Welcome to the beginning of the 2023 Extreme E season. This marks our second year of competition in the championship, which begins with the Desert X Prix in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. We are excited to continue with the same driver line-up of Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust, who helped the team secure its first podium in the series in 2022.

Key info

Round	1 & 2
When	11 - 12 March
Where	NEOM, Saudi Arabia
Terrain	Sand, clay, rock
Sustainability issue	Desertification, plastic pollution

Introducing a new sporting format

For Season 3, Extreme E has a new sporting format to showcase more racing action while minimising its carbon footprint.

Each X Prix will now be a double header event, featuring qualifying and races on both the Saturday and Sunday of the race weekend. The championship will also introduce a five-car race qualifying format in both Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2, where each qualifying round will consist of two five-car heats. The winner of each heat will score a championship point.

The Grand Final will follow, which will feature the top five cars from qualifying, while the bottom five will compete in the Redemption Race.

Hear from the drivers

“I can’t wait to get back to NEOM, Saudi Arabia. I’m really looking forward to seeing the team again, we have so much to build on from our first season together and it was a really big learning curve. We had really good speed in the second half of Season 2, so I think we will be stronger as a team this year.

"The new sporting format is really exciting and will add different challenges and more racing, so I’m very much looking forward to that as well. It’s amazing to be continuing with the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team and with Tanner for Season 3, as well as Leena, Teena and the team we have around us. I can’t wait for the season to get started!”

“I’m super excited for the 2023 Extreme E season to get underway with the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. I’m also looking forward to being reunited with the team as well as Emma for the season ahead. The new sporting format, including the new double header events, is really exciting and will put a lot of pressure on teams to keep their cars in one piece for what will be long weekends of racing.

"From a team and competitor standpoint, I’m looking forward to all of that, including some new race locations. Part of my childhood was spent in Scotland, so I’m especially excited to get back to my old stomping ground. Bring on the first race in NEOM, Saudi Arabia!” 

Legacy Programme

Extreme E aims to leave a positive impact everywhere it races. To contribute to this, the series runs a Legacy Programme, which aims to highlight and inspire sustainable action concerning environmental and social sustainability.

At each race, the series, teams and drivers take part in a location-specific activity to benefit the region. This can be anything from educating local students to rehabilitating endangered wildlife.

For the Desert X Prix, the Legacy Programme will follow the progress of the 2022 rewilding project, including the introduction of the Arabian Oryx, Arabian Sand Gazelles and Red Neck Ostriches into the region.

In addition, Extreme E will continue its work in a major regreening initiative by planting trees in the region.

Hear from team management

“I am really excited about the start of the new Extreme E season. This season is set to be a thrilling one. The whole NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team is highly motivated to build on the successes of last season and continue to build this team into a consistent frontrunner.

“The NEOM Desert X Prix event will be very challenging, and with the new location closer to the coast it will provide very different conditions to last season. It’s going to be a long hard week for the team with a pre-season test on Wednesday, followed by the new double header format at the weekend. However, it’s a challenge we relish and the new format should provide the fans with plenty of wheel-to-wheel racing.”

“This weekend will mark the start of the Extreme E season and the team is ready to hit the track, after having made its debut last season. Since then, the team has grown and gained valuable experience in this unique championship. This season we are looking at building on the foundation we put in place last year and take the performance to the next level as we develop the team further as part of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing.

“It is going to be amazing being back in Saudi and kicking off the season at the home of our Title Partner, out here in NEOM - and making this weekend extra special.”

When and where to watch

Round 1

Free practice 1 (10 March)	09:30 local / 06:30 GMT
Free practice 2 (10 March)	16:30 local / 11:00 GMT
Qualifying 1 (11 March)	09:30 local / 05:00 GMT
Qualifying 2 (11 March)	13:05 local / 09:30 GMT
Redemption Race and Grand Final (11 March)	15:00 local / 12:00 GMT

Round 2 

Qualifying 1 (12 March)	08:00 local / 05:00 GMT
Qualifying 2 (12 March)	12:30 local / 09:30 GMT
Redemption Race and Grand Final (12 March)	15:00 local / 12:00 GMT

• Free practice: XE Social Channels

• Qualifying: Eurosport Player, XE website & social media channels

• Redemption Race & Grand Final: ITV 4

Find the broadcast options in your territory here.

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