BBC Sport has agreed a multi-year partnership that will see the new all-electric off-road racing series – Extreme E – screened live and free-to-air across the corporation’s digital platforms.
The new ‘climate aware’ racing series will see electric SUV off-road cars compete in five remote locations across the world affected by climate change.
Every race on the calendar, comprising five formidable environments affected by climate change and environmental issues, from the Arctic to the Amazon Rainforest, will be broadcast live on the BBC, starting with the inaugural event in Dakar, Senegal, on 23-24 January, 2021.
A number of well-known drivers have signed up to the Extreme E drivers’ programme, including Billy Monger and Jamie Chadwick, while Formula 1 design guru Adrian Newey will be ‘lead visionary’ on the Veloce team – one of the 12 teams expected to take part in the series.
The series will house all the teams, scientists and equipment on the RMS St Helena, which will sail to each location.
Commenting on the BBC deal, Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said:
“Our goal with Extreme E is to open this innovative new series up to as wide an audience as possible. Securing this deal with the BBC is a massive coup in what is a key market for us.
“The UK has an insatiable appetite for world-class motor racing and a groundswell of backing for sustainable technologies – particularly pertinent given the government’s plans to bring forward the transition to fully-electric motoring to 2035.
“It’s highly likely that there will be a number of home-grown drivers in the fold come January 2021 for the Brits to back, with the likes of Jamie Chadwick and Billy Monger signalling their intent to compete for a seat in the series by signing up to our Drivers’ Programme.
“Of course, there’s also an exciting British entry in Veloce Racing – the Esports outfit turned motorsport team – with Adrian Newey on-board as its Lead Visionary. I’m looking forward to seeing what the British talent can do come ‘lights out’ in just under a year’s time.”
The pioneering championship’s goal is to highlight the impact climate change and human influences on the environment in which it is set to race whilst raising awareness of the issues they face, driving sustainability and inspiring action.
Top tier drivers and teams will compete across Extreme E’s five-race odyssey to some of the most remarkable, remote locations on the planet, with the season one calendar recently confirmed.
The provisional Extreme E calendar for season one includes events in Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Greenland and Brazil, with coverage of every round across the BBC from January through to October 2021.
For more information about the Extreme E series, visit extreme-e.com.
