The 2021 Extreme E Championship was the inaugural season of the Extreme E electric off-road racing series. It started on 3 April with the Desert X-Prix in Saudi Arabia.[1]
Calendar
A provisional race schedule was announced on 17 December 2019, which would have seen a season start in January 2021 with an event in Senegal.[2] But because of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic the start of the season was pushed back to spring 2021, and a race in Patagonia was presented to replace a Nepal-based event.[3] On 11 June 2021, both South American events –planned to be held in Ushuaia, Argentina and Santarém, Brazil– were cancelled, with championship CEO Alejandro Agag stating they are "seeking alternate destinations".[4] In late July, the Island X-Prix on Sardinia was announced as the first replacement race.[5] A Jurassic X-Prix, due to take place in Dorset, was revealed in October as the new season finale.[6]
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| Round | Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3–4 April 2021 | Desert X-Prix |  Al-'Ula, Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | 29–30 May 2021 | Ocean X-Prix |  Lac Rose, Senegal |
| 3 | 28–29 August 2021 | Arctic X-Prix |  Kangerlussuaq, Greenland |
| 4 | 23–24 October 2021 | Island X-Prix |  Sardinia, Italy |
| 5 | 18–19 December 2021 | Jurassic X-Prix |  Dorset, United Kingdom |
The following events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
| Original Dates | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 14–15 May 2021 | Mountain X-Prix |  Kali Gandaki Gorge, Nepal |
| 23–24 October 2021 | Amazon X-Prix |  Santarém, Brazil |
| 11–12 December 2021 | Glacier X-Prix |  Ushuaia, Argentina |
Race format
A race weekend consists of two rounds of qualifying time trials on Saturday, followed by multi-car races on Sunday. At the Desert X-Prix all races were intended for three cars: a semi-final from which two teams advanced to the final, a "crazy race" from which only one team advanced and a shoot-out for the bottom three places, culminating in a three-car final.[7] The format was tweaked for round two in Senegal, where two teams each from two semi-finals advance to the final which is competed by four teams. Additionally, a "super sector" is introduced, where five extra points are awarded to the fastest team through that sector over the whole weekend.[8] Further alterations were introduced for round three in Greenland, most notably a five-car final with one team progressing from the erstwhile shoot-out, now called "crazy race". An intermediate classification points system was also implemented, with teams receiving points from 9 down to 1 according to their place in each qualifying session; the sum of these, rather than aggregate times, determining their overall qualifying position. These classification points would not contribute to overall championship points.[9] Another rule adjustment was introduced at the season finale in Dorset to accommodate the short nature of the circuit, each session now consisting of three laps, with the starting driver, who in the final would be the female driver, taking the first two.[10]
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2021 championship. All teams use one of the identical Odyssey 21 electric SUVs manufactured by Spark Racing Technology, with Chip Ganassi Racing running a modified bodywork.[11] Each team consists of a male and a female driver, who share a car and have equal driving duties.[12]
| Team | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veloce Racing[13] |
5 | Jamie Chadwick[14] |
1–2, 5 |
 Emma Gilmour[15] |
3–4 | ||
 Stéphane Sarrazin[16] |
1–4 | ||
 Lance Woolridge[17] |
5 | ||
 Rosberg X Racing[18] |
6 |  Johan Kristoffersson[19] |
All |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Molly Taylor[20] |
All | ||
| JBXE[21] |
22 | Jenson Button[21] |
1 |
| Kevin Hansen[22] |
2–5 | ||
| Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky[23] |
All | ||
 Andretti United Extreme E[24][25] |
23 | Catie Munnings[26] |
All |
| Timmy Hansen[26] |
All | ||
 Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team[27] Xite Energy Racing[28][N 1] |
42 | Christine GZ[27] |
All |
| Oliver Bennett[27] |
All | ||
| Team X44[29] |
44 | Cristina Gutiérrez[30] |
All |
| Sébastien Loeb[30] |
All | ||
| Acciona | Sainz XE Team[31] |
