When McLaren Racing enters a team in the all-electric Extreme E series in 2022, it will open a new chapter in the company's motorsport history. Extreme E uses racing to promote sustainability and diversity.
During the five-race championship, McLaren Racing will help accelerate its own sustainability and diversity agenda, while reaching new fans and partners, and growing the brand and franchise.
In addition to spotlighting the impact of climate change in some of the world's remotest locations, Extreme E pushes the adoption of electric vehicles for a lower carbon future and provides the first-ever gender-equal platform in motorsport.
McLaren entered Extreme E after a detailed evaluation of the series against a set of strategic, economic, and operational criteria. McLaren Racing's sustainability mission is driven first and foremost by reducing carbon emissions, recycling, reusing, and eliminating waste, as well as promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Extreme E series focuses on minimising environmental impact while maximising awareness, racing in places that are already damaged or affected by climate change, taking fans directly into the heart of some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Furthermore, each team fields one male and one female driver, ensuring that there is equality and diversity in the series.
Moreover, Extreme E is supporting the auto industry in creating future-oriented technology, which is a form of mobility innovation associated with motorsport, which has long been regarded as a vehicle for technology development.
McLaren Racing has been at the forefront of electric motorsport since its inception, providing the battery powertrain to the FIA Formula E Championship since its inception, using the same technology pioneered by the McLaren P1. McLaren Racing will build its know-how and expertise in the all-electric race space as it transitions from supplier to team.
Since the team was founded, McLaren Racing has competed simultaneously in multiple series, including Can-Am, Formula 1, INDYCAR, and Le Mans, all of which play a part in the legacy of the team's motorsport innovation and competition. With Extreme E, McLaren Racing's diverse portfolio will be expanded, with Formula 1 at its core, along with INDYCAR and esports.
McLaren Racing will operate the team with the help of existing personnel outside of Formula 1 and additional specialists. For the two drivers and one race car, McLaren Racing is limited to four mechanics and an engineer at every race, transported by Extreme E for the whole package.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing
“From the moment Extreme E was announced we have been following the progress of the series closely. Our attention was immediately drawn by the innovative format of this motorsport platform, in particular the ability it gives us to accelerate and boost our own overarching sustainability agenda, which shares the same priorities of decarbonisation, waste reduction, diversity and equality.
“At the same time, it will enable us to reach a new audience with an innovative race format, connect with a new generation of fans through content served across a variety of channels and provide partners with a purpose-led competition platform to align with and share in a positive, powerful narrative.
“From the outset, McLaren has always been at the forefront and never afraid to push new boundaries. This new venture is true to our roots of participating in a variety of categories, innovation and bravery. Extreme E is paving new ground in motorsport as a force for good in confronting some of the biggest challenges facing our world today and in the future.
“While Formula 1 will always remain at the centre of our world, like INDYCAR and esports, our entry into Extreme E is additive to the McLaren Racing franchise and will complement and help support all our programmes. We will be competing against big names we’re very familiar with from F1 and INDYCAR but, like all series we compete in, the competition objective is clear: we are there to win.”
Alejandro Agag, CEO of Extreme E
“Extreme E’s mission is to use sport to build awareness and accelerate clean technology innovations that benefit the mobility industry and beyond. To have McLaren on board, which symbolises the highest level of racing and automotive innovation, is a huge endorsement that what we have delivered in just our first two races of Season 1 has already created real impact in motorsport.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Zak and the powerhouse McLaren Racing team to Extreme E, and it’s safe to say, we can’t wait to see how the team performs in its first off-road, electric racing debut. Season 2 just got very exciting!”