McLaren To Join Extreme E Electric Off-Road Series 2022

McLaren Racing is set to join the Extreme E Off-Road Series in 2022 that sees electric SUV’s race in five adrenaline-filled events across the globe.

McLaren Racing has announced it will be joining the all-electric Extreme E Off-Road Series in 2022 as part of its strategy to accelerate McLaren Racing’s sustainability mission through racing as a platform for future-facing technology and road innovation.

Extreme E is a radical new racing series that will see E-SUVs compete in the most remote corners of the planet that have been impacted by climate change.

The five-event global series uses its sporting platform to promote the adoption of electric vehicles to pave the way for a lower-carbon future and provide a world-first gender-equal motorsport platform that sees mixed teams compete against each other.

The new McLaren Extreme E team will be operated by McLaren Racing using existing personnel from outside the Formula 1 program and additional specialists. Like all teams, McLaren Racing is limited to four mechanics and one engineer at each event for the one-make car and its two drivers, transported by Extreme E as part of the overall franchise package.

“From the moment Extreme E was announced we have been following the progress of the series closely,” commented Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing. “Our attention was immediately drawn by the innovative format of this motorsport platform, in particular the ability it gives us to accelerate and boost our own overarching sustainability agenda, which shares the same priorities of decarbonisation, waste reduction, diversity and equality.

“At the same time, it will enable us to reach a new audience with an innovative race format, connect with a new generation of fans through content served across a variety of channels and provide partners with a purpose-led competition platform to align with and share in a positive, powerful narrative.

“From the outset, McLaren has always been at the forefront and never afraid to push new boundaries. This new venture is true to our roots of participating in a variety of categories, innovation and bravery. Extreme E is paving new ground in motorsport as a force for good in confronting some of the biggest challenges facing our world today and in the future.

“While Formula 1 will always remain at the centre of our world, like INDYCAR and esports, our entry into Extreme E is additive to the McLaren Racing franchise and will complement and help support all our programmes. We will be competing against big names we’re very familiar with from F1 and INDYCAR but, like all series we compete in, the competition objective is clear: we are there to win.”