Timo Scheider has completed the first-ever lap of an Extreme E course driving one of the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 race cars at the Saudi Arabian venue for the series’ inaugural X Prix next week.
The two-time DTM champion was excited with what he found from the all-gravel lap to be used in the first of the five XE rounds through 2021.
Moments after finishing the first flying lap Scheider said: “**** that’s cool! It’s awesome. A very good experience, I have to say. It’s kind of emotional being the first guy out there after all the work.
“Thank you to the team and to Spark for producing a car which works like this. Really awesome.”
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As well as advising on the course for next week’s AlUla race, Scheider is also one of Extreme E’s joker drivers – ready to take over if any of the team’s regulars are unable to take the start.
Scheider added: “It’s a pretty new experience for me and I was super excited about the Extreme E team and the challenge to design a course in the middle of nowhere.
“I really enjoyed the first recce in Saudi Arabia and designing a course in the desert, there are so many things to consider, but the course is going to provide incredible racing.
Read David Evans' postcard from Jeddah ahead of Extreme E's debut
“The ‘Joker Driver’ role is pretty cool too and I’m delighted to be available for all the teams and fulfil a driver role should it be required.
“Extreme E marks a new era of motorsport and its environmental ethos is something very special. I think the idea to create a motorsport series to raise awareness of the environment and the impact we as humans are having is an important one.
“I think the series is going to change the face of motorsport and that’s why I’m really looking forward to being on this journey.”
