Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, has arrived in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, with just under one month to go until its Arctic X Prix – the first ever international motorsport event to be staged in the country.
The St. Helena departed Dakar, Senegal, following the Ocean X Prix in mid-June and travelled across the North Atlantic Ocean to reach Lisbon, Portugal, stopping there for a few weeks to collect provisions and change crew. During the journey the team onboard were treated to stunning sunsets and even dolphins swimming alongside the ship.
Upon departure from Lisbon in mid-July, heading north for the first time in the series’ global voyage, the dolphins joined again as the St. Helena left the bay straight into the vast Atlantic Ocean, providing a calm fort for the first leg. However winds eventually picked up and fog set in along with rain and dropping temperatures, meaning poor visibility. Watchmen on-duty were doubled to deal with the increased challenges, with regular sounding of the fog horn as per regulations. The crew witnessed the spectacle of whales travelling both north and south either side of the Ship during this part of the voyage.
Due to the poor weather, the Ship had to continue on the Rhumb line – an imaginary line on the earth’s surface used to plot a ship’s course – rather than the Great Circle Route – the shortest marine route. The crew also had to hold iceberg navigational meetings, seeing their first one – named #52 on the radar – on 28 July in the Labrador Sea. A real contrast of experiences compared to the previous warm conditions around the Middle East and West Coast of Africa.
Upon arriving in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on 29 July the crew had changed time zones three times, before eventually settling on West Greenland Summer Time. A short stop provided the opportunity to collect further provisions and crew before heading to Kangerlussuaq – the location of the Ocean X Prix – being greeted by a herd of seals as it arrived into its home port for the coming weeks.
Extreme E is racing in Greenland as its melting ice cap epitomises the challenges and severity of the global climate crisis. Just last week according to the Denmark Meteorological Institute, Greenland lost 8.5 billion tonnes of surface mass, enough to cover the entire state of Florida in two inches of water. The series will use its sporting platform to educate its audiences on these issues and the solutions we can all be part of.
Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E, said: “It is fantastic to see the St. Helena arriving in Kangerlussuaq, and it really marks the official countdown to the Arctic X Prix. Having visited Greenland as part of our early planning, I’ve been to the ice cap and have seen the flowing melt water first-hand. It is a truly sobering place to be when you understand the scale of the situation and really bought home the severity of the global climate emergency to me, and the race against time that we are all part of.
“I hope by being here and using our global media platform, we can show the world not only the effects of climate change, but also educate on the solutions, through the expert knowledge of our Scientific Committee, and also through our Legacy Programme with UNICEF in Greenland and the community of Kangerlussuaq.”
Over the coming days and weeks, the freight of the St Helena, which includes all the team’s electric ODYSSEY 21 race cars, the AFC hydrogen fuel cell which powers the vehicles using green hydrogen, and all paddock infrastructure and team engineering equipment, will be unloaded and set up at the race site.
As the first ever motorsport event to take place in the country, planning has not been easy due to Greenland’s unique, remote and extreme nature. The team has been working hard to ensure the infrastructure is in place in the most sustainable way possible from logistics to power to toilets, all with the aim to not only race without a trace, but deliver another weekend of world-class racing.
While Rosberg X Racing’s Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson have taken racing honours at both the Desert X Prix and Ocean X Prix in Saudi Arabia and Senegal respectively, there has been some close racing which will be no different in Greenland. The course in part will run across what was once the mighty Russell Glacier, but which has now sadly receded and is rock salt, sediment-based terrain left behind by the melted glacier. World-class drivers including the likes of Sebastien Loeb, Timmy Hansen, Carlos Sainz Snr., Catie Munnings, Jutta Kleinschmidt and Laia Sanz will face a variety of terrains putting their skills to the test.
Hjörtur Smárason, Visit Greenland’s Managing Director, said: “Greenland is very proud to host such a high profile event. Climate change happens twice as fast in the Arctic with temperature rise already passing well over two degrees. The impact is decades ahead of the rest of the world, which is very visible here at Russell Glacier.
