Introducing Racing for All's Jacob Alexander
Extreme E: It’s great to have you on board in the series with X44 Vida Carbon Racing, Jacob. What is your role within the team?
Jacob Alexander: I am a junior mechanic for X44 Vida Carbon Racing and my main responsibility is to assist the chief mechanic and his team across the race weekend.
XE: How did you find your first race weekend?
JA: I found it amazing – especially as I was finally able to conquer my dream. I’ve loved motorsport from a young age, so this has been an awesome experience for me so far.
XE: You’ve joined the series through the newly launched Racing for All programme. What do you make of the initiative?
JA: I think it’ll be great for breaking down barriers in motorsport, which I think is one of the hardest sports to get into. It lets people like me have a better opportunity to get into the industry that we love and are extremely passionate about.
XE: What prompted you to apply through the Racing for All initiative? How impactful a programme do you think it can be over time?
JA: I think the initiative will be really good. It’s there to help everyone, including those from an underrepresented background or ethnicity, and I’m here because of it.
The funny thing is that my dad actually signed me up to it on Instagram without telling me, while I was at university studying motorsport engineering. Totally out of the blue, I got an email from X44 Vida Carbon Racing saying that they’d like to see me for an interview, and I was really taken aback by it – in a good way, obviously! However, it was a complete surprise.
My dad has always followed my passion in motorsport and he just saw the opportunity and decided to go for it.
XE: Have you always been interested in working in motorsport?
JA: From a young age I’ve always loved motorsport. Even in school I tried to put myself on the right path to get to where I am now. I studied triple science as well as Design and Technology, and as soon as I finished school I went straight to college where I did two years studying Motorsport Engineering and Technology.
Last year, I started university. As soon as I left Chile, I went straight back to university to carry on with my degree – it has been full on but I love it.
XE: What is there about the series that you are most passionate about?
JA: I really like the fact that Extreme E tries to push forward the electric vehicle initiative, because it is the future. I’m also just excited about seeing everyone - a lot of the drivers are my idols.
When I first saw Seb [Loeb] and Cristina (Gutiérrez), while we did our testing in Wales, I was quite starstruck! Even at the race weekend in Chile, just seeing Carlos Sainz Snr. and recognising so many of the drivers was a really cool experience.
XE: What is your standout memory from your first race weekend in Extreme E with the team?
JA: The whole race weekend was an incredible experience, but being part of a winning team first time out was truly special. It is something I will never forget.
Jacob and the rest of the Extreme E field will be returning to action in what promises to be a thrilling season finale of Extreme E Season 2 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, on 26-27 November 2022.
