Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 World Champion in 2016, can add another title to his name – the first champion of the Extreme E series. His team (but he did not drive) – Rosberg X Racing (RXR) – claimed the title after finishing fourth in the season-ending Jurassic X Prix in the UK recently. Despite finishing level on 155 points with Jurassic X Prix winners X44, RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor took the championship due to having more X Prix victories, with 3 wins from 5 events.
Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez finally took their first Extreme E win at their fifth attempt, as well as 5 extra points for being fastest through the Continental Traction Challenge at the wet and muddy course.
With 5 cars vying for position to get the best traction and grip off the line in the final, the start was crucial. It was the championship contenders who got the best getaway, with X44’s Gutierrez flying into the lead ahead of RXR’s Taylor, and then JBXE’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team’s Laia Sanz fighting for positions behind.
As Gutierrez began to pull away from the chasing pack, the tension began to grow in the RXR team as Taylor fell into the clutches of those behind, losing places to Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Munnings to slip back to fourth, just ahead of Sanz in fifth place. This was dangerous territory for RXR, who needed to finish fourth or higher to claim the title.
The battle for third place in the standings was similarly competitive – with just a point separating JBXE and Andretti United Extreme E ahead of the Jurassic X Prix. Their closely fought contest continued as Munnings closed in on Ahlin-Kottulinsky, but there was drama as they both attempted to enter the Driver Switch Zone, with contact between the pair sending Munnings into a spin.
Fortunately, she was able to get going again and retain third place, such was the pace advantage the leading trio had over RXR and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. The order was maintained after the driver switch, with Loeb preserving X44’s lead over JBXE’s Kevin Hansen in second and Andretti United Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen in third.
The stage was set for Kristoffersson and Carlos Sainz Snr. to fight it out for the title-deciding fourth place finish, but it was a battle which fizzled out after problems in the Driver Switch Zone meant ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team lost ground. This gave RXR breathing space in their bid to score the crucial points needed to seal the championship.
“We are really happy with the first Extreme E season. It has not been easy in the middle of a pandemic, but we have delivered five X Prix events, and the Finale in Dorset, UK produced some spectacular racing. Since our first event in Saudi Arabia, we have had a lot of eventful and incredible moments ending in a brilliant title decider today,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E. “We are now looking forward to what we hope will be a fantastic Season 2.”
Although having same number of points as the X44 team, RXR is the overall winner due to having more X Prix victories, with 3 wins from 5 events.
On the same weekend that Formula 1 was having its 17th round of 2021 in Texas and the 2nd round of Vios Challenge Season 4 was being run in Malaysia, the fourth round of the Extreme E series took place in Sardinia, an island adjacent to Italy. Unlike the cars in the other two events, those in Extreme E do not consume any petrol or diesel and emit virtually zero toxic emissions. They are fully electric SUVs and the series is all-new, with a focus on environmental issues as well.
The round in Sardinia – called the Enel X Island X Prix – was won by Rosberg X Racing (RXR), which made it 3 wins from 4 rounds. This puts the team, owned and managed by former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, in a commanding championship lead.
“It was pretty slippery out there, so it was a bit difficult to judge at first. From that point, it was just trying to manage the risk and I think that is what we did really well. Johan brought it home and again it was just an amazing effort by all of the team. We had a very challenging weekend from our side, but we never gave up and are very happy to be the winners here,” said RXR’s Molly Taylor, who was partnered with Johan Kristoffersson.
Consistent in changing conditions
The RXR drivers remained consistent in changing conditions to seal a dramatic victory ahead of ABT CUPRA XE, who secured their best result of the season in second. It was heartbreak, though, for long-time leaders in the Final – SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing – after Sara Price’s crash on Lap 2 caused terminal damage and meant she had to stop on track, ensuring the team could only finish as high as fourth on their Finals debut.
That moved JBXE into their third podium finish in succession with third place despite also suffering damage out on the course. Bad luck once again befell X44, the fastest qualifiers, in the final as Sebastien Loeb was forced to stop out on track and retire with broken steering. Loeb was running in second behind SEGI TV’s Kyle LeDuc despite driving with a slow puncture at the time of the stoppage, which meant the team now fall even further behind winners and championship leaders RXR in the standings.
Wet Final, new challenges
A heavy downpour prior to lights out made for the first ‘wet’ Final of the Extreme E season, providing the 5 finalists with a new challenge to overcome in their bid for victory. X44 was able to take their place in the Final despite suffering heavy damage in the opening Semi-Final of the day. In a sign of the unique camaraderie demonstrated across the Extreme E paddock, X44’s efforts to rebuild their damaged car were boosted by the support of mechanics and engineering teams from the Andretti United Extreme E team. The joint efforts ensure that their ODYSSEY 21 e-SUV WAS ready in time for the Enel X Island X Prix showpiece.
In treacherous conditions, 4 of the 5 teams were able to get off the start line cleanly, although ABT CUPRA XE were left with plenty of work to do after Jutta Kleinschmidt stalled on the grid. It looked like X44 had staged a remarkable comeback to lead into the first corner, but were beaten spectacularly by LeDuc who managed to get in front after using the alternate route.
