The Extreme E has everything ready for the second race weekend at the Ocean X-Prix in Senegal to be held on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 May on the coast of the African country.
An exciting day is expected after Rosberg X Racing (RXR) claimed victory on the inaugural circuit in the Saudi Arabian desert, but with the top three teams seven points behind each other.
“I am delighted to be back in Dakar, a place with a vast motorsport heritage, and I can’t wait to see our lineup of world-class drivers compete in the latter. The Desert X Prix offered some really exciting races against an impressive backdrop and I’m sure Senegal will offer the same,” said Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag.
Related content: Extreme E tweaked the format for the X-Prix in Senegal
“In Lac Rose we find an area that is suffering at the hands of the climate crisis, which is the real reason why we are here. It doesn’t take long to see one of the biggest problems, plastic pollution, which is affecting the local community and its marine life,” he added.
He also stressed that through the programs promoted by the category “we are supporting the local community to make changes, and I can’t wait to see it for myself and help where I can,” explained Agag.
Image: extreme-e.com
Nico Rosberg, founder of RXR, seeks his second victory in as many competitions. “The team did an incredible job in Saudi Arabia to win and we are very proud to be the first X-Prix winners in Extreme E history.”
However, beyond settling for the victory, Rosberg emphasizes that the most important thing is to stay. “We know we have to stay focused if we want to stay ahead. The series is already very competitive, but this team loves a challenge and we cannot wait to get back to racing in Senegal,” he added.
Triumphal return to a historic land
Located 37 km from the capital, Dakar, the shores of Lac Rose hosted the finish line of the world’s most famous cross-country rally, the Paris-Dakar, on numerous occasions between 1979 and 2007 and will host the Extreme E Ocean X-Prix.
On the tour, drivers will once again face mostly sandy terrain, albeit a very different challenge and location than the deserts of Saudi Arabia. Here, the race will take the existing tracks that surround the lake, which bears his name and is famous for its striking pink color, caused by the algae that thrive within its highly saline waters.
What is new?
Once again, nine teams and 18 drivers will compete, but in a slight change to the Saudi Arabian race format, the final will be a four-car battle, with two teams from each of the two semi-finals advancing to the final race.
Image: extreme-e.com
Like the Desert X-Prix, the classification consists of two rounds of time trials. The team’s starting order is decided by a draw for Classification 1 and Classification 2. All races have two laps with the driver change function built in.
Another novelty is the “Super Sector”, a part of the route in which the fastest rider in that section during the weekend will get five points for his team. This ensures that whatever position the teams find themselves in, there will always be an incentive to push the limits, as the points are at stake.
Written by I Jhonattan González
