Extreme E wants to highlight the climate emergency and promote
Women in racing – so the decision to host the opening race in
Saudi Arabia was incongruous to say the least
With the aim of hosting a drive that makes a real difference, the new motor racing series Extreme E has progressive ideas at its core. The championship is dedicated to highlighting the climate emergency and in doing so promoting women in racing. Yet there was a curiously deafening silence this weekend over the clear incongruity of these aims with choosing to hold its inaugural meeting in Saudi Arabia.
Extreme E’s intent is to push the urgency of the climate emergency and promote social goals by going racing in a sustainable
fashion, with a target of being carbon neutral. The cars are electric SUVs, racing off-road layouts. No fans are at the races, the paddock is a ship that transports equipment around the world and the electricity for the cars is generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Each of the five venues has been chosen to highlight a different form of climate danger and where the series will undertake legacy projects to make a difference locally.