Extreme E : ABT CUPRA XE starts the season’s final spurt at the Island X Prix

KANGERLUSSUAQ, GREENLAND - AUGUST 27: Jutta Kleinschmidt (GER)/Mattias Ekstrom (SWE), ABT CUPRA XE during the Arctic X-Prix at Kangerlussuaq on August 27, 2021 in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. (Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images)

Extreme E is coming to Europe: After events in Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Greenland, the off-road series for fully electric SUVs will take place in Sardinia (Italy) next weekend (23 and 24 October). With the Island X Prix, the teams, drivers and organisation also want to draw attention to the growing threat to the island from heat waves and forest fires. In sporting terms, the ABT CUPRA XE squad, with its drivers Jutta Kleinschmidt and Mattias Ekström, will be
competing for the first trophy in their debut season.

The venue for the race is the Capo Teulada military training area in the Sulcis-Iglesiente region, a historic area in the south-west of Sardinia. The approximately seven-kilometre-long course leads over hard ground with many rocks and bushes, as well as dried-up riverbeds. In the autumn months, the terrain softens, creating many natural obstacles for the drivers. This also results in different ideal lines and thus overtaking opportunities. Drivers and teams will get to know the track for the first time during the track walk on Thursday afternoon.

After the shakedown and a free practice session on Friday, Saturday is dedicated to the qualifying races, before the semi-finals and the final will decide the winner on Sunday. The Island X Prix is the penultimate race of the season. The final will be held on the weekend before Christmas (18 and 19 December) as the Jurassic X Prix in Dorset (Great Britain).
Jutta Kleinschmidt: « Time for a reward » :
« Being part of this team is not only a lot of fun, but also a great privilege, » says Jutta Kleinschmidt, who completed her first full weekend with ABT CUPRA XE in Greenland. Kleinschmidt was then a guest at the IAA Mobility show in Munich and presented the Tavascan Extreme E Concept together with CUPRA – a glimpse into the possible future of the series. « The car simply looks incredible. What’s more, it now not only drives fully electrically, but is also really sustainable, because recycled and natural materials such as flax fibres are used. »

In sporting terms, the German has meanwhile acclimatised perfectly to the team. « We are improving every little detail on the car, on the strategy and on the processes of a race weekend. Now it’s time for a reward. »

Mattias Ekström: « Keep the adrenaline pumping »
Mattias Ekström can’t complain about boredom right now: In addition to preparing for his Dakar programme as an Audi driver, the Swede contested the Morocco Rally and also celebrated the title in the electric ETCR championship with CUPRA last weekend. « Even though the series and cars are different, it’s still also perfect preparation for Extreme E for me, because it keeps me in a non-stop competition mode and maintains a high level of adrenalin, » says Mattias Ekström. « We are definitely ready for champagne and a nice trophy. Our car is fast, Jutta and I are having fun together and the team couldn’t be more committed. Now we just have to get everything together. There are still two races and two wins on the table. »

Championship : 1. Molly Taylor & Johan Kristoffersson, 93 points ; 2. Cristina Gutierrez & Sébastien Loeb,84 pts ; 3. Catie Minnings & Timmy Hansen, 76 points ; 4. M.Ahlin-Kottulinsky & Kevin Hansen, 68 pts; 5.Laia Sans & Carlos Sainz, 61 pts…

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