55 | Carlos Sainz[31] |
All |
| Laia Sanz[31] |
All | ||
| Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing[32] |
99 | Kyle LeDuc[33] |
All |
| Sara Price[32] |
All | ||
| Abt Cupra XE[34] |
125 | Claudia Hürtgen[34] |
1–2[N 2] |
| Jutta Kleinschmidt[35][36] |
2–5 | ||
| Mattias Ekström[37] |
All |
| Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|
| Jutta Kleinschmidt[38] |
1–2 |
| Tamara Molinaro[39] |
3–5 |
| Timo Scheider[40] |
All |
Mid-season changes
- JBXE team owner Jenson Button only drove the first round and then replaced himself with Kevin Hansen.[41]
- Claudia Hürtgen fell ill after the Ocean X-Prix shakedown and had to be replaced by championship reserve driver Jutta Kleinschmidt.[42] Later it was announced that Kleinschmidt would take over the Abt Cupra seat for the remainder of the season.[43]
- Jamie Chadwick missed rounds 3 and 4 because of W Series commitments and was replaced by Veloce reserve driver Emma Gilmour.[44]
- Stéphane Sarrazin parted ways with Veloce prior to the final round of the season. He was replaced by the team's male reserve driver, Lance Woolridge.[17]
Results and standings
X-Prix
| Round | Event | Qualifying 1 | Qualifying 2 | Qualifying Overall | Semi-Final 1 | Semi-Final 2[N 3] | Crazy Race[N 4] | Super Sector[N 5] | Final | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desert X-Prix |
Rosberg X Racing |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Rosberg X Racing |
Andretti United XE |
Abt Cupra XE |
not awarded | Rosberg X Racing |
Report |
| 2 | Ocean X-Prix |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Rosberg X Racing |
JBXE |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Rosberg X Racing |
Report |
| 3 | Arctic X-Prix |
Team X44 |
Rosberg X Racing |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Andretti United XE |
JBXE |
Andretti United XE |
Andretti United XE |
Report |
| 4 | Island X-Prix |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
Rosberg X Racing |
JBXE |
Team X44 |
Rosberg X Racing |
Report |
| 5 | Jurassic X-Prix |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Rosberg X Racing |
Andretti United XE |
Team X44 |
Team X44 |
Report |
- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top nine drivers based on aggregate qualifying standings, as well as the top nine finishers. From the second round on, an additional 5 points are given to the fastest team in the Super Sector over the whole weekend.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5[N 6] |
| Race day | 25 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
Only the best four X-Prix results count towards the drivers' championship.
Drivers' Championship standings
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* – Fastest in Super Sector | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Teams' Championship standings
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Notes
- ↑ Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team was re-branded as Xite Energy Racing ahead of round 2.
- ↑ Claudia Hürtgen was entered for round 2 but was replaced after shakedown by Jutta Kleinschmidt for medical reasons.
- ↑ Semi-Final 2 was known as the "Crazy Race" at the season-opening Desert X-Prix.
- ↑ The Crazy Race was known as the "Shootout" at the first two rounds of the season.
- ↑ Commercially known as the "Continental Traction Challenge" at rounds 4 and 5.
- ↑ Only for the teams' championship.
- 1 2 Chip Ganassi Racing and Kyle LeDuc received a 1 championship point penalty for causing a collision in the shoot-out race of the Desert X-Prix.[45]
References
- ↑ "One month until Extreme E series crowns its first ever race champion in Saudi Arabia". automobilsport.com. 4 March 2021.
- ↑ "Extreme E unveils schedule for inaugural season". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ↑ "Argentina replaces Nepal, first Extreme E round delayed". dirtfish.com. 26 October 2020.
- ↑ "Extreme E: South American races update". Extreme E. 11 June 2021.
- ↑ "Extreme E adds Island X-Prix in Sardinia to its calendar". dirtfish.com. 30 July 2021.
- ↑ "Extreme E reveals Jurassic X Prix season finale". SportsPro. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ↑ "Dust concerns force major Extreme E format change". dirtfish.com. 31 March 2021.
- ↑ "Extreme E set for Ocean X Prix". extreme-e.com. 24 May 2021.
