LONDON: Extreme E, the electric SUV rally series designed to raise climate change awareness, has announced its Rookie Invitational test as it seeks to unearth the next generation of off-road racers.
The Rookie Invitational will take place on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, following the fourth round of the inaugural Extreme E season in Sardinia, Italy. Each of the nine Extreme E teams will be able to test two drivers at the Rookie Invitational, one male and one female, in a bid to give more drivers the opportunity to progress in the world of professional motorsports and join the electric racing revolution.
“I’m delighted to announce the Rookie Invitational at the penultimate X Prix of Season 1,” Alejandro Agag, CEO and founder of Extreme E, said. “It aims to offer drivers interested in competing in Extreme E the opportunity to not only get behind the wheel but immerse themselves in our unique series.
“The idea came about from various conversations with our teams that identified a gap in talent, particularly female drivers, so we wanted to organize this testing day to give more racers the opportunity to throw their hat into the ring and get behind the wheel of our all-electric ODYSSEY 21,” he added. “I’m looking forward to seeing which drivers the teams select and the wealth of driving talent out there that just need that chance to show off their skills.”
Each team will have the choice of the drivers it brings, and those chosen will join up with their respective teams for the duration of the Island X Prix in Sardinia to take in the event, get to grips with the unique nature of the series and immerse themselves in the Extreme E paddock.
Drivers taking part in the Rookie Invitational will be allocated practice time in the car ahead of completing timed course laps. In between time out on the course, Extreme E will host a number of workshops focused on careers in professional motorsports from drivers in the series, including 2001 Dakar Rally winner and ABT CUPRA XE driver Jutta Kleinschmidt.
Kleinschmidt, president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Cross Country Rally Commission, said: “I’m super happy that so many female drivers have the chance to race in Extreme E. The series is the only motorsport event where men and women are mixed 50/50.
“Through the series, and now the Rookie Invitational, we have the chance to discover even more female talents,” she said. “It is a huge chance for all drivers dreaming of competing in Extreme E that want to prove their skills and talent. I’m very excited and looking forward to seeing a lot of applications. It is an honor to be part of the test program and have the chance to share my knowledge from my years of experience.”
After races in AlUla, Saudi Arabia and Dakar, Senegal, Rosberg X Racing leads Extreme E’s season standings on 71 points, with X44 second with 57 and JBXE third with 44.
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