“Greenlanders are used to being at the forefront when it comes to adapting to extreme climate, but this is a challenge on a new level that needs a global response. Extreme E is a fantastic way to showcase the challenge and at the same time highlight our ability to adapt, to innovate and to act fast. Greenland is already doing it and we hope this event inspires the world to fight climate change with the same enthusiasm and determination as we see in the drivers and engineers of Extreme E.”
But it isn’t just the drivers that will be the stars of the show. Extreme E Scientific Committee members: Professors Peter Wadhams, Carlos Duarte and Richard Washington along with local experts, will also be in Greenland conducting their own research, taking drivers on a tour of the ice cap as well as hosting a variety of workshops focussed on the tipping point in climate change which will be made available following the X Prix. In addition, the championship’s first scientific project in collaboration with Founding Scientific Partner Enel Foundation will join the St. Helena – more details to be revealed in due course.
Alongside the scientific research, Extreme E has also been supporting UNICEF to create an educational programme. The programme aims to empower young changemakers – around 3,600 young people – in the country by reimagining climate education in Greenland, helping children understand and address the climate related issues which are putting them, and future generations at risk.
Maliina Abelsen, Head of Programmes, UNICEF Greenland said: “We are grateful to have received Extreme E’s support, to build on our existing work in promoting and protecting the rights of children who are the least responsible for climate change, yet they bear the greatest burden of its impact. With thanks to the educational resources we created, children and young people in Greenland will have an enhanced foundation of and involvement in the environmental issues that affect them.”
The legacy efforts don’t end there, as Extreme E is also leaving behind compostable toilets, solar panels, electric go-karts, and medical supplies and training to support the local community. More details to follow on this as the Arctic X Prix draws closer.
In a bid to keep Extreme E’s carbon footprint to a minimum, as well as the remote nature of its events, X Prix events are not open to spectators. Instead, fans are invited to watch through a host of global broadcasters including ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC digital channels in the UK, FOX Sports in the USA, Eurosport in Europe, plus many more available to view here. Followers can also get involved via the championship’s innovative FanWorld concept.
To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com
About Extreme E:
Please visit the Extreme E media centre to access images, videos and press releases: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/mediacentre
Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower carbon future for the planet.
To minimise local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with fans instead invited to follow the action through live TV broadcast, and on social media.
The St. Helena, a former passenger cargo ship, has undergone a multi-million Euro refit to minimise emissions and transform her into Extreme E’s operations hub. The ship will be used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the nearest port, minimising Extreme E’s footprint, as well as being used to facilitate scientific research through its on-board laboratory.
Extreme E is also pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero emission energy. This innovative solution from AFC Energy uses water and sun to generate hydrogen power. Not only will this process emit no greenhouse emissions, its only by-product will be water, which will be utilised elsewhere on-site.
Season 1 Calendar:
Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
3-4 April 2021
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal
29-30 May 2021
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
28-29 August 2021
Island X Prix: Sardinia, Italy
23-24 October 2021
X Prix Location 5
TBC
About Continental Tires: Founding Partner and Official Tire Partner
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. Continental generated preliminary sales of €37.7 billion in 2020 and currently employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The Tires business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and posted preliminary sales of €10.2 billion in 2020 in this business area. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the Tires business area includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.
About CBMM: Founding Supplier
CBMM is the world leading supplier of niobium products and technology. Headquartered in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.
CBMM offers technical innovation to customers around the globe through a team of over 2,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals providing cutting-edge niobium products and technology to over 400 clients in around 40 countries.
About LuisaViaRoma:
Defined by the Financial Times as “A haven for directional fashion,” LUISAVIAROMA.COM is the top online luxury fashion destination with 5,000,000 visitors per month and worldwide shipping. With each new season, the website presents the collections of more than 600 established designers and young emerging talents.
About Zenith: Official Timekeeper and Founding Partner
ZENITH: TIME TO REACH YOUR STAR.
Zenith exists to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams and make them come true – against all odds. Since its establishment in 1865, Zenith became the first watch manufacture in the modern sense of the term, and its watches have accompanied extraordinary figures that dreamt big and strived to achieve the impossible – from Louis Blériot’s history-making flight across the English Channel to Felix Baumgartner’s record-setting stratospheric free-fall jump. Zenith is also highlighting visionary and trailblazing women – past and present – by celebrating their accomplishments and creating in 2020 its first-ever collection dedicated entirely to them, Defy Midnight.