A spin for Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky put JBXE at the back of the field, while the slow-starting Kleinschmidt quickly made up ground on RXR’s Taylor to battle for third. This soon became a 3-way tussle for second as Loeb began to lose pace as he struggled with a slow puncture, allowing LeDuc to build an impressive lead out in front.
After Loeb was forced to retire with broken steering, Taylor and Kleinschmidt remained nose-to-tail in their battle for second as they headed towards the Driver Switch zone. As LeDuc exited his car in the zone following a superb opening lap, it appeared the so-far luckless team was about to complete a heroic turnaround and bring home their first Extreme E win. However, they were cruelly denied as Price suffered terminal damage to her car after making contact with a rock out on the course, which ruled them out of contention for victory and meant they could only finish as high as fourth.
This left RXR’s Kristoffersson in the lead and chased by Mattias Ekstrom, who continued on at great speed despite driving without his left-hand door throughout the lap! The ABT CUPRA XE driver was no match for Kristoffersson, though, who kept up the pressure to extend his lead and take RXR’s third win of the campaign and put his team as the firm favourites for championship glory at the final of the season in the in December.
CUPRA, the high-performance brand of Spanish carmaker SEAT, was the first carmaker to join the Extreme E all-electric off-road series that started this year, entering in partnership with ABT Sportsline. The 3-year old brand’s involvement is to enhance its R&D while promoting electrification, sustainability, and also gender equality (the series requires each crew to have one male and one female, both to having driving roles).
While the e-SUV used during the current season of Extreme E is one which is common for all teams, CUPRA is already looking ahead when it can develop its own machine. It will become the second manufacturer to use its own bodywork for its team, and Tavascan Extreme E Concept shows what the racing car will look like.
Future design language
It also hints at the design language to be used in the future production CUPRA Tavascan which will be the brand’s second fully electric model designed and developed in Barcelona, Spain and will reach the market in 2024.
“We strongly believe in the Extreme E project as a whole,” said Antonino Labate, Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations at CUPRA. “Electrification, sustainability, gender-balance and diversity are common values between CUPRA and Extreme E. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is clear proof of the hard work that we’re doing at CUPRA in order to be able to compete next season.”
Completely redesigned exterior
The Tavascan Extreme E Concept integrates a completely new exterior design with 100% CUPRA DNA and a holistic approach to natural material use making it more sustainable, adaptable and easy to repair. The front and rear design has changed considerably from the vehicle that is racing in the first season of Extreme E.
LED technology delivers greater freedom to produce a vehicle with CUPRA DNA, with the headlights in groups of three triangles on either side providing a more imposing look. The LED lighting is set into a 3D-printed frame – a technology chosen to gain a competitive edge. The 3D-printed parts can be manufactured in just 6 hours, meaning the team can adapt to changes very quickly. Whether it’s because of an incident or changes to the light position, the components can be modified in a very short time without the need for cumbersome and expensive tooling.
3D-printed elements for bodywork
“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is the next evolution of our all-electric off-road racing car with even more CUPRA DNA and a design that hints at the brand’s future direction. But it also delivers technical advancement too,” said Head of Technical Development at CUPRA Racing, Xavi Serra. “The concept car uses flax fibres throughout the bodywork to improve sustainability and 3D-printed elements that can be quickly recreated to keep the race car out on the track.”
Constructing as much of the body structure as possible from flax fibres – extracted from the flax plant – reduces the use of carbonfibre components and the vehicle’s impact on the environment. The material can be worked in the same way, achieving the same shapes and radii required by engineers, and is a technology that could easily be adapted for production vehicles.
The e-SUV concept is finished with copper accents – a time-honoured CUPRA mark – parametric texturing and dynamized lines to help the exterior shimmer and move as the vehicle shifts through the landscape, and an overlapping CUPRA logo to create a powerful 3D effect.
“I am delighted to see CUPRA launch the Tavascan Extreme E concept as it enables it to become the second manufacturer to use its own bodywork for its Extreme E team. This move not only injects added style and personality into the series, but also supports our goals for Extreme E to prove itself as a global marketing showcase for partners, as CUPRA prepares to launch this model to consumers in the future,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.
The e-SUV used by the ABT CUPRA XE team in the first and current season of Extreme E .
Being the very first season ever, every location of the Extreme E championship series is a first and for the third round, the location in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland certainly presented an entirely different environment for the Arctic X Prix.
After consecutive overall wins by the Rosberg X Racing team in Saudi Arabia (Desert X Prix) and Senegal (Ocean X Prix), this third round was won by Andretti United Extreme E drivers Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings.
In Extreme E’s first-ever 5-car final, British driver Munnings took the lead early on, until being passed by X44’s Sebastien Loeb, the Frenchman leading for the rest of the 8.6-km lap around a lake until the Switch Zone, while Munnings dropped behind Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor.
The top three ran close into the Switch Zone area, the Andretti United car – the same all-electric ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV as everyone else – having re-taken second position, but X44’s challenge would be thwarted by a right-rear puncture, the wheel needing to be changed in the Switch Zone while Cristina Gutierrez climbed aboard the car.
Andretti United’s Hansen was first to leave the Switch Zone for the second lap, closely chased by RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson, the pair running side-by-side and spectacularly jumping high together over sections of the course, until the RXR car was slowed by technical issues from a jump landing and the Andretti United team ran free to claim its first victory.
