Extreme E Series lost two teams

Less than a week before the start of the fourth season of the Extreme E off-road electric series, it was only recently announced that only seven teams will participate in the first leg of the season. X44, Lewis Hamilton’s team, and the American Chip Ganassi Racing announced almost simultaneously that they do not intend to go to the starting line in 2024.

At the same time, they were both quite strong teams – the same

But Extreme E is preparing for serious reforms: a transition to cars with hydrogen engines is planned for 2025, and the name of the series will change to Extreme H. Lewis Hamilton’s team did not give a specific explanation for their decision, but it It is likely that the reasons are much the same, as is the case with Ganassi.

A statement from the American team, which participated in Extreme E with the support of General Motors and promoted the GMC and Hummer brands, said:

“Chip Ganassi Racing can confirm that the team will not participate in the Extreme E Series in 2024. We thank you very much for the opportunity to be part of this innovative series and will follow its further development.

We look forward to keeping a close eye on the series and its technical partners as they continue to advance motorsport and prepare for the transition to modernized SUVs with hydrogen powertrains.”

According to Racer, it was the upcoming transition to such power plants that forced Ganassi Racing to leave the race, as General Motors currently has no particular interest in hydrogen technology.

For a similar reason, the German team Abt, which competed with support from Cupra, one of the Volkswagen Group brands, left Extreme E at the end of last year.

But it is possible that some of the departed teams will return in the future. This assumption can be made in particular based on the statement of Alejandro Agag, who thanked Chip Ganassi Racing and General Motors for three years of participation in Extreme E.

“General Motors has been an important ambassador for our racing series, but as we commit our future to hydrogen powertrains, it makes sense that the company continues to focus its efforts on the electric vehicle market,” said Extreme E CEO and Founder. Although Chip Ganassi Racing will not be participating in Season 4, she remains a supporter of our unique brand of off-road competition, especially in the context of the series’ upcoming transition to Extreme H in 2025. We hope they will be back…”

Against the background of the departure of well-known teams, the management of the series welcomes the emergence of a new one – at the end of January we told you that this year the SUN Minimeal team, owned by SUN AG, a Swiss food manufacturer, will take the start for the first time entering the season.

The first phase of season 4 will take place in Saudi Arabia on February 17 and 18.