With innovation as its guiding star, Zenith features exceptional in-house developed and manufactured movements in all its watches. Since the creation of the El Primero in 1969, the world’s first automatic chronograph calibre, Zenith has gone on to master fractions of the second with the Chronomaster Sport and its 1/10th of a second precision and the DEFY 21 with a precision of 1/100th of a second. Zenith has been shaping the future of Swiss watchmaking since 1865, accompanying those who dare to challenge themselves and break barriers. The time to reach your star is now.
About Allianz: Founding Partner and Official Insurance Partner
The Allianz Group is one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers with more than 100 million private and corporate customers in more than 70 countries. Allianz customers benefit from a broad range of personal and corporate insurance services, ranging from property, life and health insurance to assistance services to credit insurance and global business insurance. Allianz is one of the world’s largest investors, managing around 790 billion euros on behalf of its insurance customers. Furthermore, our asset managers PIMCO and Allianz Global Investors manage 1.7 trillion euros of third-party assets. Thanks to our systematic integration of ecological and social criteria in our business processes and investment decisions, we are amongst the leaders in the insurance industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. In 2020, over 150,000 employees achieved total revenues of 140 billion euros and an operating profit of 10.8 billion euros for the group.
About Neat Burger: Official Plant-based Partner
Neat Burger is the first of its kind – the planet-friendly, plant-based, full-flavoured game-changer the world has been waiting for. The world’s first plant-based sustainable burger chain, Neat Burger offers a menu that appeals to not only those who follow plant-based diets, but anyone, meat-eaters included, who wants to eat delicious meat-free dishes that are more sustainable, healthier and ethical. The brand is backed by seven-time FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, in collaboration with hospitality organisation The Cream Group and investors, as well as UNICEF Ambassador and early backer of Beyond Meat Tommaso Chiabra. Neat Burger opened its first site in September 2019, just off Regent Street in London, and its second and third dine-in outlets at Camden Market and Soho in 2020. Plans for global expansion across Europe, the US and Middle East are already in place for 2021 and beyond.
About EY: Official Innovation Partner
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy, transaction and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.
About INTERprotección: Official Insurance Broker
INTERprotección is composed of a group of Mexican insurance, reinsurance and surety bond brokerage companies. With global presence and recognition, INTERprotección has more than 40 years of experience in management and comprehensive risk consulting in the Mexican market. Its business model is focused on bringing the client to the forefront and offering them the best service through innovative and disruptive products, more recently with its new brand inter.mx, its insurance digital platform that is transforming the insurtech game. Follow INTERprotección on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter @INTERproteccion
About Enel X:
Enel X is Enel Group’s global business line offering services that accelerate innovation and drive the energy transition. A global leader in the advanced energy solution sector, Enel X manages services such as demand response for around 6 GW of total capacity at global level and around 100 MW of storage capacity installed worldwide, as well as 195,000 electric vehicle charging points made available around the globe. Through its advanced solutions, including energy management, financial services and electric mobility, Enel X provides each partner with an intuitive, personalized ecosystem of tech platforms and consulting services, focusing on sustainability and circular economy principles in order to provide people, communities, institutions and companies with an alternative model that respects the environment and integrates technological innovation into daily life. Each solution has the power to turn decarbonization, electrification and digitalization goals into sustainable actions for everyone, in order to build a more sustainable and efficient world together.
Find out more on https://corporate.enelx.com/en and follow Enel X on its social media channels:
LinkedIn: @EnelX
Twitter: @EnelXGlobal
Facebook: @enelxglobal
Instagram: @enelxglobal
About XITE ENERGY:
XITE ENERGY was founded by Oliver Bennett and Megan Jones straight out of university two years ago. XITE brings disruptive innovation within the beverage industry; a new frontier to energy drinks. Designed around functionality but with no limitations on health, XITE ENERGY uses functional ingredients that are fused together to provide a cognitive boost, combining natural flavours, natural caffeine and zero sugar.