Having won the Crazy Race earlier in the day, the JBXE team flew in the final, Kevin Hansen completing the first lap before handing the controls to Swedish compatriot Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and, fighting back from difficulties during qualifying, the pair finished second.
A solid run for ACCIONA | Sainz XE duo Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz was rewarded with a podium finish in third, with X44 classified fourth and RXR fifth. The SEGI TV CHIP GANASSI RACING and Xite Energy Racing teams battled in the Crazy Race but didn’t make it through to the final.
“It feels awesome! It’s been a great afternoon and day! We’ve both had great races today and we had to work really hard for it. Catie did an amazing job both times. We both were involved in very close battles with the Rosberg X Racing car both times, it just feels incredible to be here,” said Timmy Hansen of Andretti United Extreme E.
“I loved the challenge of this course. I think it was really different to what we’ve seen before and a new challenge for the car as well. I think what was interesting was that it literally changed every time you saw it. Every car would chuck out massive rocks and so your line might not be there, so it was a very spontaneous style of driving and I also found it very hard to judge what the correct speed was, you have to think a lot more especially if you’re the first driver,” added Munnings.
The unforgiving Arctic X Prix course, combined with the series’ revised sporting format produced some of the most exciting racing yet with the 18 world-class drivers battling not only themselves, but the conditions and various track hazards en route to the finish line.
Adding an extra element of excitement to proceedings was the returning Super Sector, with the fastest driver over the course of the weekend earning themselves 5 extra points for the team.
Drawing attention to the mission of creating greater environmental awareness, JBXE’s Ahlin-Kottulinsky said: ”We are all living in this world and we all want to make a great future, so I think closing your eyes to what’s happening is not the right way. We all have to be open to see what is happening to the world and that is why Extreme E is trying new technologies and new ways to improve, we are all in this together and we all have to do this right. I think the fact that it is raining here in Greenland is as unusual as it would be in the desert and seeing how much rain we actually had this weekend is devastating so you can’t just close your eyes to it.”
From Greenland, the series will have its next round in Sardinia, Italy, on October 23/24. The move to Sardinia for the Island X Prix follows the decision to postpone its originally planned events in Brazil and Argentina due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in South America.
“Extreme E was built around the ethos of racing electric vehicles in remote environments in an effort to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance and benefits of low carbon vehicles. However, this crisis is not a problem which only affects remote locations. It is becoming increasingly noticeable closer to home, across North America, and here across Europe, with rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires, which currently rage in Sardinia itself, being some of the latest devastating examples,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.
Since the start of the series, the vehicles, participants and scientific facility for research work at each location have travelled on a specially refurbished cargo ship called the St. Helena. Efficiency is a major element of the ship with the engines running on low sulphur marine diesel and the propellers having reduced friction. 4,000 new low emission LED lights replace the old power intensive lighting, and there are new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
Vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19 infection. You can still get infected but you may not show symptoms and still spread the coronavirus. Do not stop taking protective measures such as wearing a facemask, washing hands frequently and social distancing.
Next week will see Extreme E’s third X Prix of Season 1 which is the Arctic X Prix in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland on August 28. It will be the first ever international motorsport event to be staged in the country. The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub informing the world about the impacts of the climate crisis on our oceans (it even has a scientific laboratory onboard) as it goes from location to location.
The Ocean X Prix in Senegal, in May saw Rosberg X Racing (RXR) claim back-to-back victories to extend their championship lead, as they head the overall standings with 71 points. Although X44 topped the timesheets in qualifying once more, first-lap contact during the Final between Cristina Gutierrez and RXR’s Molly Taylor meant X44’s all-electric ODYSSEY 21 was forced to retire, seeing them finish in fourth place. Button’s JBXE team leapt up the standings to third following a strong showing in Senegal, after claiming third place despite Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky picking up rear-wheel damage before the first corner of the concluding race of the weekend.
Expecting an unpredictable race
After the opening two races in Saudi Arabia and Senegal, mastering the conditions on what was once the mighty Russell Glacier, but which has now sadly receded and is rock salt, sediment-based terrain will provide a very different challenge for the drivers. “This feels like the most unpredictable race yet,” said Taylor. “The terrain is going to be really difficult for all the teams and it will be interesting to see how the first shakedown goes for everyone. This is undoubtedly the best thing about this series – every race location offers up a new set of challenges and I think Greenland is the most exciting yet.”
Nico Rosberg, founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing with his two drivers after winning the second round in Senegal.
Asked whether RXR can make it a hat-trick of wins in Greenland, Founder Nico Rosberg said: “We could not have asked for a better start to the series with two wins from the first two races under our belt. But it would be foolish to come into this race predicting the same outcome for the team. We are working immensely hard to achieve another strong result in Greenland and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds across the weekend”.
X44 driver pairing Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb showed their pace once again in Senegal, topping the qualifying standings before bad luck struck in the Final. Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team will be keen to convert their qualifying pace into a good result on raceday in Greenland as they are just 14 points behind RXR at the top of the table.
Each team has a crew consisting of one male and one female, and both have to take turns driving. This is the Hispano Suiza XITE ENERGY team with Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampaoli Zonca.
