Sebastien Loeb to race for Lewis Hamilton’s Extreme E team

Two icons of the racing world will team up for the event

Alan Baldwin
Friday 11 December 2020 11:30 GMT
Comments
Sebastien Loeb
Sebastien Loeb (MPA Creative)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Nine-times rally world champion Sebastien Loeb will race in the new Extreme E off-road electric series next year for a team owned by seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The two are the most successful drivers of all time in their respective series.

Frenchman Loeb, 46, will be partnered by 29-year-old Spanish racer Cristina Gutierrez, a four-times finisher in the Dakar Rally.

Every team in the series, which aims to raise awareness about climate change by racing in some of the world's most remote and harsh environments, must have a male and a female driver.

"They are both incredible drivers and I’€™m looking forward to seeing what they’€™re going to do out there at each race," said Hamilton in an X44 team statement.

"Cristina is an upcoming talent with a great future ahead of her, and Sebastien is a driver I have admired for so many years so I’€™m so proud and excited to have them on board."

Both drivers have tested the Odyssey 21 car on off-road stages.

Loeb will not be the only world rally champion in the field, with Spain's double champion and triple Dakar winner Carlos Sainz driving for his own team.

Hamilton's former Mercedes team mate and 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg also has a team in the series run by Formula E founder Alejandro Agag.

"Joining team X44 is an opportunity for me to continue to do what I love, which is race, and I’m looking forward to competing in an electric vehicle," Loeb said.

The first race is scheduled for the Saudi Arabian desert in March.

Other rounds will be in Senegal, Greenland, the Brazilian rain forest and Argentine glaciers of Tierra del Fuego.

Reuters

This weekend get a £10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £10 on a Same Game Multi on the Premier League. Terms: Min £10 Same Game Multi bet on any EPL match this Fri - Sun. Free bet valid for 72 hours, awarded at bet settlement. Excludes cashed out bets. T&Cs apply.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in