A new stage
Paddock between waves, rivals united all over again and desert? In EXTREME E, action was electric, as were the powertrains... Having debuted in 2021, the SUV off-road series aimed to make a statement. Following demo runs, and despite intially announced teams withdrawing, the grid spiced itself up with two prominent entries: ROSBERG X RACING and TEAM X44. The former Mercedes F1 WORLD CHAMPIONS Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton set up their squads, promising head-to-head spectacles between their drivers. Furthermore, Jenson Button took part himself at the inaugural race with his own team, before handing the wheel over. What did venues look like? Sand and ice stood out, as the championship moved across regions with specific purposes. Which? Enforce climate sustainability. Competitors contributed to local activities through animal conversation, restorationa and initiatives. The race car? The Spark Odyssey 21. The manufacturer of FORMULA E chassis was responsible for the new series' vehicles as well. Finally, the car weighed 1650 kg and could deliver 400 kW (536 bhp). Fitted with Continental tyres, the prototype was developed with further FORMULA E inputs, both on the mechanical and software sides. Then, this series marked a first for motosport: each equipe consisted of two drivers, one male and one female, who both spent the same amount of comeptition time at each event.
The first X-PRIX
Debuting in Saudi Arabia, a spectacular rollover crash without serious consequences immediately sparked the action. Season 1 climaxed with the Rosberg vs Hamilton duel, as TEAM X44 won every Qualifying race and RXR clinched more Race victories, eventually leading to the German outfit to win the title with Swede Johan Kristoffersson and Australian Molly Taylor bringing home the Drivers' one for Rosberg. Qualifying and Race were just a part of the weekend format, although they ultimately awarded points. To be more precise, they consisted out of multiple sessions. Qualyfing was split in two sessions, and the overall best-placed five cars accessed the Final Race, whilst the rest could fight for 6th in the Redemption Race. After Round 1, the Super Sector contributed five points to the Teams' standings for the quickest car through a definded interval.
Evolution
Popularity grew as McLaren Racing joined the grid in 2022, as did multiple Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah. That year, despite RXR improving their Qualifying performances, X44 were more consistend during Race events. Ultimately, the latter took the crown and promised another epic fight the coming year. Tight battles continued in 2023, but this this RXR faced WORLD RALLY CHAMPION Carlos Sainz's squad, beating it in the final round to bring home the second EXTREME E title for ROSBERG X RACING. The emerging idea of starting a hydrogen-powered series, lead to the decline of the electric championship. At the beginning of 2024 it was made public how EXTREME H would replace the existing SUV championship. Four teams, including X44 left EXTREME E, with two new entries filling up the grid again. However, over half of the rounds were eventually cancelled and the season was abandoned. To finish off the breakthrough series, a final event was established for October 2025. Here, eight teams took part in the last ever EXTREME E race. TEAM HANSEN won it and the curtain fell on motorsport's pioneering, sustainable and equal championship, which revived a rivalry, saw the paddock placed on a ship and catched the eye of the planet.