Veloce Racing and ACCIONA / Sainz XE Team shone during their performances at the Desert X Prix, delighting fans of the 100% electric off-road category. However, before all this happened they were part of the first Legacy Programme of the season.

Recall that the main purpose of the series is to promote sustainability and good environmental practices in all senses, i.e. at the level of soil, air, water, flora and fauna. In this way, Extreme E revealed details about the program that takes place in NEOM.

Related content: Veloce Racing and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team Share Honors at Extreme E Kickoff on Saudi soil

The Extreme E Footprint

Back at NEOM, Extreme E supported reconstruction and greening efforts in the developing region located in northwestern Saudi Arabia, following up on the category’s efforts last year.

Last season, the 100% electric off-road category released lizards into the region’s landscape. Now, drivers and series staff went to the NEOM Nature Reserve to contribute to the release of Arabian oryx, red-necked ostriches and Arabian gazelles.

These species have not been able to roam freely in the area for more than a century, according to Extreme E. Therefore, the contribution of the category represents a significant step forward in the restoration of NEOM’s nature initiated in 2022 with the aim of protecting, enhancing biodiversity, rejuvenating natural habitats, reintroducing native species and greening the environment.

Thus, 95 % of NEOM’s land will be set aside for nature conservation, making it one of the largest regreening programs in the world at 25,000 square kilometers.

“Through a combination of active and passive greening, we will add 100 million native trees, shrubs and grasses to NEOM by 2030 as part of the overall Saudi Greening Initiative (SGI),” said Paul Marshall, director of the NEOM Nature Reserve.

Written | Ronald Ortega

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Veloce was closely followed by ACCIONA | Saiz XE Team, who finished second. “It feels great. To come back to Saudi Arabia and get my first win in Extreme E with this new team, with Molly, and in the country where I had an accident that changed my career, it’s a highlight,” Hanse said.

On the other hand, Taylor was happy for the great start along with her return to Extreme E. “I think everyone on the team clicked from the beginning, we developed and improved. We were able to start at a very good level in Uruguay (2022),” he said.

Related content:More Racing to Come: Extreme E Reveals Format Changes for 2023

Victory for ACCIONA – Sainz XE Team

The second day of action at NEOM was as good as could have been expected. Without Carlos Sainz as the starter, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team achieved its first victory in the 100% electric off-road category after a brilliant drive by Laia Sanz and Mattias Ekström.

The team achieved a comfortable lead during the course to claim the long-awaited first victory in Extreme E, something that had been very close to happening in previous editions. Now, they finally managed to prevail on the NEOM desert sand with a comfortable lead over their pursuers, Veloce Racing and RXR.

“I’m very happy, both for me and for the team, we got our first victory in Extreme E! I want to thank Mattias for giving me the car with such a good car. I had a good stint and was able to keep the gap, so I’m more than satisfied,” said Laia Sanz.

On the other hand, Ekström highlighted that the previous planning was key to the result obtained in the Desert X Prix. “We had designed a strategy for the Grand Final and I executed it to the best of my ability. I am very happy that it turned out to be fruitful. Laia drove very well and managed the gap perfectly. It’s a good win for the team,” he said.

Finally, Carlos Sainz also expressed his opinion on the win despite not having been behind the wheel, as he is out of the season while recovering from an injury suffered in the Dakar Rally 2023.

“I am very happy that the first victory for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team is finally here, because we have worked a long time to get it. Laia and Mattias were spectacular and have already shown that they are one of the strongest pairs of riders in the Championship,” he said.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Veloce Racing and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team Split Honors at Extreme E 2023 Kickoff at NEOM appeared first on Green Racing News.

Specifically, it will be the longest in terms of races, although it will maintain the same number of venues (five), as the new format of the 100% electric off-road category will put up to 10 races on the table, since two races will be held for each X-Prix.

Thus, everything is ready for the Desert X-Prix to take place from March 11-12, a race that has become customary for the opening of Extreme E. There, new teams, established groups and great drivers will give everything for everything to debut in the best possible way.

