AlUla will provide a stunning desert backdrop in ten days’ time for the launch of a motorsport series that is aiming to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change.
Taking place April 3rd and 4th, the next chapter in Saudi Arabia’s motorsport story will be written with the inaugural Extreme E ‘Desert X Prix’. Featuring electric SUVs competing across the incredible desert landscape, the race is the first of five taking place around the world in extreme environments already damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues.
Extreme E strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as the home of motorsport in the Middle East and complements a schedule that already includes Formula E, Dakar Rally and from December, Formula 1. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference, while promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future.
Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) who are organizing the race with Extreme E, said: “The countdown is on and we are now just ten days away from the latest chapter in our motorsport story, one that’s playing a crucial role in our country’s Vision 2030 ambitions. The passion for motorsport in Saudi Arabia is unrivalled and I’ve no doubt fans will tune and in follow the drama and excitement from Extreme E’s first ever race.”
He continued: “We understand the power of sport and how it can be a catalyst for change. We therefore want to help Extreme E tell its story, raise awareness and drive understanding across the country of the impact of climate change and what we can all do.”
Table of Contents
SAUDI ARABIA’S GUIDE TO EXTREME E
A series for change
Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues.
The car
Each Extreme E team will field one of the championship’s cutting-edge bespoke ‘ODYSSEY 21’ E-SUVs. The battery-electric, 400kw (550hp) is capable of firing from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, at gradients of up to 130 percent.
The teams and drivers
Ten teams will compete – all featuring male and female drivers – and boasting a star-studied line-up. Team investors include Lewis Hamilton, Nico Roseburg, Jenson Button, Michael Andretti and Chip Gnassi. Meanwhile, the driver line-up features Button himself, W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick, X Games medalist Sara Price, rally legends Sébastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz, plus Christine Giampaoli Zonca.
The format
Each X Prix Race Weekend will include two days of all-action, short, sharp wheel-to-wheel racing with male and female drivers racing each other on a level playing field. Each race is two laps – one lap driven by the female and one lap driven by the male. Each team races twice on Saturday, in Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. The Sunday will feature Semi-Final 1 and Semi-Final 2 (Crazy Race) together with the Final.
The fuel
Extreme E is also pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology, which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero emission energy. One full battery charge per day for each team. This innovative solution from AFC Energy uses water and sun to generate hydrogen power. Not only will this process emit no greenhouse emissions, its only by-product will be water, which will be utilised elsewhere on-site.
All freight transported by RMS St Helena, 100 times less carbon intensive than air freight.
The schedule
Each destination will highlight a different environmental issue, beginning with Saudi Arabia – desertification. Other races Senegal (rising sea levels), Greenland (melting ice cap), Amazon (deforestation) and Patagonia (glacial recession).
The full schedule is:
Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
3-4 April 2021
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal
29-30 May 2021
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
28-29 August 2021
Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil
23-24 October 2021
Glacier X Prix: Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
11-12 December 2021
How to follow the action
To minimise local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with fans instead invited to follow the action through live TV broadcast on KSA Sports and MBC, and across social media via @SAMF_GOV, @GSAKSA and @ExtremeELive.
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