The alternate driver and advisor of the new Extreme E, Jutta Kleinschmidt has a more than significant relationship with Senegal, the country where the second X-Prix of the electric off-road series will take place.
And it is that Kleinschmidt became 20 years ago the first and only woman to win the Dakar Rally in 2001.
“It will feel in a way like coming home as it was a big moment for me winning there and changed many things for me. I still remember so clearly when I passed the finish line in 2001 especially – I am sure a lot of positive emotions will come up again,” she said.
She also expressed feeling excited to return to Senegal, a place that, according to her, she asserted, she has not visited since 2007 when the last Dakar was held in the African country.
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The veteran explained that the Senegalese people are passionate about motorsports and that the African country is ideal to take the nascent Extreme E. Jutta stressed that people in Senegal somehow feel they own the racing series, Rally Dakar, because they always It will bear that name in honor of its tradition.
“I think everybody will love the Extreme E cars there too. To see these fantastic electric SUVs performing in such a way, so fast and so exciting to watch – the speed, the jumping, it will be amazing,” she pointed out.
The differences of AlUla and Lac Rose
For Kleinschmidt the first two X-Prix of the electric competition will have a big difference because Lac Rose will have much less dust than in the first prize of the desert in AlUla and the race will be more technical for the pilots.
Gender equality in competition
Jutta Kleinschmidt gave her opinion on the mandatory Extreme E rule that each team must have one driver and one female driver; her saying that it is positive for motorsport to see men and women competing as a team and with each other to demonstrate gender equality in the discipline.
“It’s also good for cross country racing and hopefully the ones that have not been in the Dakar before might try it as well, now they have raced in Extreme E and see what they can do! I can’t see any disadvantages at all, it’s great for everyone,” she added.
“The Electric Odyssey” returns on May 29-30 at the Pink Lake of Dakar, Senegal. It is important to mention that the leaders after the desert X-Prix are Rosberg X Racing who have Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson and accumulate 35 points. Second is X44 (by Lewis Hamilton) with Cristina Gutiérrez, Sébastien Loeb and 30 units.
Written by | Gabriel Sayago
