heads. A multi-layered and chameleonic body colour, combining a deep purple and neon yellow, will take to the Extreme E grid for Season 3.
This season, the team’s car features an updated livery to match the UrbanRebel, the ABT CUPRA GEN3 Formula E car and the CUPRA e-Racer. This is testament to how Extreme E is enhancing CUPRA’s electrification research while promoting electrification, sustainability, environmental awareness, and gender equality.
The Tavascan XE hints at CUPRA’s design for the future series production CUPRA Tavascan, the brand’s second 100% electric model, which will hit European and overseas markets in 2024.
Xavi Serra, Head of CUPRA Racing, said: “Our second season saw us make serious progress in terms of understanding how we work best as a team. We ended the season with a run of strong results, and we’re keen to build on that. Our goals are clear: We are here to fight for the titles. Adding Klara to the team provides race win experience, and I can’t wait to see both her and Nasser out competing once more.”
Now in his second season for ABT CUPRA XE, five-time Dakar winner Al-Attiyah continues alongside World RX rising star Andersson.
Al-Attiyah has seen great success during his time in motorsport, becoming the 2006 Production World Rally Champion, WRC-2 Champion in 2014 and 2015, a 16-time Middle East Rally Champion, five times winner of the FIA World Cup for Cross-County Rallies, and winner of the Dakar in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022 and this year’s 2023 edition.
Getting behind the wheel at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix marked a long-awaited series debut for the Swedish protégé, having made her first appearance at the Season 1 Rookie Test with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
As well as competing in Extreme E last year, Andersson enjoyed a strong 2022 season. The 22-year-old currently competes in World RX as the first permanent female competitor in WRX history with Construction Equipment Dealer Team.
Andersson recorded her best WRX result to date by finishing third in Portugal – becoming the first-ever female driver to step on the podium in the championship's history.
The Tavascan XE complete with new livery will be showcased with Andersson behind the wheel during the Race of Champions this weekend (28-29 January) in Pite Havsbad, Sweden.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit - www.Extreme-E.com
