Extreme E Racing Series Advocates for Climate Change Awareness
January 29, 2021
Debuting in April, a new Extreme E racing series will feature all-electric SUVs racing across five territories to raise awareness of climate issues. Encompassing remote arctic, coastal, desert, glacier and rainforest regions across four continents, the off-road motorsports series will "highlight the impact of climate change and human activity on some of the world’s most remote locations, while promoting sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet."
Featuring an equal mix of male and female drivers competing for each of the 10 teams in off-road ‘E-SUVs’, the series will be televised and streamed online with filming done by drones. High-profile athletes in the sport have signed up to support the climate-awareness series, including seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton, Founder of X44, his very own racing team said: “Extreme E is an exciting new sustainability initiative, and this is a great opportunity to be involved from the outset as a team founder...I’m excited to play a different role in this new series, one that brings my vision for a more sustainable and equal world to life."
“Extreme E really appealed to me because of its environmental focus. Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact."
Creators consulted with ecological experts to ensure the impact on the sites will be kept to a minimum, while scientists will also travel with the teams to investigate the effects of climate change. Extreme E will also create documentaries on each of the races’ locations to highlight the issues they face, such as Greenland and Brazil’s Amazon region, which has been heavily affected by climate change.
There are also plans to ensure the series leaves a lasting legacy in each of the areas it heads to, including tree-planting, clean-up operations and solar-power initiatives.
Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button recently announced that he would be competing in the series for his own team, stating: "The future will definitely be electric - you can't have every single road car electric and have fuel-guzzling race cars. There are other possibilities that are very green, but electric is here and now, and there are regulations in many countries to stop building petrol cars."
"This is a first in motor racing," said Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag. "We are ensuring with our sporting format that drivers of all backgrounds will be able to compete with the same tools at their disposal at every event on the calendar.
"We are striving for equality, and this sporting format is the truest reflection of that goal."
Extreme E joined the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action Framework in 2019 as part of its commitment to climate protection. With their pledge, they aim to utilise their position as an influential sport and entertainment platform to highlight the impact of climate change and environmental degradation in some of the planet's most remote locations and ultimately inspire positive action.
The series hopes to revolutionise motorsport by showcasing E-SUV innovation and performance, whilst raising awareness through careful collaboration with thought leaders and experts.
This story appeared on BBC Sport.