Related Content | More Races to Come: Extreme E Reveals Format Changes for 2023

New Title Battle

Rosberg X Racing and X44 aim to fight again for Extreme E glory, however, other teams such as Genesys Andretti United and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, who showed a great level throughout last season. In addition, the debut of a new team will grab some of the attention: Carl Cox Motorsport Extreme E.

“I’m here to make a difference. Having the opportunity to be part of something so dynamic on four wheels is a dream come true. Both racing and music are in my blood, so I’m going to bring my passion and energy to this series to build something special,” said Carl Cox, the team’s renowned DJ owner, who will have Timo Scheider and Christine Giampaoli Zonca as drivers.

“We can’t wait for the third season of Extreme E to begin at NEOM. Our first two campaigns have been a great success, so this season promises to be the most competitive and hard-fought yet, where having a ten-race championship is a tantalizing prospect for everyone on board,” said Alejandro Agag, Extreme E founder and CEO.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

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The team of Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg is preparing for the debut of the upcoming season to be held in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, where it already knows its confirmed driver pair: Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson. Now, the same expert hands will fight for the championship with different aesthetic details.

To adorn the 1,780-kilogram ODYSSEY 21, black was used as the predominant color of the design, covering a large part of the car in various areas (doors, hood, rear and some spaces on the roof). This color had always been present on the car, although last year it was complemented by white.

Related content:RXR confirms Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson as Extreme E 2023 Drivers

More Light Blue

Now, the light blue that was barely seen in 2022 will take greater prominence in the new season of Extreme E, taking completely the structure of the logo, the team name, touches of ornamentation in certain areas of the vehicle, which highlights a line on the rim of the tires, symmetrical with the rest of the design.

In this way and under new colors, Rosberg X Racing will try to achieve its second title in the category. Recall that they appear in the history books of Extreme E as the first champions, after showing solid in 2021, defining the title in the final race (Jurassic X Prix) against X44.

The following year they also fought at the top of the table, and in fact, they arrived as great favorites to the final dispute (Energy X Prix), but a series of drawbacks coupled with an impeccable driving of X44, ended up snatching them what would have been the two-championship.

Finally, knowing what it is like to win the series, having two years of experience and having great drivers, makes them once again candidates for the title, understanding that every point will be vital to avoid the outcome that happened last season.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Rosberg X Racing Rebranding for Extreme E 2023 appeared first on Green Racing News.

RJ Anderson and Amanda Sorensen will form the American driver duo for Chip Ganassi Racing, replacing the previous combination of Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price. It should be noted that Anderson replaced LeDuc in last season’s final race (Energy X-Prix), so he will now be full-time.

“I tried a bit of Extreme E last season and can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the GMC HUMMER EV for 2023. I’m thrilled to be heading to Saudi Arabia with Amanda and the whole team as we get down to business,” RJ Anderson said.

Related Content: More Races to Come: Extreme E Reveals Format Changes for 2023

The Absence of “El Matador”

One of the great figures who has raced in Extreme E since the beginning is ‘El Matador’ Carlos Sainz, who will leave a significant void in the ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team ODYSSEY 21 after it was confirmed that he will not be racing in the upcoming campaign of the 100% electric off-road category.

Sainz’s absence is due to the fall he suffered in the Dakar Rally 2023, where he unfortunately fractured two vertebrae in his spine. As a result, he will not be able to compete in Extreme E 2023, although he will travel to NEOM, Saudi Arabia, to work closely and contribute his knowledge to the season opener.

Thus, ACCIONA’s lineup will once again be made up of Laia Sanz, accompanied by Mattias Ekström, champion of the FIA ETCTR (then Pure ETCR), a 100% electric touring car racing category. In addition, he knows Extreme E very well since he competed for ABT Cupra in 2021 alongside Jutta Kleinschmidt.

“Mattias is the best signing we could have hoped for this new season, as I know him well and I have full confidence in him because I know what he is capable of. I think he is one of the best and most versatile drivers in the world, so it is an honor that he gets to defend the colors of the team,” said Carlos Sainz.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

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In the best Formula E style, there will be double racing on each stage, i.e. following the same 5-race schedule will result in 10 races in total, being renamed X-Prix R.1 and X-Prix R.2, doubling the chances for teams to score wins, podiums and championship points.

