The motor racing world is changing, and with it, so is the competition. Enter Extreme E, the new electric off-road SUV racing competition set to kick off in 2021.
Founded by a well-known entrepreneur associated with Formula One and the creation of Formula E, this event shares a similar concept. However, instead of race cars, it features electric SUVs navigating demanding off-road environments.
A distinctive aspect of this competition is that the entire paddock will be floating, taking place on the restored ship St. Helena. Another pillar of this competition is gender equality, as all teams will consist of one man and one woman.
Similar to other competitions, all teams will have the same vehicle. In this case, it’s an electric model called Odyssey 21, which shares some similarities with off-road rally vehicles used in events like Dakar. Williams Advanced Engineering provides the batteries, and Continental supplies the tires.
Extreme E introduces a novel competition format. While other off-road events typically include long-distance stages that test the vehicle and driver’s endurance, Extreme E introduces X Prix Race Weekends. These weekends span two days and feature several short and fast races (considering these vehicles are electric, and range is always a factor).
On the first day, each team is allowed to fully charge their batteries, engaging in two qualifying rounds. Each round consists of four vehicles navigating a challenging eight-kilometer circuit. Each team member must complete one lap, with a driver change halfway through the race.
On Sunday, two semi-finals are held between the best-performing teams from the previous rounds. The final maintains the same format, with four participating teams completing two laps on the circuit and driver relays during the race.
