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- 2021 inaugural season began in AlUla, electric SUV series returns to Kingdom for opening event of new campaign Feb. 19-20
LONDON: Building on the success of its debut year in 2021, Extreme E Season 2, dubbed The Race for the Planet, is set to kick off with the Desert X Prix in NEOM on Feb. 19 and 20, while delivering on its overall aim to tackle climate change through sport.
The new season will begin in the deserts of NEOM in northwest 抖阴短视频 where the Kingdom鈥檚 largest global project is taking shape.
NEOM鈥檚 landscapes include diverse terrains from expansive red sands to spectacular sandstone formations and the location is set to be the home and workplace to residents from around the world. It will include hyperconnected, cognitive towns and cities, ports, and enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues, and tourist destinations.
The megacity was chosen as a location by Extreme E not only for its picturesque desert landscape and shared values of sustainability and innovation, but also because the sport-for-purpose championship aims to highlight the causes of desertification, the loss of biological diversity, and the importance of resilience because of the impacts of climate change.
In addition, the distinct and diverse desert terrain of NEOM will also ensure it is an all-new challenge for the drivers and their ODYSSEY 21 electric SUVs.
Extreme E had taken place in 抖阴短视频, home of the world鈥檚 largest continuous sand desert, and its AlUla region, in Season 1 for its first X Prix, which was won by the championship鈥檚 inaugural winners, Rosberg X Racing (RXR).
Alejandro Agag, chief executive officer and founder of Extreme E, said: 鈥淯sing our sport-for-purpose platform, Extreme E delivered truly ground-breaking action in its first season, on and off the racecourse, and now we are ready to go and do it all again, with more experience and more determination than ever.
鈥淭aking the championship to NEOM for our desert location will be an exciting moment, as NEOM鈥檚 long-term plans are very much in keeping with the ethos of Extreme E 鈥� it is attempting to do something that鈥檚 never been done before and comes at a time when the world needs fresh thinking and new solutions.
鈥淎s we saw in our first-ever championship race, the Kingdom鈥檚 terrain is stunning and unforgiving. The desertscape promises to be intense, and it will be an unprecedented challenge for our competitors to explore in a new desert terrain with warmer racing conditions,鈥� he added.
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and the Saudi Motorsport Co., said:鈥�淭he return of Extreme E to the Kingdom for the second year in a row further helps emphasize 抖阴短视频鈥檚 commitment to a more sustainable future.
鈥淲elcoming this revolutionary series to NEOM aligns with one of the most important goals and pillars of Vision 2030 as well as the personal aspirations of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to make the Kingdom a leading country in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations.
鈥淭his next instalment of the Extreme E race is further proof of the Kingdom鈥檚 transformation into a powerhouse for motorsport in the region, and the event taking place shortly after the conclusion of another successful Dakar Rally at the start of this year further underlines this. Additionally, we have just hosted our inaugural F1 Grand Prix on the newest, longest, and fastest street circuit in the world,鈥� the prince added.
CEO of NEOM, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, said:鈥�淣EOM has made no secret of its desire to promote sustainability and raise awareness around some of the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges, such as climate change and nature conservation.
鈥淲e feel hosting an innovative racing event such as Extreme E in a region dedicated to pioneering clean technology and mobility solutions perfectly manifests our goals.
鈥淚n keeping with our approach to encouraging talent development and diversity, we are delighted to welcome the drivers, both male and female, the Extreme E team, and leading experts to NEOM.
鈥淪port is an important sector for NEOM and will be key in creating a new form of livability and driving economic growth. In particular, adventure sport offerings will be a major contributor to the visitor economy,鈥� Al-Nasr added.
Teams and drivers
The 10 teams and 20 drivers鈥痜or the Desert X Prix鈥痑re as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE 鈥� Nasser Al-Attiyah鈥�/ Jutta Kleinschmidt鈥�
ACCIONA,鈥疭ainz鈥疿E Team 鈥� Carlos鈥疭ainz鈥疭nr. / Laia Sanz
Genesys Andretti United Extreme E 鈥� Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Chip Ganassi Racing 鈥� Kyle鈥疞eDuc鈥�/ Sara Price
McLaren XE 鈥� Tanner Foust / Emma Gilmour
JBXE 鈥� Kevin Hansen / Molly Taylor
Rosberg X Racing 鈥� Johan鈥疜ristoffersson鈥�/ Mikaela鈥疉hlin-Kottulinsky
Veloce Racing 鈥撯�疞ance Woolridge / Christine Giampaoli Zonca (GZ)
X44 鈥� Sebastien Loeb / Cristina Gutierrez
XITE ENERGY RACING 鈥� Oliver Bennett / Tamara Molinaro