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An American Electric Beast

Andretti Autosport is the latest entrant into the Extreme E championship.

Promising to be the wildest adventure a motorsport series has ever seen, the Extreme E championship, revealed today the latest team (sixth overall) to join its inaugural 2021 campaign.

Andretti Autosport, a founding Formula E outfit has made of innovation its fingerprint when it comes to electric racing.

Now, the team moves a step further joining the unique electric SUV off-road racing series.

A highly successful force in motorsport with four INDYCAR series championships to their name, Andretti Autosport will face fierce competitors.

The confirmed entries so far for Season 1 of the Electric Odyssey include Monegasque electric vehicle manufacturer, Venturi Automobiles, and German teams HWA and ABT Sportline.

Double Formula E champion Jean-Éric Vergne is also joining the pioneering championship as a co-founder to Veloce Racing.

The outfit will have mastermind Adrian Newey, in the role of Lead Visionary.

The fifth team to commit to the Extreme E adventure is Spanish firm QEV Technologies, currently in charge of the engineering management and operations of Mahindra Racing and NIO 333 Formula E teams.

We remain dedicated to expanding and diversifying our team effort, in both traditional motorsport and with new, revolutionary racing concepts.

I think that Extreme E is an exciting opportunity for the team as we continue to grow globally,” said Michael Andretti, Chairman, and CEO, Andretti Autosport.

EXTREME E DNA

The new racing series aims to raise global awareness on climate change while bringing the best out of the motorsport world competing in remote locations on the planet affected by the impacts of the climate crisis.

The all-electric ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs will feature five races in 10-kilometer circuits in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, the Nepalese Himalayas, Al-‘Ula in Saudi Arabia, and Lac Rose in Senegal set to take place from January to October 2021.

WARMING UP

Last January, the ODYSSEY 21 made a successful first outing in the legendary Dakar Rally, taking part during shakedown and at the final competitive stage on the rally-raid route, alongside participants in comparable ICE and hybrid vehicles. 

I am absolutely delighted to welcome Andretti Autosport, a true powerhouse in racing, as the latest team to join Extreme E.

The team has a real passion for motorsport, both as a driver of change and in promoting sustainable practices and technologies, making its decision to join Extreme E at this early stage, a natural one.”

Extreme E is an ambitious new project born out of a concern for the future of our planet, and now more than ever, as motorsport adapts its behaviors and values to stay relevant in these changing times, that concern is critical for us all to consider,” said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO, Extreme E.

In late October, the teams should take delivery on the ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs with a group test following.

 

Images courtesy of Extreme E Media.

About Cecilia Demartini
Cecilia is a freelance Journalist passionate about motorsport and writing.
Her articles appeared in a variety of online publications.
Her knowledge goes from F1, F2, and F3 to other series such as MotoGP, IndyCar, Rally, WEC, and particularly Formula E.