“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel again for X44” says Loeb. “One of the most exciting things about Extreme E for me is that each race is a new kind of challenge, and it’s going to be interesting finding out what it’s like to compete on this terrain. I was really proud of our performances in Senegal and in Saudi, but we had some bad luck in the Finals. I’m confident this time we can learn from what happened and make sure we get another podium finish.”
Injured Gutierrez will be ready for race
Teammate Cristina Gutierrez recently claimed victory at the Rally Kazakhstan but suffered injury fracturing two vertebrae, which has meant spending time recovering but she will be fit for Greenland. “I’m really excited to get back racing again in Greenland and to learn more about the work Extreme E is doing on the ground to address the climate crisis” she said. “Our team has learned a lot from the past two races and, despite the Final in Senegal not being what we hoped for, we will take the positives to ensure we come back fighting again for a win. For me, every race is another opportunity to learn and improve and I’m confident we can do even better this time.”
The team has been working hard behind the scenes to analyse the data from the Ocean X Prix, particularly on their starts to ensure they are not beaten off the line going into the all-important first corner.
The Swedish duo of JBXE
Third in the standings are JBXE which, after a strong showing in Senegal, leapt up the order following sixth place at the opening Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. World Rallycross Championship racer Kevin Hansen deputised for Button to partner Ahlin-Kottulinsky for the Ocean X Prix and the pair did not disappoint, finishing qualifying fourth fastest before winning Semi-Final 2 in commanding fashion to reach the Final. Contact at the start meant an early retirement, but JBXE were still able to claim a podium spot with third.
The two Swedes have been busy preparing for the Arctic X Prix. “Kevin and I worked hard to prepare ourselves the best we could ahead of Senegal, and same thing goes for Greenland” said Ahlin-Kottulinsky. “We’re trying to understand and find out as much info about the surfaces as we can ahead of the event, and also going through each part of the event to try to optimise every single thing. There is so little practice time ahead, so preparations are key to success.”
“We of course want to pick up where we left off,” added Hansen. “We had a really great first outing with JBXE and Mikaela in Senegal and particularly with me joining the team quite late, but I think we did a great job and we managed to get the car in the right direction.
“I think for Greenland it’s a completely new surface; it’s a completely new environmental issue that we will raise awareness of, and for sure the course will show that too. It’s a new challenge for everybody, but it’s nice to have one race under our belts and I’m super excited to go to Greenland and race in front of the of the glacier with a team that I now know. We are hungry to fight for the win so super excited to see how far we go,” he said.
The all-electric SUVs have been transported by the specially configured St Helena cargo ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight. The ship also acts as a research hub.
Until this century began, motorsports were viewed mostly at ground level, with spectators able to see cars zooming by on a rally stage or a closed circuit. Major events had aerial coverage which required using a helicopter which wasn’t cheap. In-car footage had been available earlier though but usually available only after the event.
Today, spectators and viewers around the world can watch an event from overhead as drones have made it easier and cheaper to capture imagery from above. Even ordinary drones can provide a view that is exciting and give a broader perspective.
As good as watching from a helicopter
One example of drones being used for motorsports is in the unique Extreme E series for all-electric off-road SUVs. The series has so far gone to the Saudi Arabian desert and the long beaches of Senegal, with the next venue to be Greenland. And at each of the first two rounds, viewers have been able to follow the vehicles as they raced over the rough terrain and able to watch exciting overtaking manoeuvres from overhead. It’s as good as having a helicopter of your own to watch!
The company that is covering the Extreme E rounds is Aerios Solutions which not only captures the footage but also broadcasts it live to a worldwide audience. The drones, which are ‘must-have’ for entertainment and audience wow factor, offer a degree of dynamic perspective that no helicopter or plane could possibly achieve. They are event environmentally friendly in that they don’t need fossil fuel to operate, unlike helicopters. Drones run on electricity and their batteries are recharged on-site using Extreme E’s hydrogen fuel cell generators.
Highly skilled drone pilots
Aerios Solutions, a leader in drone filming technology – has 3 champion stunt helicopter pilots on its team. “It’s safe to say we have a pretty experienced crew at Aerios Solutions!” said its Director Martin Taylor. “Two of our crew are actually world champion helicopter stunt pilots, and all of our pilots have extensive experience in the drone industry including working in major film productions.”
The skills of these pilots are required to control the drones that capture the ODYSSEY 21 SUVs in what is likened to ‘Star Wars meets Dakar Rally’ style racing. “As a race series, Extreme E represents so many world firsts. Live sports programming with this level of remote production has not been done in these parts of the world before. In Greenland, we’ll be in a valley with a glacier on the side; in Senegal, we were on a beach next to a lake; and in Saudi, we were literally in the middle of a vast desert canyons. Getting live pictures out of these places with the level of integration we’ve got, just hasn’t been done before,” Extreme E’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ali Russell, proudly explained.
Aerios Solutions came on board as it was well known to Extreme E’s film production company, Aurora Media, in the past. They were an ideal outfit to get the coverage and nobody else is doing anything close – in extreme environments, with augmented reality and really dynamic coverage.
The drones can capture views like these, giving the audience a more exciting perspective of close duels – and the broadcasts are delivered live worldwide.
