Continental to sponsor electric off-road racing series

German Tier 1 company, Continental will sponsor 'Extreme E' an off-road electric racing series. The company will also supply electric SUVs and tyre technology with the new series planned to take participants to the most remote corners of the world.

The Extreme E organisers are anticipating 12 teams will take part in the inaugural season, slated to begin in two years. The prototype testing is scheduled to start in April 2019 and Continental says it will initially be a founding partner of Extreme E and in 2021 it will become a premium partner.

The tyre manufacturer will ensure perfect road grip, whether in the Himalayas, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, in the Arctic, across the desert or in the tropics. The racing series at its locations will emphasise the challenges with which everyone in these ecosystems is already being confronted by today.

“We are truly excited to partner with Extreme E,” said Nikolai Setzer, member of the Executive Board of Continental responsible for the Tire division and Corporate Purchasing (pictured above). “This very new format of racing sports offers the opportunity to demonstrate how our ultra-high performance tyres 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 audiences awareness towards current and future challenges such as climate change, the responsible interaction with our environment and the protection of important ecosystems. Sustainability is high on our company’s agenda and this aligns perfectly with the targets of Extreme E, too,” added Setzer.

The technology company will equip all of the cars in the races with suitable tyres for the respective terrain.

Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO, Formula E (pictured above) 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. Gil de Ferran is a leader in the world of motorsport, and in David de Rothschild and Fisher Stevens, Extreme E has attracted two of the best in their respective fields. Likewise, 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.”.