|
The finale of the third Extreme E season last weekend in the Chilean Atacama Desert was also a small farewell: For ABT CUPRA, it have been the last races in the all-electric off-road series for the time being. In 2024, both brands will focus on their joint involvement in the Formula E World Championship.
“We are proud to have been part of the Extreme E family for three years,” says ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. “Our thanks go to Alejandro Agag, Ali Russell, James Taylor and their whole team for the great cooperation and the support during ABT’s first foray into off-road motorsport.” ABT and CUPRA were founding members of Extreme E and have competed in every race of the series since 2021. With Claudia Hürtgen, Jutta Kleinschmidt, Klara Andersson, Mattias Ekström, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Sébastien Loeb and Adrien Tambay, some well-known drivers have competed for the team.
“We continue to firmly believe in the Extreme E concept of combining exciting motorsport with responsibility for the environment,” explains Thomas Biermaier. “In addition to trophies for victories and podium finishes, we will take home many unforgettable memories and impressions – from the glaciers in Greenland to the deserts of Saudi Arabia and the Atacama Desert in Chile.” And the series remains on the radar. Biermaier: “Together with our current and potential partners, we are keeping a close eye on the transition from Extreme E to Extreme H – who knows what the future will bring with the hydrogen era …”
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We would like to pay our sincere thanks to ABT and CUPRA after their three years in Extreme E, since the very start. CUPRA have been great advocates for our championship and huge supporters of electric, sustainable racing. Since their business focus is on the electric car market, and we are transitioning to hydrogen-powered racing, it’s a logical move for them to concentrate on their involvement with Formula E. It’s great that CUPRA will remain within the ‘electric motorsport’ family and we wish them well in their future endeavours.”
In 2024, the focus will now be on ABT and CUPRA’s second year together in Formula E, where consistent results in the points are expected to follow last season’s initial successes. In 2024, ABT will also be competing in the DTM and take part in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring with Lamborghini as a partner.
Alejandro Agag: “Although ABT will sit out the 2024 season, their passion and commitment to sustainable off-road motorsport is clear, and we are optimistic that they will return to the paddock with Extreme H. The door is firmly open for manufacturers with a focus on hydrogen to collaborate and innovate with us as we transition to hydrogen-powered racing – a world-first – from 2025. The plans for the championship are developing at pace, and in the meantime, we look forward to another hugely competitive Extreme E season next year.”
|
