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Extreme E has today confirmed that the Season 1 finale, ‘the Jurassic X Prix’ will take place in Bovington, in the UK’s South Coast county of Dorset, on 18-19 December 2021 as a replacement for the previously planned race in Argentina.
The racing will be as exciting as ever with a course designed to include natural obstacles putting the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 through its paces to crown the eventual winning combination of car, team and driver. Each team fields both a male and female driver who will complete a lap each with a Driver Switch built into the format. Points are up for grabs throughout the race weekend, with some of the best drivers in the world behind the wheel.
Bovington is a well-known British Army military base and sits just off the Jurassic Coastline. Extreme E is working closely with the British Ministry of Defence and Army which has recently revealed its climate change and sustainability strategy. By reducing emissions and scaling up the transitions to renewables, they’re wanting to contribute to the UK’s aim to be net zero by 2050.
Alejandro Agag, Extreme E Founder and CEO, said: “I’m very excited by this race location – our first event on UK soil. This move is a poignant shift in our mission to race in remote, far-away places to highlight the effects of climate change, as more increasingly, the issues we talk about are literally happening in our backyards so it felt like the right time to bring the spotlight home, and help the army reduce its own carbon footprint.
“The world needs to move forward when it comes to the combustion engine and many other practices, and what better way to symbolise that than with a Jurassic themed X Prix. Unless we push forward with climate and sustainability action, certain species risk becoming extinct, and that is something we simply cannot ignore any longer.”
Nigel Topping, UK High Level Champion for Climate Action at COP26, who also leads Race to Zero, said:“Extreme E provides an incredible platform for accelerating the clean mobility transition and driving awareness for the climate solutions we can, and must all adopt.
“The Jurassic X Prix follows COP26 and provides further opportunity for the UK to keep crucial momentum, which is imperative if we are to succeed in our goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. The shift to zero emission vehicles will hugely help reach that goal and Extreme E demonstrates the capabilities of electric vehicles, but also their associated technologies. It also uses the powerful platform of sport to engage its fanbase to take steps to reduce their own carbon footprint.”
Jenson Button, JBXE Team Principal said: “It is brilliant news that Extreme E’s Season finale will be held in the UK. I’ve been lucky enough to race on UK soil a number of times throughout my career and those memories will always be incredibly special to me.
“Heading off-road at Bovington will be a totally different experience but equally as special as I’ll be the one watching and supporting Kevin and Mikaela and the rest of the JBXE team as we push for a strong finish to the season. After back-to-back podiums, if we can carry that form into Sardinia and put ourselves in the mix for the final race then we could be in store for an amazing finish!”
Button’s team JBXE is currently 4th in the championship battle, with 68 points. They’re fighting against teams founded by other F1 World Champions Nico Rosberg Rosberg X Racing, and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s team X44, which are currently P1 and P2 in the championship standings.
Jamie Chadwick, Veloce Racing, added: “It’s really exciting to see Extreme E coming to the UK for the final race of the year. The first season has been incredible in so many ways and to cap it off in Dorset is going to be really important for the British drivers and teams.
“The first race in Saudi Arabia was so different to anything any of us had experienced before and then we followed it up with an equally spectacular setting in Senegal.
“Obviously, I wasn’t in Greenland and I won’t be in Sardinia but they also look like venues that are pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible in this series, I’m sure the final round will be no different.
“As a London-based team, Veloce Racing is going to be putting its all into Jurassic X Prix. A home race is special for any motorsport squad but as such a young team in such an innovative series, this one is going to be extra special.”
Extreme E is a new racing series, with nine teams competing in remote locations across the world. Their mission is to highlight climate change, promoting sustainability and the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.