- ↑ "Five-car Final for Arctic X Prix". extreme-e.com. 17 August 2021.
- ↑ Kew, Matt (16 December 2021). "Female drivers to start final Extreme E round following rules adjustment". Autosport. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ↑ "GMC's Hummer EV to sponsor, provide livery to Chip Ganassi in Extreme E". NBC Sports. 26 January 2021.
- ↑ "Extreme E takes lead on gender equality in motorsport". extreme-e.com. 20 April 2020.
- ↑ Lewis, Niamh (19 September 2019). "Adrian Newey: Formula 1 designer to join Extreme E". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ↑ "Jamie Chadwick to race in Extreme E with Veloce". bbc.com. 25 November 2020.
- ↑ "Veloce Racing's reserve driver Gilmour steps up to the plate for Arctic X Prix". extreme-e.com. 16 August 2021.
- ↑ "Veloce completes its Extreme E line-up with Sarrazin". dirtfish.com. 21 January 2021.
- 1 2 Kew, Matt (2 December 2021). "Veloce drops Sarrazin for Extreme E finale in Dorset". Autosport. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ↑ "Nico Rosberg to launch own Extreme E team". bbc.com. 22 October 2020.
- ↑ "Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson will drive for Nico Rosberg in Extreme E". nbcsports.com. 2 December 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor joins Rosberg Extreme E squad". motorsport.com. 9 December 2020.
- 1 2 "Jenson Button joins Extreme E as driver and team owner for 2021 season". skysports.com. 25 January 2021.
- ↑ "JBXE announces driver swap for Senegal". extreme-e.com. 21 May 2021.
- ↑ "Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky joins JBXE". extreme-e.com. 12 March 2021.
- ↑ "Andretti Autosport Joins Extreme E Team". Extreme E. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ↑ "Introducing Andretti United Extreme E Team". Extreme E. 23 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- 1 2 "Andretti United Extreme E confirms drivers Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen". extreme-e.com. 28 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 "Hispano Suiza replaces HWA in debut season of Extreme E". motorsportweek.com. 15 December 2020.
- ↑ "XITE ENERGY RACING re-brand ready for Extreme E's Dakar challenge". Mailchimp. 28 May 2021.
- ↑ "Lewis Hamilton founds Extreme E team". extreme-e.com. 8 September 2020.
- 1 2 "Lewis Hamilton's Extreme E team hires Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez". bbc.co.uk. 12 November 2020.
- 1 2 3 "ACCIONA, Carlos Sainz and QEV Technologies team up to compete in Extreme E". extreme-e.com. 30 November 2020.
- 1 2 "Chip Ganassi Racing Commits to Extreme E". Extreme E. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ↑ "Chip Ganassi Racing confirm Extreme E driver line-up with Kyle LeDuc signing". www.extreme-e.com. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- 1 2 "Claudia Hürtgen completes ABT CUPRA XE driver line-up". Extreme E. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ↑ "Extreme E on Twitter". Twitter. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ↑ "Jutta Kleinschmidt to race for ABT CUPRA XE". Extreme E. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
- ↑ "ABT confirms Mattias Ekström as male driver and CUPRA as main partner". Extreme E. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ↑ "Extreme E announces Jutta Kleinschmidt as Advisor and Championship Driver". Extreme E. 17 March 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ↑ "Tamara Molinaro joins Extreme E as Championship Driver". Extreme E. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ↑ Kew, Matt (15 March 2021). "Double DTM champion Scheider signed as XE reserve driver". Autosport. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ↑ "Kevin Hansen replaces Jenson Button for next XE event". dirtfish.com. 21 May 2021.
- ↑ "Abt driver Hurtgen out of Senegal XE round with virus, Kleinschmidt to sub in". autosport.com. 28 May 2021.
- ↑ "Kleinschmidt to replace Hurtgen for full XE season at Abt". motorsport.com. 24 June 2021.
- ↑ "Chadwick to miss Arctic Extreme E as Gilmour gets Veloce drive". motorsport.com. 16 August 2021.
- ↑ "03 - Classification - Shoot Out" (PDF). Al Kamel Systems. Retrieved 7 April 2021.