Operating in remote locations
There is no doubt that it is insanely tricky flying and shooting in Extreme E’s remote locations. However, even before that starts, the logistics are among the main challenges. “Getting a whole live broadcast to such remote areas is a huge challenge. There is absolutely no infrastructure on site before Extreme E arrives there. Every piece of equipment has to be transported to the operating site. Thinking ahead and planning are essential to making the operation a success,” said Taylor.
“Transport around site is difficult, and we normally need 4-wheel drive vehicles just to get to the operating positions. The remote locations have given us some unique challenges, from the baking sun and steep canyons of Saudi Arabia, to even being chased by vultures in Senegal!” he revealed.
“In terms of equipment on-site, we have three main large drones for live broadcast, along with numerous small FPV (First Person View) drones. these are extremely small, extremely quick, lightweight and agile racing drones which we use for recording fast dynamic, close shots,” Taylor said.
The three actual broadcast drones, made by a company in the Netherlands, are highly modified versions of the Acecore Technologies Neo and Zoe drones. They are large, stable platforms able that carry not only the camera and gimbals, but also the complex broadcast equipment and they can fly in all weather conditions which is pretty important in this championship.
Working together from 3 countries
In total, there are 6 pilots on site, operating three drones simultaneously. There is an engineer on call in the UK, along with Taylor in the broadcast suite in London. To carry out live broadcasting to millions of screens around the world, the footage is transmitted from the drones to receivers on-site. From there, the signal is transmitted to the director and producer in the broadcast compound and then, via satellite, to the broadcast suite in London. Finally, the signal is transmitted to a technical team in the Netherlands. After all this, the signal travels back to the on-site broadcast team, before finally being transmitted worldwide via satellite.
Even if you consider yourself a fairly competent pilot of a DJI drone, the drones used by Aerios Solutions are extremely complicated to operate. A minimum of two pilots is needed to operate each drone – one pilot controls the drone itself, the other the camera/gimbal.
“The main skills required are a high level of piloting skill. The pilots need to be extremely skilled and experienced in actually flying the drone and, of course, technical skill meaning they need to be able to maintain the drones in the remote areas. Also, team working skills – the pilot and gimbal/camera operator work as a team to get the live broadcast shots. Normally, the gimbal/camera operator directs the pilot, but they work together ‘as one’,” said Taylor.
He added that communication skills are also important. Not just communicating with each other as they chase the vehicles around the course but also with the production team. They are directed from the on-site producer, the on-site director and the production team in London.
The advancement of battery technology over the past 20 years has accelerated as electrification by the auto industry becomes more extensive. The battery has a vital role in an electrified powertrain (hybrid or fully electric), influencing performance and operating range. New technologies, materials and chemical processes have enabled the batteries to be more compact and store more energy, a trend which will continue.
Inevitably, motorsports are also going electric with Formula E and Extreme E, the latter a pioneering off road championship which is in its first season this year. These events push electric powertrains to extremes and will certainly help in the development of new technologies that can be used for road cars.
Supplier to Formula E and Extreme E
To get the best available batteries, the organisers of both Formula E and Extreme E brought in Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) as a partner. The company (which is related to the racing team) is a major force in the electric motorsport arena, having been the original and only battery supplier to the Formula E series when it began in 2014.
Williams Advanced Engineering provided the batteries for Formula E (above) and with all the expertise gained in developing and manufacturing batteries for motorsports, it was in a good position to also be a supplier for Extreme E (below).
“Following the on-track successes we’ve had at Le Mans (providing engineering support for Porsche’s sports car racing programme), through the hybrid F1 era, then 4 seasons supplying batteries to the first-generation Formula E grid (and due to supply the Gen 3 batteries), together with being technical partner for Jaguar Racing, we have learned a lot about how to extract the highest levels of performance from a battery,” said Craig Wilson, CEO of Williams Advanced Engineering.
Greater challenges with Extreme E
Their expertise put them in a good position to gain a sole developer role in Extreme E. But while the basic technology would be the same, Extreme E presents a greater challenge because of its off-road nature. “In Extreme E, we are taking battery technology away from the traditional race circuit and into hostile environments, where humidity, dust, extremes of temperature, shock and vibration will play a huge part and to that end, the batteries have had to be uniquely tailored for the environment,” explained Glen Pascoe, WAE Principal Engineer.
“And with races being head-to-head over short distances, the batteries are sized to manage high intensity operation over a shorter time than in other e-racing series, but in a far harsher environment,” he added. “As a result, we have developed a whole new module that can produce 400kW peak power in a bespoke battery construction along with an entirely new pre-race conditioning system to maximise robustness and minimise mass.”
Simplicity, serviceability and modularity were all critical design requirements. Commercially available cells were selected and designed into a pack in conjunction with the series to align both with the race format and the vehicle performance duty cycle. “Working with limited space in the car, we had to meet tough power and mass performance targets and deliver a bespoke battery pack design in under 12 months!” recalled Pascoe.
Environments change with each round
Each venue of Extreme E has different environments and in the opening round in Saudi Arabia in April, sand and high temperatures were the big challenges, as well as thin air. “The first run simulation took part at the hottest time of the day and a battery rebuild we carried out was intensive and not helped by strong winds and even a sandstorm providing an unwelcome interruption, which covered all battery parts and electronics with a fine grit. We had to bring out the vacuum cleaner to deep clean for all components in time for the team-wide shakedown runs,” he said.
