Extreme E set for Ocean X Prix in Dakar
Extreme E
The stage is almost set for the second stop on Extreme E’s calendar– the Ocean X Prix – which takes place this weekend (29-30 May) in Lac Rose, Dakar on the West African Senegalese coast.
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took victory in the inaugural X Prix last month in the Saudi Arabian deserts, but with the top three teams within seven points of each other, the Ocean X Prix promises to provide thrilling racing action in a region brimming with motorsport heritage.
The championship’s lead commentators Jennie Gow and Andrew Coley will be talking through all the action remotely via a London studio and will be joined by special guest drivers and analysts from the Extreme E paddock. Layla-Anne Lee will continue to be the voice of the paddock getting behind the scenes interviews and first reactions from the drivers.
Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “I am delighted to be back in Dakar, a place with a vast motorsport heritage, and I can’t wait to see our world-class line-up of drivers compete on this latest course we have devised. The Desert X Prix delivered some truly thrilling racing with a stunning backdrop and I’m sure Senegal will provide the same.
“But in Lac Rose we find an area suffering at the hands of the climate crisis, which is the true reason we are here. It doesn’t take long upon arrival to see one of the biggest issues, plastic pollution, which is affecting the local community and its marine life. Through our Legacy Programmes, we are supporting the local community to make change, and I can’t wait to see it for myself and help where I can.”
Nico Rosberg, RXR founder, said: “The team did an incredible job in Saudi Arabia to get the win and we’re very proud to be the first X Prix winners in Extreme E history, but we know we need to stay focused if we are to remain at the front. The series is already so competitive, but this team loves a challenge and we can’t wait to go racing again in Senegal.”
Once again, nine teams and 18 drivers will compete, but in a slight change to the Saudi Arabia race format, the Final will be a four-car battle, with two teams from each of the two semi-finals progressing to the concluding race of the weekend.
Also new for the Ocean X Prix is the ‘Super Sector’ – a part of the course where the fastest driver in that section over the weekend will earn five points for their team. This ensures that whatever position the teams find themselves in there is always an incentive to push to the limit as points are up for grabs.
The GridPlay vote will open at 09:00 GMT on Wednesday 26 May and close 30 minutes into Semi-Final 2 on Sunday 30 May giving fans the chance to vote for their favourite team and influence the starting line-up for the Final.
Teams that don’t make the Final can gift votes to their preferred competitors, and in Saudi Arabia this meant Andretti United were able to select its starting spot in the closing race, so every vote really does count.
Shakedown and qualifications will be aired through the Extreme E website and social channels.
The finals will be shown in more than 180 countries by 75 broadcasters, including Fox Sports in the US, ITV, Sky Sports, BBC and BT Sport in the UK, Teledeporte in Spain, Proseiben MAXX in Germany, Mediaset in Italy as well as Eurosport across most European markets and SuperSport in Africa.