Image: https://www.extreme-e.com/
XE Sports Group, the sporting arm of EV Direct (the business that plans to bring the BYD Atto 3 EV in numbers to Australia later this year), has raised its hand to enter the Extreme E electric car racing event.
For those new to Extreme E – it is an extreme off-road, all-electric vehicle event. Similar in conditions to the famous Dakkar rally, it is run as a series of five two day events at various locations around the world.
Extreme E events are designed to highlight world environmental issues and hotspots and the organisers go to great lengths to both minimise the environmental impact of the racing series as well as maximise the economic benefits to the local regions they are run in.
Extreme E began in 2021 with five events (as covered here) and is now entering its second series – with the first event run last February in Neom (Saudi Arabia. Chosen to highlight the causes of desertification, the loss of biological diversity, and the importance of community resilience). The next two are happening in Sardinia on July 6/7 and 9/10. (Sardinia was selected to highlight the effects of rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfire).
Currently, ten teams compete in the series, however for series 3 in 2023 eleven teams will run – with that eleventh being new Australian entrant, XE Sports Group. (And the first entrant from anywhere in the Asia Pacific region).
Cupra’s entry in the Extreme E. Source: Extreme E
Luke Todd (director of XE Sports Group and head of BYD importer EV Direct) said at the announcement that he hopes the involvement of XE Sports in Extreme E will “ ….. raise awareness within Australia and wider Asia Pacific Region of the benefits of electric vehicle technology.”
Todd went on further to say “Competitively, we are joining Extreme E to race and win. We will be delivering a world-class racing package and eagerly await to line up against the likes of the X44, Rosberg X Racing, and JBXE teams as well as the rest of the top-class field. Australians are renowned for overachieving in the sports arena, and we aim for nothing less in Extreme E. We will be racing for the planet and racing to win.”
Also Joining XE Sports as part of its management team is former Australian soccer star, Tim Cahil, who is looking forward to “thrilling, competitive racing and leaving a lasting, positive impact”. He plans to bring his expertise in sports to bear on the team, as well as introduce his fan base to the world of electric off-road motorsport.
Retired Socceroo star Tom Cahill at the BYD launch on Saturday. Image courtesy Luke Todd/LinkedIn
For the full calendar of series 2 events, list of teams and how to view the events (which by the way are, sadly, mostly via pay channels) see: https://www.extreme-e.com/
Keyword: Australian team to enter new series of Extreme E off-road, all electric vehicle races