Cupra announced it’s entering the new
Extreme E racing series, making them the first carmaker to officially
participate in the new electric off-road championship. Cupra has paired up with
ABT Sportsline for its new racing endeavor, with brand ambassador (as well as
Rally Cross and DTM champion) Mattias Ekström to become the team’s male driver.
Under Extreme E’s gender-equal format, teams have to field one male and one
female driver.
The carmaker’s electric SUV racer made its
public debut during the launch of the Cupra Garage in Hamburg, Germany, the
brand’s first dedicated dealership in Europe. The collaboration between Cupra
and ABT Sportsline goes back to 2018 when the two companies came together to offer
upgraded versions of the Leon Cupra and Cupra Ateca models. ABT is also one of
the founding teams in the Formula E championship.
The first season of the Extreme E
championship is set to launch in early 2021, staged across five environments
(Arctic, Desert, Rainforest, Glacier, and Ocean locations). All teams will race
in mechanically identical ‘Odyssey 21’ electric SUV racers, with each team
allowed to change the bodywork. The electric race car produces 550 HP and is
capable of a 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds.
