Extreme E Electric SUV Off-Road Racing Series Comes in 2021, to Be Based at Sea

The competition is the bigger, meaner version of Formula E. In fact, Extreme has the support of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, and is aimed at “accelerating the development of electric vehicles” and raising awarness about the state of the environment.

The inaugural season of the competition is scheduled for 2021 and will include 12 teams, separated in two groups of six. Each team will have to complete courses that are a combination of off-road tracks and open ground.

The groups will use a round-robin format with the top four teams in each progressing to the knock-out stage that will see them race head-to-head for a place in the final.

Just as its name says, the selected locations for the race are extreme. One race will take place on the ice of the Arctic, another on a glacier in the Himalayas, one in the Amazon, a fourth in the Sahara desert and the fifth on an island in the Pacific Ocean.

“Whether it’s in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon, Sahara or on Indian Ocean Islands, this car will showcase the ability of E-SUVs, not only to motorsports enthusiasts, but also to consumers who are looking to make their own difference to the planet by choosing an electric SUV,” said in a statement Alejandro Agag, Formula E CEO.

So far, two teams have announced their participation in the series: ABT and HWA. All the teams taking part will use the same SUV, the Odyssey E that was shown last week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Unlike most other racing series, Extreme E will be based at sea. The competition’s organizers will use a former Royal Mail Ship by the name of RMS St Helena as a base of operations. The ship is currently undergoing “a multi-million euro transformation (to reduce her emissions” and make it the ideal HQ and garage for the teams.