‘Extreme E’ Off-Road SUV Racing Is Coming in 2021
The rugged new racing series aims to deliver adrenaline-pumping automotive action while promoting adoption of electric vehicles.
The first season of Extreme E, an all-electric off-road racing series, will officially kick off in January of 2021. Alejandro Agag is the man behind the rugged—but environmentally-minded—championship. Motorsports fans know him as the founder of the fast-growing Formula E series.
“I had no idea what this journey was going to be like when we embarked on it a few months ago,” Agag said in a press release. “I’ve been to five of the most spectacular, remote locations on the planet; each facing issues at the hands of climate change and human activity. It has been a life-lesson.”
Extreme E 2021 will include five contests that span four continents in choice locations. The series doesn’t just promise to deliver adrenaline-pumping automotive action, but also highlight the impact of climate change and human activity while promoting the adoption of EVs.
First up is the Ocean leg, which will task drivers with navigating sand bars, salt beds, gravel and rocks on the Lac Rose shores off the West Coast of Africa. Next, teams will travel via a former Royal Mail Ship to the Desert leg in Sharaan, Saudi Arabia, followed by a Mountain leg in the Kali Gandaki valley at the heart of the Himalayas and Nepal’s Mustang District.
The ultra-cold Glacier round goes down in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland before the season rounds out with a Rainforest leg in Pará, Brazil.
Track designers carefully selected challenging courses with existing features, elevation changes and jumps to mitigate environmental impact. Race organizers will also work with local organizations to maximize environmental protection and social inclusivity.
“In six months, I’ve seen the impacts of climate change first-hand and have met people that are experiencing the effects. For anyone that denies its existence or is unaware of the problems it is causing – just come with us on this journey,” Agag added.
“To have sealed all five of our locations by this point, with Extreme E having been little more than an idea on a napkin back in January this year, is an achievement I am very proud of.”
Further news on teams, partnerships and drivers is to come. Check out the provisional Extreme E Season 1 calendar below:
- January 22-23-24: Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal
- March 4-5-6: Sharaan, Al-‘Ula, Saudi Arabia
- May 6-7-8: Kali Gandaki Valley, Mustang District, Nepal
- August 27-28-29: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
- October 29-30-31: Santarém, Pará, Brazil
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