(Motorsport) The return of the pioneering series to the UK pits the 10 teams and 20 elite drivers against the most difficult route the championship has ever faced.
The Hydro X Prix circuit presents the competitors with two races this weekend that will require them to modify their driving technique due to the numerous quick turns and constricting, difficult areas.
As the race descends into the quarry, the ground resembles that of an old coal mine, which means there will be lots of clay to cause tyres to stick. As the course changes and the clay is thrown up, the drivers will have to deal with ever-declining grip, especially if there is some Scottish rain.
The ODYSSEY 21s will encounter corners that are fittingly named after Scottish words as they move along the route. In relation to the steep hills, slopes, deep valley, and hill pastures that make up the Scotland course for the Hydro X Prix, creag, brae, gleann, and cnoc all appear.
Tamara Molinaro, Extreme E Championship Driver, said: “This is probably one of the most extreme courses we have ever had. It will be quite a challenge because in some places it is quite narrow so it is hard to overtake, and the drivers will have to use their creativity to get those overtaking opportunities.”
“There are changes in the levels of grip, because there is grass, slimy gravel, and more rocky sections, forcing the drivers to change style at short notice. The weather is also going to be something that the drivers must really take into consideration. A lot of elevation changes will make it even more interesting, and I can’t wait to see what the course delivers this weekend.”
Before the track narrows as the teams approach the rock face, the primary element of this race with tight routes being taken at high speeds, there is a wide portion off the starting line that goes into a sudden 90° right bend.
As the vehicles scramble for traction as they escape the mine, it will be vital to gain a better start than your rivals as the tight track spans across the entirety of the rock face towards a 90-degree left bend and up a steeply banked hill.
The ODYSSEY 21s zoom across the crest as they make a 90-degree left turn into one of the course’s quickest sections at the top of the hill. Similar terrain exists here, but it is more exposed to the elements, so as the automobiles continue to jostle for place, they will slide.
Before a constrained single-car segment, there is an opening for overtaking, which requires the drivers to perfectly timing their manoeuvres. The drivers then approach a downhill corner with steep banking, which will assist them control a skid.
The ODYSSEY 21s then accelerate in the direction of the first jump on the course, which is intended to shake up the cars as they land just before a turn is required, posing a fresh challenge for the Extreme E grid.
The drivers are forced to manoeuvre in close quarters as they jostle for position as another banked hill leads to another single file segment.
The next 90-degree turn sends the vehicles up a steep slope and to the right, where the landscape transforms from clay and rock to grass and muck. The ODYSSEY 21s now have another obstacle to overcome. It will be challenging to keep a rhythm throughout the doubleheader as the drivers adjust their style to quickly adapt to the change in terrain.
Tommi Hallman, a rising Finnish rallycross racer, will be Tamara Molinaro’s fellow Championship racer. The most recent competition Hallman participated in was Nitro RX NXT, where he won the championship for the 2022–2023 season.
In addition to winning the 2021 RallyX Nordic Supercar Lites championship, the Finn also won the 2022 Nitro Rallycross Championship NRX NEXT Europe series championship. It will be his first time driving in Extreme E and his first time using the ODYSSEY 21 during his spell as Championship Driver for the Hydro X Prix.
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