Jean-Éric Vergne to join Extreme E ‘Earth Day’ climate change discussion
- Two-time Formula E Champion to feature on expert panel
- Extreme E to officially unveil new Scientific Committee
- Earth Day’s 50th anniversary focus firmly on climate change
Veloce Racing Co-Founder and two-time FIA Formula E Champion Jean-Éric Vergne will join Extreme E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag in an iSportconnect eMasterClass this week, as part of a discussion about sport’s vital role as a platform for climate action.
‘Earth Day’ – the world’s largest environmental movement – will mark its 50th anniversary on Wednesday, and the focus is firmly on climate change. To celebrate this, tomorrow (Tuesday, 21 April), Extreme E will virtually unveil its four-strong Scientific Committee, in association with international sports business networking and events firm, iSportconnect.
Last month, Extreme E confirmed the appointment of Professor Peter Wadhams of The University of Cambridge as Head of the Scientific Committee, which will be tasked with driving the pioneering new electric off-road racing series’ climate research and education programme.
All four scientists on the panel are leading minds in their respective fields and will advise Extreme E organisers on a range of subjects from sustainability to education and research. They will additionally participate in recommending positive legacy programmes in the five different race locations the championship is set to visit.
Following the official introduction of the Scientific Committee, Vergne, Agag, Lucy Woodall – Science Director at the Nekton Foundation – and Rodrigo Barjas Amado, Head of Strategy and New Business Development at CBMM Niobium, will come together to engage the business community in a wider discussion about climate change, and the key contribution that Extreme E can make to the climate action conversation.
“I am delighted to be involved in this Earth Day celebration with Extreme E,” said Vergne. “We are all looking forward to the start of this exciting new series in 2021 and our team, Veloce Racing, is in good shape. Putting on electric motorsport events in some of the most fragile ecosystems in the world is an innovative way to highlight the impact of global climate change.
“As the scientists will testify in the conference through their different specialities, this is the most pressing of all problems for our planet, and if we can bring awareness to these issues through entertainment and competition, our sport is doing a great service to the world in general and Extreme E’s race locations in particular.”
The iSportconnect eMasterClass will begin at 14:00 BST / 15:00 CEST tomorrow (Tuesday, 21 April). A link to register can be found here.
About Veloce Racing
An exciting new team harnessing the core motorsport growth sectors; Electric Vehicles and Esports. Veloce Racing, spearheaded by Adrian Newey and Jean-Éric Vergne, will compete in the new, all-electric Extreme E series, starting in 2021, racing in the planet’s most environmentally threatened locations.
Through Electric SUVs racing in extreme heat, cold, altitude and humidity, Extreme E highlights the world’s environmental challenges, provides the optimum R&D platform for future automotive technology and ultimately will attract maximum awareness to drive change.
Further, leveraging a modern and relevant media platform, Extreme E will connect with the 21st century consumer through the most effective channels in order to create a compelling sporting property and narrative.
Veloce Racing, through a group of some of the most pioneering industry partners with proven success in esports – through Veloce Esports – and ground-breaking sports marketing ventures, will be one of the most relevant and exciting outfits in Extreme E.
To learn more, please visit: www.veloce-racing.com
About Extreme E
Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles to help preserve the environment.
Another unique feature of Extreme E is its floating garage, the RMS St. Helena. The former Royal Mail cargo-passenger vessel is undergoing a modernisation and refit in order to lower its emissions. It will be used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the nearest port, minimising Extreme E’s footprint as well as being used to facilitate scientific research through an on-board laboratory.
Extreme E is operated in association with Formula E – the organiser of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Extreme E is committed to sustainability and minimising environmental impact – as well as playing its part in rebuilding and restoring areas already impacted by climate change.
Sources: Simon Melluish/Veloce eSports PR