Chip Ganassi Racing commits to Extreme E
6 May, London: Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has today announced its entry into Extreme E, becoming the second major American team to commit to the pioneering new electric SUV off-road racing series.
Founded and helmed by former racer Chip Ganassi, the eponymously-named Chip Ganassi Racing celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Over the past three decades, the team has claimed no fewer than 19 major titles and more than 220 race wins across a wide variety of motorsport disciplines – from INDYCAR to IMSA and NASCAR to the FIA World Endurance Championship – and in partnership with eight different manufacturers.
Amongst those standout achievements have been eight victories in the Rolex 24 At Daytona sportscar classic and four Indianapolis 500 successes, alongside triumphs in NASCAR’s Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 as well as legendary endurance contests the 12 Hours of Sebring and Le Mans 24 Hours – making Ganassi the only team owner in history to win all six iconic races.
Extreme E will mark the team’s debut in electric motorsport in its 30 years of operation.CGR joins fellow motorsport powerhouse Andretti Autosport as the second American entry in the championship. Between them, the two teams have clinched 12 of the 17 INDYCAR SERIES crowns since 2003 – Ganassi notably going unbeaten between 2008 and 2011 – and now they are set to reignite their famous racing rivalry in an altogether different domain.
In 2015 and 2016, CGR also proved its multi-surface capabilities in the Global Rallycross Championship, yielding a brace of victories and nine further podium finishes. That off-road experience will doubtless prove invaluable when it comes to tackling the diverse range of environments set to be encountered in Extreme E, each of which will shine a spotlight upon the impact of climate change and human influences on the planet – while simultaneously raising awareness, driving sustainability and inspiring action.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO, Extreme E, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to confirm Chip Ganassi Racing’s participation in Extreme E, marking this hugely successful team’s progression into electric racing.
“CGR boasts a tremendous heritage and pedigree in motorsport, achieving consistent success over three decades in some of the toughest single-seater and sportscar series around. Of course, our championship poses a very different kind of challenge, but the team has proven itself to be a winner in every discipline it has contested and clearly possesses the skillset to similarly excel in Extreme E.
“And then, of course, there is the competitive edge with Andretti Autosport, who we announced last month – and it will be fascinating to see how that plays out. These two teams have engaged in some truly classic duels over the years, and we look forward to many more to come in the unique environments that Extreme E will visit.
“As a leader, Chip Ganassi has never been afraid to innovate and adapt – indeed, he has won awards for his visionary, future-thinking approach – and that is entirely in keeping with the ethos behind our ambitious and groundbreaking new series, which he was very quick to embrace. I am confident that his team will add great value to Extreme E in our drive to propagate the environmental message and engineer long-lasting change through first-class sporting entertainment.”
Chip Ganassi, Team Owner, Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “Extreme E is a very different proposition to anything we have done before, but it’s where I think motor racing is headed in the future. When I started our team in 1990, one of the founding principles I built it on was innovation. I’ve always been passionate about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and Extreme E checks that box for us in a big way.
“It represents an opportunity in motor racing to use the latest technologies to attract a new, younger audience to this great sport of ours. Everything about Extreme E is cool, from the car to the race format and the in-built technology. We’re thrilled to join the championship and to play a part in developing the future of our sport.”
The five competitive events on the 2021 Extreme E schedule will be staged in some of the most remarkable, remote and severely damaged locations on the planet, including Kangerlussuaq in Greenland, the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, Al-‘Ula in Saudi Arabia and Lac Rose near Dakar, Senegal.
Issues to be highlighted along the way include escalating carbon emissions, global warming and melting Arctic ice, rising sea levels, droughts and desertification, deforestation and plastic pollution. The championship recently announced a highly established Scientific Committee of Oxford and Cambridge University academic experts who specialise in these climate areas and will advise its education and research work.
Each leg of Extreme E’s five-race odyssey will feature two days of intense, head-to-head knockout competition around 10-kilometre circuits. Drawing upon the help of independent experts, track designers will carefully select course options to provide the most challenging, exciting action whilst crucially aiming to minimise impact from environmental and social perspectives.
News of this new outfit follows last week’s announcement that each team will be composed of a male and a female driver, competing together in every two-lap race as driver and co-driver. Each will complete one lap behind the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21 electric-SUV, with a changeover incorporated into the race format, and it will be up to the teams to determine driver and co-driver to best suit their strategy.
All teams are set to take delivery of their ODYSSEY 21 E-SUVs towards the end of this year, with a group test of the vehicles to be held shortly thereafter.
Further announcements on entries and series partners will be made over the coming weeks.
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 and protect the planet.
Provisional Extreme E Season 1 (2021) calendar:
23-24 January: Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal
5-6 March: Al-‘Ula, Saudi Arabia
14-15 May: Kali Gandaki Valley, Mustang District, Nepal
28-29 August: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
30-31 October: Santarém, Pará, Brazil
Another 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 re-building and restoring areas already impacted by climate change. Innovations such as remote broadcast facilities and comprehensive cross-platform coverage for spectators watching at home, rather than stage-side, ensure a minimal footprint.
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 emissions profile as well as facilitating scientific research through an on-board laboratory.
The series also utilises a panel of leading academics from The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, comprising its Scientific Committee tasked with driving the series’ climate advice and practice.
Head of Scientific Committee/Arctic Scientist: Professor Peter Wadhams (The University of Cambridge) Ocean Scientist: Dr Lucy Woodall (The University of Oxford/Nekton Foundation) Amazon Scientist: Francisco Oliveira PhD (The University of Cambridge) Desertification and Droughts Scientist: Professor Richard Washington (The University of Oxford/The University of Cape Town)
The committee will advise Extreme E organisers on the series’ education and research programmes, event logistics and impact as well as the recommendation of positive legacy initiatives which support local communities in each race location.
The championship made the Official Shortlist for the Sport Industry Awards 2020 in the Cutting Edge Sport Category, acknowledging the championship’s incredible progress in its first year.
About Continental:
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and networked mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transport. In 2018, Continental generated preliminary sales of approximately €44.4 billion and currently employs some 244,000 people in 60 countries and markets.
The Tyre division has 24 production and development locations worldwide. As one of the leading tyre manufacturers with around 54,000 employees, the division posted sales of €11.3 billion in 2017. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tyre production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in R&D, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The Tyre division’s portfolio includes services for the tyre trade and for fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for commercial vehicle tyres.
About CBMM:
CBMM is the world leading supplier of niobium products and technology. Headquartered in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States, CBMM offers technical innovation to customers around the globe through a team of over 2,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals providing cutting-edge niobium products and technology to over 300 customers in 50 countries.
About LuisaViaRoma:
Established in 1929, LuisaViaRoma has been an online luxury destination since 1999. In 2019, LuisaViaRoma celebrated the company’s 90th anniversary, as well as the 20th anniversary of its online business.
Sources: Extreme E PR