Witnessing the participation of a group of the most prominent stars of rally racing, led by Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah, Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Sweden’s Timmy Hansen, Extreme E Season 2 for electric SUVs is set to kick off with the Desert X Prix in NEOM on Feb. 19 and 20.
Building on its successful debut in 2021, this is the second time that the race is held in Saudi Arabia.
The new season will begin in the deserts of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia where the Kingdom’s largest global project is taking shape.
The race will continue over two days, with the participation of ten teams represented by twenty drivers. This global race is one of the initiatives of the Quality of Life Program in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said holding the Extreme E race aligned with the country’s efforts to “host the most important and largest international sporting events.”
“This distinction, witnessed on every occasion in the Kingdom, is a reflection of the great and generous support that we enjoy from our wise leadership, and the support and follow-up of the Crown Prince,” said the minister.
“This support encourages us to work hard to host the most important and largest international sporting events soon.”
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and the Saudi Motorsport Co., said: “The return of Extreme E to the Kingdom for the second year in a row further helps emphasize Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a more sustainable future.”
“Welcoming this revolutionary series to NEOM aligns with one of the most important goals and pillars of Vision 2030 as well as the personal aspirations of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to make the Kingdom a leading country in the development and promotion of alternative energy sources and the preservation of the environment for future generations,” said the Prince.
“This next instalment of the Extreme E race is further proof of the Kingdom’s transformation into a powerhouse for motorsport in the region, and the event taking place shortly after the conclusion of another successful Dakar Rally at the start of this year further underlines this. Additionally, we have just hosted our inaugural F1 Grand Prix on the newest, longest, and fastest street circuit in the world,” the prince added.
The 10 teams and 20 drivers for the Desert X Prix are as follows:
ABT CUPRA XE – Nasser Al-Attiyah / Jutta Kleinschmidt
ACCIONA, Sainz XE Team – Carlos Sainz Snr. / Laia Sanz
Genesys Andretti United Extreme E – Timmy Hansen / Catie Munnings
Chip Ganassi Racing – Kyle LeDuc / Sara Price
McLaren XE – Tanner Foust / Emma Gilmour
JBXE – Kevin Hansen / Molly Taylor
Rosberg X Racing – Johan Kristoffersson / Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky
Veloce Racing – Lance Woolridge / Christine Giampaoli Zonca (GZ)
X44 – Sebastien Loeb / Cristina Gutierrez
XITE ENERGY RACING – Oliver Bennett / Tamara Molinaro
