Extreme E to air live across BBC digital platforms

Extreme E has agreed a multi-year partnership with BBC Sport which will see the new electric SUV off-road racing series screened live and free-to-air across BBC digital platforms to British viewers.

Every race on the calendar, comprising five formidable environments affected by climate change and environmental issues from the Arctic to the Amazon Rainforest, will be broadcast live across the United Kingdom, starting with the inaugural event in Dakar, Senegal, 23-24 January 2021.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “Our goal with Extreme E is to open this innovative new series up to as wide an audience as possible. Securing this deal with the BBC is a massive coup in what is a key market for us. 

“The UK has an insatiable appetite for world-class motor racing and a groundswell of backing for sustainable technologies – particularly pertinent given the government’s plans to bring forward the transition to fully-electric motoring to 2035. 

“It’s highly likely that there will be a number of home-grown drivers in the fold come January 2021 for the Brits to back, with the likes of Jamie Chadwick and Billy Monger signalling their intent to compete for a seat in the series by signing up to our Drivers’ Programme. 

“Of course, there’s also an exciting British entry in Veloce Racing – the Esports outfit turned motorsport team – with Adrian Newey on-board as its Lead Visionary. I’m looking forward to seeing what the British talent can do come ‘lights out’ in just under a year’s time.”

Top tier drivers and teams will compete across Extreme E’s five-race odyssey to some of the most remarkable, remote locations on the planet, with the Season 1 calendar recently confirmed:

Provisional Extreme E Season 1 (2021) calendar:

23-24 January: Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal
5-6 March: Al-‘Ula, Saudi Arabia
14-15 May: Kali Gandaki Valley, Mustang District, Nepal
28-29 August: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
30-31 October: Santarém, Pará, Brazil

The pioneering championship’s goal is to highlight the impact climate change and human influences on the environment in which it is set to race whilst raising awareness of the issues they face, driving sustainability and inspiring action.

The agreement with the BBC is the latest broadcast deal to be announced by Extreme E, with the championship also set to partner with FOX Sports (United States, Canada and the Caribbean), FOX Sports Asia (Southeast Asia), Mediaset (Italy), Sony India (Indian subcontinent), TVNZ (New Zealand), RTM (Malaysia), Dubai Sports (Middle East) and BTRC (Belarus).

Further sporting and partnership announcements will follow in the coming weeks as Extreme E builds towards its January 2021 start-date.