The Senegal event brought a mixture of similarities but also differences to Saudi Arabia in the challenges faced. Whilst not as hot, ambient temperatures in the seaside area still remained high, accompanied by 90%+ humidity levels. This brought its own unique challenges in actively managing the battery temperature both during the on-track action and between races.
“Alongside this, the Senegal event showed the cars tackling a very demanding, technical and aggressive track. The batteries were constantly punished with heavy impacts and harsh vibrations as the cars bounced around the dunes and deep ruts. Ensuring battery health throughout the weekend was key to ensuring a successful event,” Pascoe revealed.
He added that the batteries performed flawlessly even with the severe impacts that happened in the Desert X Prix as well as the intense head-to-head battles on the 6-km long harsh, technical course, through woods and beach sand of the Ocean X Prix.
The paddock area in the Desert E Prix in Saudi Arabia. On the left side is AFC Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell station to recharge the e-SUVs with zero emissions generated except water.
On-site servicing and recharging
Unlike being at a closed racing circuit, Extreme E’s tracks are in the open, without the usual facilities. Nevertheless, the WAE team was able to work on the batteries on location without difficulty. “Servicing and maintaining the batteries throughout the events went well, which is a reflection of all the design work that went into them,” said Pascoe.
After two rounds, the ODYSSEY 21 racing SUVs have covered 1,070 kms, of which 480 kms were recorded in Senegal. Cumulative energy discharge has been nearly 2,000 kWh, with about half drawn in Senegal. In total, over 12 hours of on-track running has taken place.
The first two rounds of Extreme E in Saudi Arabia and Senegal (above and top) have had a lot of sand and high temperatures. The third round – the Arctic X Prix – will be in a very different environment in Greenland (below).
The third round next month is the Arctic X Prix which will take place in Greenland. The engineers will be glad for no more sand, but the climate and track conditions will be vastly different. “There will be very new challenges of snow and of course, water and mud. There will be stone impact and less grip resulting in more drift and vertical impact. In addition to the physical challenges, the remoteness of the location means we need to forward plan for every eventuality before arriving on location as there will be no opportunity for late deliveries or freight, no additional transport available or indeed, supplies!” noted Pascoe.
Unlocking further vehicle performance
As the season progresses, the engineers at WAE will gain more data on battery and overall powertrain performance and behaviour. This will allow them to unlock further vehicle performance so the performance envelopes will be extended. “The batteries have been designed for multi-season use so WAE will inspect, re-test and go again. Any incremental improvements available will be implemented during the turn-around. Once the batteries reach the end of their final racing season, the cells can be easily removed as module ‘building blocks’ and configured into a suitable second-life application. Some components are targeted for reuse in alternative applications, and some will be recycled in order to recover valuable raw materials,” said Pascoe.
Whatever is learnt during the events and the solutions found may be transferred into production cars. With the R&D opportunities that the series gives, innovations can filter into the consumer market. “Specifically in areas such as fast charging, battery management and software development,” said Wilson. “Essentially, affordability comes with volume production. By pioneering and showcasing EV technology in a series such as Extreme E, manufacturers will be able to ‘carry over’ technology into road cars and in doing so, enable the technology to become more affordable.”
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The McLaren name became known in motorsports when Bruce McLaren’s team won the 1968 Belgian F1 Grand Prix and grew in fame with its regular presence in different types of international motorsports. It scored many victories in American events as well as the Formula 1 World Championship.
Now McLaren Racing will open a new motorsport chapter in 2022 when it enters a team for Extreme E, the all-electric off-road series that started this year. Two rounds have already been run – in Saudi Arabia and in Senegal. Besides the excitement of motor racing in the tough conditions, the event also promotes sustainability and diversity.
Although McLaren had earlier indicated its interest in Formula E, the all-electric single-seater series on closed tarmac circuits, it appears that they now prefer Extreme E. The decision to enter Extreme E follows a detailed evaluation of the series by McLaren against a set of strategic, economic and operational criteria. These were underpinned by a clear imperative for accelerating McLaren Racing’s own sustainability mission, which places carbon reduction, the recycling, reuse and elimination of waste, and diversity, equality and inclusion at its core.
More than just a race series
Extreme E highlights the impact of climate change in some of the world’s most remote environments, promotes the adoption of electric vehicles to pave the way for a lower carbon future, and provides a world-first gender-equal motorsport platform.
“Extreme E’s mission is to use sport to build awareness and accelerate clean technology innovations that benefit the mobility industry and beyond,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E. ”To have McLaren on board – which symbolizes the highest level of racing and automotive innovation – is a huge endorsement that what we have delivered in just our first two races of Season 1 has already created real impact in motorsport.”
McLaren no stranger to electric motorsport
McLaren Racing has been a leader in electric motorsport from the outset, supplying the battery powertrain to the FIA Formula E Championship for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 seasons, employing the same technology pioneered in the McLaren P1 hypercar. With its move from supplier to team, McLaren Racing will continue to build its know-how and expertise in the all-electric racing space.
Simultaneous competition in different series has been embedded in McLaren Racing since the founding of the team in 1963, with Can-Am, Formula 1, INDYCAR and Le Mans all forming part of the McLaren legacy of motorsport competition and innovation.
McLaren has been active in motorsports at the highest levels since the 1960s, with numerous successes and championship wins.
