Extreme E have this week announced that for their third season, in 2023, each round will now be a double-header hosting back-to-back events across the weekend.
Extreme E is an FIA-sanctioned international off-road racing series that uses spec silhouette electric SUVs to race in remote parts of the world, raising the awareness of the effects of climate change.
This is where their marketing kicks in promoting the benefits across a ten-round program: ‘This means double the opportunity for wins, podiums and crucial points across the ten-race calendar over the course of the campaign, crucially without adding any additional carbon footprint, in line with the series’ goals to keep carbon footprint to a minimum.’
This is where it is hard not to be cynical about a motorsport series that promotes keeping a carbon footprint to a minimum. Wouldn’t it be better not to run a motorsport event?
Even though it is an electric series (and I’m not sure whether fossil fuels are used to charge the cars each day), it leaves quite a footprint when you look into it. Making it a double header does go some way to, as they say, minimise it.
My understanding is that each driver only gets behind the wheel for approximately four-laps at each round. That is a lot of air-miles for very little actual competition. Yes, a double-header essentially gives them twice as many laps!
The reality is that motorsport isn’t good for climate change but that is one of the elephants in the room which isn’t discussed.
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