Extreme E has unveiled its course for this weekend’s Ocean XPrix, which will be held in Lac Rose, north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Dakar, Senegal.
The terrain consists mostly of a sandy surface, much like the opening round in Saudi Arabia, but utilises existing tracks which surround the striking pink lake – caused by algae that thrives within its highly-saline waters – before turning inland, off-road.
Obstacles will include a myriad of short, sharp elevation and directional changes as the drivers navigate their way through the tight and twisty inland sector, a world apart from the long, sweeping, full throttle sections of the Alula desert.
There will be less elevation changes than those experienced in Saudi Arabia, but the course will feature more short drops and sharp rises.
For the first time, the course will include a ‘Super Sector’. This new element gives drivers the opportunity to earn five points for their team by being the fastest driver in that sector over the weekend.
In a slight change to Saudi Arabia, the Final will also feature four-cars, instead of three.
Championship drivers and course advisors Timo Scheider and Jutta Kleinschmidt shared their thoughts on the layout.
“After Saudi Arabia, which was a pretty quick course, the aim was to have a more technical layout with more overtaking possibilities and average to low speed areas, and this is what we have achieved,” said Scheider, adding: “We have some tricky areas, so for sure you have to manage your speed and we still have areas where you have to pay attention to, because if you’re too quick on some stages, you can damage your car, spin or even roll.”
Kleinschmidt added: “So we love it, it’s very technical and completely different to what we faced in Saudi Arabia. It’s also slower but gives more options for overtaking as there are many racing lines, which will make the Final very interesting. I expect to see closer racing and more overtakes.”
