Electric off-road racing series Extreme E confirmed that SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) of South Africa will televise the remaining four X Prix from the first season, which began with the debut X Prix in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
Headquartered in Johannesburg, the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC) is one of the largest state aggregates in the country offering 19 radio stations and five television channels in the region.
The broadcast agreement means that audiences in South Africa can enjoy Extreme E’s exciting racing coverage, as well as its behind-the-scenes documentary and magazine program: Climate Changers, How to Build a Race Car and Best of Extreme E, all for free.
The challenge of getting Extreme E to South Africa is representative for the message of the competition as the country faces a number of environmental challenges.
The region already suffers from severe air pollution (77% of the energy produced in the country comes from coal), which in turn has led to dramatic deforestation on a scale equivalent to the loss of 20 football fields per minute.
It may also interest you: Andretti United took advantage of their “underdog” status to secure Extreme E pole
“The impacts of climate change can be devastating, and nowhere is that clearer than in this region, where increasing deforestation and heavy use of fossil fuels is threatening an already fragile environment,” said Ali Russell, Extreme Marketing Director. AND.
Russell says the championship goes beyond exciting electric racing and is trying to raise awareness about climate change.
Gary Rathbone, Director of SABC Sport, expressed that they are delighted from the channel to offer the concept of the “Electric Odyssey”
“The fact that its’ focus goes way behind merely racing but delves deep into issues around the environment and the future of our planet’s ecology makes Extreme E vital viewing in more ways than one,” added.
The “Electric Odyssey” will see action again on May 29 and 30 this time in the Pink Lake of Senegal with the Rosberg X Racing team leading the classification table with the 35 points accumulated by the Molly Taylor-Johan Kristoffersson duo after the first XPrix in Saudi Arabia.
Written by | Gabriel Sayago
