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| PHOTO CREDIT: Extreme E. |
So, what is Extreme E all about? It’s quite simple, really. Extreme E is a radical new off-road racing series with an aim to highlight the impact of climate change on some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest or the Arctic.
In parallel to the racing spectacle, the series will run a “legacy programme” with the intent to provide social and environmental support for the locations visited by the series.
The Extreme E series is also a gamechanger with regards to gender quality, as they have mandated that all teams must have a female and a male driver who share equal driving duties. A first of its kind in motorsport these days, which is a real step in the right direction.
THE SUV (car) – ODYSSEY 21
The ODYSSEY 21 is an electric off-road competition SUV specially designed for use in the Extreme E series, a proposed class of auto racing that only uses electric vehicles to race off-road in remote parts of the world.
So, let’s dive a bit deeper into the ODYSSEY 21 SUV. The vehicle's power peaks at 400kw (550hp) with an output capable of firing the 1650-kilogram, 2.3-metres wide car from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds.
Each SUV comprises a common package of standardized parts, including a powertrain manufactured by Spark Racing Technology with a battery produced by Williams Advanced Engineering. The chassis encompasses a Niobium-reinforced steel alloy tubular frame, as well as the crash structure and roll cage, whilst tyres to suit the extreme conditions will be supplied by Continental Tyres.
ROUND ONE – AlUla, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia will host Extreme E's first-ever race, the Desert X Prix, on April 3 and 4 at the breathtaking destination of AlUla. The Desert X Prix circuit map will be revealed on Friday afternoon on the Extreme E social media pages.
“Extreme E is a much-anticipated racing series being launched to showcase the uncompromising ability of environmentally friendly technology to power automobiles across the most challenging terrains worldwide,” Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said.
“We chose to organise our first ever race in AlUla, with the aim to shed light on the threats presented by desertification. The magnificent sand dunes and breathtaking views of AlUla will represent the perfect backdrop to showcase the exploits of the innovative engineering masterpieces and the world-class driving capabilities taking part in the competition.”
THE X PRIX FORMAT
Each X Prix Race Weekend will include two days of short, sharp wheel-to-wheel action-packed racing, with world-class drivers and teams, and the ODYSSEY 21 electric SUV, with its five formidable racing environments, all firmly in focus.
RACE WEEKEND FORMAT
Two days of racing – Saturday and Sunday.
- Each team races twice on Saturday, in Qualifying Round 1 and Qualifying Round 2.
- Semi-Final 1 and Semi-Final 2 (Crazy Race) and Final on Sunday.
- Each race is two laps – one lap driven by the female and one lap driven by the male.
- All results based on race finishing position, not race time.
Let’s dive deeper into the weekend format.
The Saturday Race Format:
- Four races are held on Saturday:
- Qualifying Round 1 (two races)
- Qualifying Round 2 (two races).
Qualifying Round 1, Race 1 will field five cars, and Qualifying Round 1, Race 2 will have four cars competing.
Choice of starting position for Qualifying Round 1 based on a lottery draw.
Saturday event points for each race (to calculate Sunday starting positions):
1st: 4 points
2nd: 3 points
3rd: 2 point
4th: 1 point
5th: 0 point
The top four-point scorers after Saturday’s races qualify for Semi-Final 1 and the remaining five teams qualify for Semi-Final 2 (Crazy Race).
The Sunday Race Format:
- Three races held on Sunday: Semi-Final 1, Semi-Final 2 (Crazy Race), and the Final.
- Four cars in Semi-Final 1 and five cars in Semi-Final 2 – the Crazy Race - and the Final.
- Choice of grid starting position for Semi-Finals based on points order after Qualifying rounds.
- The top three teams from Semi-Final 1 and the first and second-placed teams from Semi-Final 2 / the Crazy Race qualify for the Final.
- The starting position for the Final will be decided by fans through the GridPlay voting system.
- Standby team for the Final to be the fourth-placed team in Semi-Final 1.
So, how does the points system actually work in Extreme E? After the Final, points for the Drivers and Teams Championship will be allocated according to the list, below:
1st: 25 points
2nd: 15 points
3rd: 10 points
4th: 7 points
5th: 6 points
6th: 5 points
7th: 4 points
8th: 3 points
9th: 2 points
10th: 1 point
*If a team is disqualified from a Semi-Final or Final they will receive no points for that race.
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| PHOTO CREDIT: Extreme E |
THE TEAMS
There are nine teams and 18 drivers competing in the inaugural Extreme E series, ranging from circuit racing to off-road icons, namely: Sébastien Loeb, Laia Sanz, Carlos Sainz, and Sara Price, etc.
The teams and drivers are listed below:
• ABT CUPRA XE
DRIVERS: Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen.
• ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team
DRIVERS: Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz.
• ANDRETTI UNITED EXTREME E
DRIVERS: Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings.
• Hispano Suiza XITE ENERGY TEAM
DRIVERS: Christine Giampaoli Zonca and Oliver Bennett.
• JBXE
DRIVERS: Jenson Button and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky.
• Rosberg Xtreme Racing
DRIVERS: Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor.
• Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing
DRIVERS: Sara Price and Kyle Leduc.
• VELOCE RACING
DRIVERS: Jamie Chadwick and Stephane Sarrazin.
• X44
DRIVERS: Cristina Gutiérrez and Sébastien Loeb.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE (South Africa only)
Friday, 2 April 2021
06:00 to 16:20 - Extreme E – Shakedown (Saudi Arabia) - SSM and SSM Africa
Saturday, 3 April 2021
08:00 to 09:30 - Extreme E - Round 1: Qualifying 1 & 2 - SSM and SSM Africa
13:00 to 14:30 – Extreme E - Round 1: Qualifying 3 & 4 – SSM and SSM Africa
Sunday, 4 April 2021
08:00 to 09:30 – Extreme E - Semi-final & Crazy Race – SSM and SSM Africa
12:00 to 13:30 - Extreme E – Race – SSM and SSM Africa
[Broadcast Times provided by SuperSport]