“Having a ten-race championship in Extreme E is a tantalizing prospect for everyone on board and we believe that more of them will only enhance our series. We can’t wait for our campaign opener in NEOM (Saudi Arabia) to kick off our biggest season yet,” said Alejandro Agag, series Founder and CEO.

Related content:RXR Confirms Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson as Drivers for Extreme E 2023

New Format in Detail

The qualifying format will feature increased pressure, as five cars (in each) will make up Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2, which will consist of two heats. In this way, intermediate qualifying points will be awarded to determine the order (not valid for the championship), in addition to awarding one point to each winner of each bracket, which will count for the fight for the title.

In this sense, 10 ranking points will be awarded to the first place (plus one point valid for the championship), 8 to the second, 6 to the third, 4 to the fourth and two to the fifth. Adding both numbers of points obtained in Heat 1 and Heat 2 will determine where and in what position each team will race.

After that will come the Grand Final, starring the top five teams in the standings, while those classified from sixth to tenth place will face each other in a new race called “Redemption Race”, where every point that can be obtained will be key to the fight for the championship.

This new format will be held twice (Saturday and Sunday), doubling the number of races and increasing the harvest of points that can be obtained during a weekend without adding any additional carbon footprint, maintaining the principles of sustainability followed by the 100% electric off-road category.

For the championship, Extreme E will award 25 points to the winner, 18 to the second, 15 to the third, 12 to the fourth, 10 to the fifth (so far the Grand Final), 8 to the sixth, 6 to the seventh, 4 to the eighth, 2 to the ninth and one to the tenth (so far the Redemption Race).

In addition, it should be noted that the distances for each circuit and the number of laps will vary according to the place where they compete. Finally, the fan voting process, GridPlay, the Continental Traction Challenge and the ‘ENOWA Hyperdrive’, a boost that drivers will activate on their steering wheel to receive more power for a limited period of time, will be maintained.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post More Races to Come: Extreme E Reveals Format Changes for 2023 appeared first on Green Racing News.

The two teamed up in the previous season, coming very close to being crowned champion and making the team of Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg a two-time champion of the series. However, in the final race they lost important and painful ground, which X44 took advantage of to snatch the trophy from them.

In the case of Johan Kristoffersson, this will be his third consecutive season as an RXR driver, who has been with the team since the beginning, being part of the title obtained in season 1 together with Molly Taylor, his racing partner at the time.

On the other hand, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky’s outlook is different, given that this will be her second campaign with the organization, after arriving as Molly Taylor’s replacement in the category’s second campaign. Now, both will climb back into the 1,780-kilogram all-terrain vehicle, with the advantage of having competed for a full season, gaining experience and getting to know each other.

Related content:Klara Andersson and Nasser Al-Attiyah Confirmed by ABT Cupra XE for Extreme E Season 3

A Word from the Players

“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 by my side for another season is an extra motivation. She is a great person on and off the track and has really impressed me with her development and willingness to work,” says Johan Kristoffersson.

On the other hand, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky was also happy to stay with RXR for one more season. “Joining last year was a dream come true. I learned a lot from Johan and the team, so to come back for another campaign 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!” commented the Swedish driver.

Finally, the head of the whole project, Germany’s Nico Rosberg, says he is happy about the decision to have them back, due to the experience and track record of both drivers. “We will be ready for battle. Last year, unfortunately, we didn’t take home the trophy, but this year we plan to give it our all,” he said.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post RXR Confirms Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson as Extreme E 2023 Drivers appeared first on Green Racing News.

The station, based in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, will continue to broadcast the action of the 100% electric off-road category through its channels Šport TV 1, Šport TV 2 and Šport TV 3. Similarly, they will show documentary programs to reveal what happens behind the scenes at Extreme E.

“The combination of Extreme E’s thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing combined with its mission of purposeful sport has already captured the imagination of Šport TV’s audience. I can’t wait to bring them more action when we return to race in Saudi Arabia very soon,” said Ali Russell, Extreme E’s Marketing Director.

