Extreme E has confirmed it will visit Sardinia this year for an ‘Island XPrix’ as it seeks to find alternative locations to replace postponed rounds.
The all-electric off-road series had been set to visit Brazil and Argentina in its debut season, but both events have run into difficulties owing to the pandemic and have therefore been postponed.
Sardinia will now form the fourth round on the 2021 schedule on October 23-24.
“I am pleased to confirm that Extreme E is finalising plans to hold an Island X Prix in Sardinia, Italy, and that we are delighted to have the support of Sardinian president Christian Solinas, and the Automobile Club d’Italia (ACI) as we plan our first European event,” said series founder Alejandro Agag.
“Extreme E was built around the ethos of racing electric vehicles in remote environments in an effort to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance and benefits of low carbon vehicles. However, this crisis is not a problem which only affects remote locations. It is becoming increasingly noticeable closer to home, across North America, and here across Europe, with rising temperatures, heatwaves and wildfires, which currently rage in Sardinia itself, being some of the latest devastating examples.
“Together with our supportive hosts and our Scientific Committee and Partners, we will use the power of sport to educate on the causes of these climate issues which are taking place right here in front of us, as we aim to open eyes even wider to the need for all of us to take collective action, now, before it’s too late.”
Sardinian president Christian Solinas has confirmed the news that the Sardinian Region will work alongside the organisers for the success of the event, whilst Italian automobile club president Angelo Sticchi Damiani added: The ability to look to the future and to design or support new initiatives that have an important horizon both from a technical evolution and from a sporting spectacle perspective, has always been in the DNA of the Automobile Club d’Italia, which since its inception has been the ‘engine’ of motorsport, anticipating motorsport trends and developments over the years.
“In this broad context, the ACI, the Region of Sardinia and Alejandro Agag are working together on an agreement to host an Extreme E event. A championship for off-road cars conceived by the FIA International Automobile Federation and dedicated exclusively to electric SUVs, which will take place in Sardinia on 23 and 24 October 2021. As usual, ACI has played a fundamental role in the birth of this event and will follow it by supporting in its development.”
