Continental is to sponsor the Extreme E off-road electric racing series. This new championship will take teams to the most remote corners of the world – from the Himalayas to the coast of the Indian Ocean – and will serve as a proving ground for the tire manufacturer to develop its tire technologies. Individual tires will be developed for the different terrains.
The Extreme E organizers are anticipating 12 teams will take part in the inaugural season, which is slated to begin in two years. Prototype testing is scheduled to start in April 2019.
Nikolai Setzer, member of the executive board of Continental, responsible for the tire division and corporate purchasing, said, “We are truly excited to partner with Extreme E. This very new format of racing sports offers the opportunity to demonstrate how our ultra-high performance tires succeed in extreme conditions. Drivers in this adventurous off-road series will experience how performance meets safety on no matter which ground.
“An important factor of this series will be to heighten the audience’s awareness of current and future challenges such as climate change, our responsibility to the environment and the protection of important ecosystems. Sustainability is high on the company’s agenda and this aligns perfectly with the targets of Extreme E, too.”
Founder and CEO of Formula E Alejandro Agag added, “I’ve always been passionate about progressing electric vehicle technology and the impact that clean mobility solutions can have on the efforts to halt global climate change. I strongly believe that Extreme E can help make the world more sustainable faster, and we have a dream team to make this ambition a reality.
Agag continued, “Welcoming Continental Tires as a founding partner – and CBMM as niobium supplier – is a huge boost to Extreme E and shows the strong commercial appetite for this sustainable sport and entertainment concept.”