The team will be operated by McLaren Racing using both existing personnel from outside the Formula 1 programme and additional specialist resources. Like all teams, McLaren Racing is limited to 4 mechanics and 1 engineer at each event for the one-make car and its two drivers (one of whom must be female), transported by Extreme E as part of the overall franchise package.
Complementary to other activities
“While Formula 1 will always remain at the centre of our world, like INDYCAR and esports, our entry into Extreme E is additive to the McLaren Racing franchise and will complement and help support all our programmes. We will be competing against big names we’re very familiar with from F1 and INDYCAR but, like all series we compete in, the competition objective is clear: we are there to win,” said Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing.
“From the outset, McLaren has always been at the forefront and never afraid to push new boundaries. This new venture is true to our roots of participating in a variety of categories, innovation and bravery. Extreme E is paving new ground in motorsport as a force for good in confronting some of the biggest challenges facing our world today and in the future,” he added.
The Rosberg X Racing team was victorious again in the second round of the Extreme E series, this time held at Lac Rose on the coastline of Dakar, Senegal. The crew of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor faced intense pressure from rival teams during the two days of the event which was known as the Ocean X Prix.
While the Desert X Prix, the first event in April, was run in dry desert conditions in Saudi Arabia, this round was along the beach fronting the Atlantic Ocean. High drama in the Grand Final saw two of the four cars retiring at the first corner, which left Rosberg X Racing to extend their championship lead and Veloce Racing to snatch a surprise result, bouncing back from their disastrous Desert X Prix.
Sandy but very different from Saudi Arabia
The Extreme E drivers loved the tight and technical Ocean X Prix course which made for close racing and had several options for alternate routes as drivers made their way over sand dunes.
“The race format here has been a big step forward from Al-Ula in terms of development for race excitement – but it’s still early stages and there’s still a way to go. One needs to analyze again, and I think we keep on seeing more and more glimpses of such awesome motor racing and this will continue to evolve into a super spectacle the more we go on. Remember, nobody’s ever done this before, and you have to be open-minded and accept that you are going to learn and make it more and more exciting each time,” said Nico Rosberg, Founder and CEO of Rosberg X Racing.
“I love this whole championship and being in the role of team principal – I’m still as competitive as hell even though I’m not actually driving. Anyway, we have the two best drivers in the car who are doing a much better job than I could – and I couldn’t be happier!” the former F1 driver added.
Races on the beach
A Shoot Out saw three top teams face off in spectacular fashion. Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti United Extreme E and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team had all endured mechanical gremlins plaguing their qualifying runs.
Timmy Hansen stole the advantage into the first corner with Sara Price and Carlos Sainz in hot pursuit. The Spanish rally driver patiently waited for his opportunity and wrestled the lead away from Hansen before entering the switch zone.
At the driver swap, Laia Sanz ran into trouble failing to successfully connect her communications cable. Nonetheless, Sanz re-joined in the lead and looked to have the edge but Kyle LeDuc had other ideas. The 39-year old fired out of the switch zone in third place but quickly set about closing the gap to the top two. LeDuc showed his mettle by slicing through the gap to Catie Munnings and claiming second place, followed quickly by a spectacular move on Sanz to claim victory in the Shoot Out.
Drama unfolded before the first corner in the Ocean X prix Grand Final as GridPlay winners Veloce Racing opted to start on the third grid slot, but the advantage was quickly lost as Stéphane Sarrazin was squeezed out at the first gate dropping back to last position.
JBXE’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky picked up rear-wheel damage before she even reached the first corner and inevitably was forced to retire the car, as was Cristina Gutierrez in the X44 car who came to blows with the Rosberg X Racing ODYSSEY 21 – in an incident reminiscent of the two Formula 1 World Champions on-track disputes in 2016 – at turn one and ended her day on the sidelines.
Molly Taylor and Sarrazin were therefore left to fight it out for the lead, with the Frenchman closing the gap throughout the lap and ending his stint hot on the heels of the 2016 Australian Rally Champion.
To ensure officials could safely clear the stricken X44 and JBXE cars, a brief red flag was deployed, as the intense battle for the lead was put on hold whilst the drivers made their way into the switch zone. A standing start restart was initiated as Jamie Chadwick and Johan Kristoffersson prepared for an all or nothing, one-lap showdown.
A close-fought drag race down to the first gate ended with light contact between the two ODYSSEY 21s handing Kristoffersson the advantage. Once he had reached the technical section of the course, the three-time FIA World Rallycross Champion began to stretch his legs opening up a 15-second advantage to win Rosberg X Racing’s second Extreme E X prix in succession.
“It’s so fantastic to have won today! Coming here, it felt like we had a lot of work to do over the weekend, and it certainly didn’t come easy. But with every session, we just kept our heads down and just saw where we needed to improve, and everything totally paid off in the end,” said Rosberg X Racing’s Taylor.
Sailing to Greenland
With the conclusion of the Ocean X Prix, the Extreme E fraternity and vehicles return to the championship’s floating paddock – the St Helena. This specially configured ship is being used to provide transport to each venue to reduce carbon emissions and also serve as a scientific laboratory for researchers accompanying the event. The next round will be the Arctic X Prix in Greenland on August 28/29.
