Extreme E is a new FIA sanctioned international off-road racing series. Using purpose-built Spark Odyssey 21 electric SUVs, the series races in remote corners of the world including the Saudi desert, oceanside of Senegal, arctic terrain of Greenland, the amazon rainforest of Brazil and a glacier in Argentina. The series chose race locations that were already damaged by climate change in order to bring awareness to environmental problems. The series also promotes gender equality by requiring each team to field one female and one male driver to share the racing duties.
The ‘enlightened’ racing series is the brainchild of Alejandro Agag, the man in charge of FIA Formula E. During these challenging times it can be difficult to justify a new racing series, yet Agag has partnered social causes with racing as the vehicle to carry them forward. Simply brilliant.
Teams that competed in the inaugural race included US rivals Andretti United Extreme E and Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing. But a special treat for motorsports fans; the renewal of the Rosberg-Hamilton War! The Rosberg X Racing team is run by Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg, who relishes a chance to compete against the X44 team run by multi-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The two rivals will go head-to-head as car owners, their first opportunity to compete against each other since 2016.
But the fan favourite, the team with the most support behind it, undoubtedly is JBXE, founded by Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button. Unlike Michael Andretti, Chip Ganassi, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, the brave Jenson Button is team owner and driver alongside his teammate, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. Button has spent a lifetime circuit racing, so off-road competition is well outside his wheelhouse. but he is a true racer who always wants to compete.
The iconic livery of the now-defunct Brawn F1 team, from Button’s championship F1 season, has inspired JBXE‘s unmistakable look.
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