Motor racing-Extreme E cancels South American races due to Covid-19
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The new Extreme E electric off-road series has canceled races in Brazil’s Amazon and Argentina’s Patagonia regions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Scotland now a possible alternative, it said in a statement on Friday.
The Amazon round was scheduled for Oct. 23-24 with the Glacier X Prix listed for Dec. 11-12.
“We’ve been closely monitoring the situation regarding all Extreme E locations for 2021 and have chosen to make this pre-emptive decision on racing in South America this year,” said Extreme E founder Alejandro Agag.
“Our priority is to deliver a five-race calendar of events which are safe and responsible for our global participants, partners and staff to travel to and attend.”
Extreme E said alternatives under consideration included the Western Isles of Scotland ahead of Glasgow hosting the COP26 climate change conference in November.
The series has so far held two rounds – in Saudi Arabia and Senegal – with the third scheduled for Greenland at the end of August.
Extreme E aims to raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainability by racing electric SUVs in remote and harsh environments, with a former mail ship used to transport cars between locations.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Source: Reuters
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