Related content:Continental Tyres Opens Basketball Court Built with Extreme E Recycled Tires

Slovenia Leading the Way in Sustainability

It’s no wonder that Slovenia has a strong fan base, given that the country is listed as one of the cleanest and most sustainable countries in the world, as well as being one of the most biodiverse with more than 53% of its total land mass devoted entirely to protected forests.

It also has the highest concentration of animal and plant species per square kilometer in the world. All of this, coupled with Extreme E’s sustainable purpose, makes the thrill of racing blend seamlessly with the mission of a cleaner, more environmentally friendly landscape.

As if that wasn’t enough, the capital city of Ljubljana has been awarded ‘Europe’s Greenest’ by the European Union (EU).

“We are delighted to have expanded our exciting broadcast package with Šport TV. Slovenia not only loves its sport, but also shares many of Extreme E’s core values, including the importance of reducing carbon emissions through electric vehicle technology”, said Ali Russell.

“We are very excited to extend our partnership with the series after being part of the story since the first race. We are confident that our viewers can appreciate not only the racing part, but gender equality, the impact of climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions, values that we at Šport TV share with Extreme E,” says Miro Ćorić, editor-in-chief of Šport TV.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Extreme E Announces Agreement Extension with Šport TV appeared first on Green Racing News.

They will do so under the name Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E after announcing their partnership with ALTAWKILAT, one of the largest automotive companies in Saudi Arabia, which has been present since season 1 in the category helping and influencing the development of technology for the future.

“ALTAWKILAT has been part of our Extreme E journey since the beginning, so we are happy that our relationship will grow to form Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E, as they share our interest in supporting the series’ mission as a purpose-driven sport,” said Michael Andretti, President and CEO of Andretti Autosport.

Related Content:Andretti United Extreme E Confirms Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen as Drivers for 2023 and Beyond

Andretti ALTAWKILAT Extreme E in Season 3

Loaded with experience and talent to be protagonists in Extreme E, Andretti is preparing for the third season of the series where it will have, once again, the hands of Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen as drivers in charge of driving the ODYSSEY 21 on the various stages visited by the category.

In the first season they achieved a victory in the Artic X-Prix, in Greenland, accumulating experience to become stronger and stronger in the series. Now with four podiums, they have enough options to fight at the top of the table for the championship together with Rosberg X Racing and X44.

Thus, the team is looking forward to Extreme E 2023’s debut at the Desert X Prix, to be held next March 11-12 in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, where ALTAWKILAT will launch a community program that will educate the local population about the need to protect the environment, coinciding with Earth Day.

“Like Andretti, ALTAWKILAT’s passion for motorsport runs deep and to do it together in this all-electric form of motorsport is a chapter we look forward to,” added Michael Andretti.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

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The founding partner of the series opened a sustainably built high-level basketball court in the Linden-Süd district of Hannover, Germany, employing the 200 tires used during the series’ first season.

“We are delighted with this initiative by our partner Continental, which pushes the boundaries of how we can reuse resources in a way that benefits so many people,” said Ali Russell, Extreme E’s marketing director.

Related content:Klara Andersson and Nasser Al-Attiyah Confirmed by ABT Cupra XE for Extreme E Season 3

Sport from Recycling

Undoubtedly, innovation and circular economy has been firmly demonstrated by Continental, after converting the tires that powered the ODYSSEY 21 in the first season of Extreme E, across Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Greenland, Italy and England.

In this regard, Belit Onay, Mayor of Hanover, was pleased to welcome this kind of sustainable drive to the city. “We would like to thank Continental and everyone involved for this new basketball court, which creates a new space for children and young people and brings sport and sustainability together in the same conversation,” she said.

“Initiatives like this demonstrate what is possible when so many people help make a community project a reality in our city. I am grateful for all of their contributions,” she continued about Continental’s work, which is not listed as the first tire innovation.

For the second season of the series, the new generation of the Extreme E CrossContact tire was launched, made from PET plastic bottles, which coated 100% of the tire’s casing, in addition to a new silica material created from rice husks, usually agricultural waste. In this way, the company promotes, together with the category, various sustainable application methods, generating a positive impact that goes beyond racing.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Continental Tyres Inaugurated Basketball Court Built with Recycled Extreme E Tires appeared first on Green Racing News.