The other side of EXTREME E
Apart from being an exciting motorsport series, Extreme E is using the power of sport, and the excitement of motor racing, to inspire fans to take practical steps on climate change. At each of the race locations, various environmental activities will be carried out to help local communities as well as create awareness.
In Dakar, Extreme E has teamed up with local NGO, Oceanium, to plant one million mangrove trees in Senegal. In addition, Extreme E will support the EcoZone Project, a living lab that addresses the Lac Rose community’s primary needs while preserving the environment through experiential learning, regenerative agriculture and a circular economy.
The Oceanium project, which Extreme E has identified in partnership with TO.org, will focus on five areas totalling 60 hectares – the equivalent of around 112 football fields – with the aim of reforesting mangroves, providing education to local populations and improving social cohesion.
Mangroves are one of the richest ecosystems in the world, providing essential goods and services and playing an important role in the life of coastal communities in countries like Senegal. In addition to being an excellent carbon store, they reduce flooding and erosion from storms, act as nurseries for fish and filter salt and pollutants from water.
Senegal has around 185,000 hectares of mangrove estuaries in the regions of Casamance and Sine Saloum but unfortunately, these are disappearing very quickly. Between 1980 and 2000, 25% of Senegal’s mangroves and 35% of the world’s mangroves were lost due to droughts and deforestation. The loss of mangroves is having a negative impact not only on the environment, but also on local communities that depend on them for their livelihood, making it so important to restore these degraded areas.
Extreme E – the unique off-road series for electric SUVs – will run its second round this weekend, this time in Lac Rose on the Senegalese coast of West Africa. Known as the Ocean X Prix, the event will be run along the shores of Lac Rose. It is situated 37 kms from the capital, Dakar, a name that was the finish of the world’s most famous cross-country rally – the Paris-Dakar – on numerous occasions between 1979 and 2007 (the Dakar Rally is still running, except that it is now in Saudi Arabia).
Out on the course, the drivers will once again face a mostly sandy terrain, though a very different challenge and location to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Here the race will take to the existing tracks surrounding the lake, named after, and renowned for its striking pink colour, caused by algae that thrives within its highly-saline waters.
9 teams with dual-gender crews
Once again, 9 teams and 18 drivers – each comprising one male and one female – will compete but in a slight change to the Saudi Arabia race format, the Final will be a 4-car battle, with two teams from each of the two Semi-Finals progressing to the concluding race of the weekend.
Like the Desert X Prix, Qualifying consists of two rounds of time trials. The team starting order is decided by a draw for Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2. All races feature two laps with the incorporated driver ‘Switch’ feature.
No clear leader yet
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took victory in the inaugural X Prix last month but doesn’t have a clear lead as the top three teams are within 7 points of each other. So there should be a thrilling racing action as each team tries to score as many points as possible.
Teams can benefit from a ‘HyperDrive boost’ available to each driver on each lap of the race. Activated when the driver presses a button on the steering wheel, they will enjoy an extra push of continuous power for a few seconds.
New for the Ocean X Prix is the ‘Super Sector’ – a part of the course where the fastest driver in that section over the weekend will earn 5 points for their team. This ensures that whatever position the teams find themselves in, there is always an incentive to push to the limit as points are up for grabs.
Each year, the famous Paris-Dakar Rally ended in Dakar until security concerns forced the organizers to stop travelling through the region.
“I am delighted to be back in Dakar, a place with a vast motorsport heritage, and I can’t wait to see our world-class line-up of drivers compete on this latest course we have devised. The Desert X Prix delivered some truly thrilling racing with a stunning backdrop and I’m sure Senegal will provide the same,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E.
“In Lac Rose, we find an area suffering at the hands of the climate crisis, which is the true reason we are here. It doesn’t take long upon arrival to see one of the biggest issues, plastic pollution, which is affecting the local community and its marine life. Through our Legacy Programmes, we are supporting the local community to make change, and I can’t wait to see it for myself and help where I can,” he added.
To reduce the carbon footprint of the event, a ship is used to transport the vehicles and event equipment to each location. The ship also serves as a floating laboratory for scientists.
Why Senegal?
Extreme X, while being a motorsport event, is unique in that it also uses its global coverage to create awareness of environmental issues. Senegal was chosen as one of the venues to support the fight against the climate crisis and the local communities suffering due to the many issues it brings.
In addition, plastic pollution is another major issue affecting Senegal, with the mountain of single-use plastic washing up on the shores growing day-by-day and threatening marine species and human health. This is something that not only impacts Senegal but also globally and if left unchecked, it’s estimated that 4 billion tonnes of plastic pollution will enter our land and oceans by 2050 under a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario.
Extreme E will be supporting two projects in Senegal. For the first, the championship has teamed up with a local NGO to plant one million mangrove trees in the country across 60 hectares with the aim of reforesting mangroves, providing education to local populations and improving social cohesion.
The second project is the EcoZone Project, a living lab that addresses the Lac Rose community’s primary needs while preserving the environment through experiential learning, regenerative agriculture and a circular economy. As part of this, the EcoBrique Challenge was launched which tasked the community to create bricks for construction from plastic waste.
Shakedown and qualifications will be aired through Extreme E’s official website (www.extreme-e.com and social channels and the Finals will be shown in more than 180 countries by 75 broadcasters.
