In motorsports news, with Extreme E’s Arctic X Prix less than two months away, the electric off road racing series have completed their latest recce in Kangerlussuaq for it’s very first motorsport event.
In a press release, James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E said, “It has been a fantastic trip out to Greenland and the team continues to work closely with the Greenlandic Government, the people of Kangerlussuaq and our production partners to ensure we can put on a truly spectacular event.
“I’m really excited by this X Prix for a variety of reasons: bringing the very first motorsport event to Greenland, working with UNICEF to educate youngsters on climate change, the breathtaking landscape and the racing it will offer, plus of course the fact we will be at the heart of the climate crisis, where you can see with your own eyes the devastation being caused by global warming.
“I can’t wait to return in August and use our racing platform to educate on measures we can, and must, all take to help against the biggest challenge of our time – climate change.”
The electric off-road series are not just looking at the race course but the operational and logistical aspects as well. Championship driver Timo Scheider, who was entrusted with the task of developing the course alongside the sporting team had this to say, “I was really, really excited to go to Greenland as it’s one of the few places in the world I haven't seen so far, and after facing the glacier so close and more or less touching it, it was pretty special for me, and also racing right next to it was an outstanding feeling.
“The course will include elements which we have haven't seen so far in Extreme E, so that's why I'm excited to see again what the drivers will see and how they will like it. It’s different in terms of innovation and the surface we have, so we will face some areas with sand, gravel, stones and even drops, which will be exciting for everyone. I’m really looking forward to the race weekend.”
Also read: Extreme E announce Eleven Sports as latest broadcaster
Despite its picturesque settings, the race will be held in Greenland to highlight the climate crisis. Scientific research has led to an understanding that the Arctic is warming at three times the global average due to climate change resulting in a loss of sea ice.
Professor Peter Wadhams, Head of Extreme E’s Scientific Committee, said: “The loss of sea ice has serious implications for the climate of the planet. But even more serious in many ways is what we will be investigating in Greenland – the accelerating melt of ice from the Greenland ice sheet, which is leading to a much faster rise in global sea levels.
“The ice sheet is melting at a record rate in summer. When we were last in Kangerlussuaq in August two years ago we encountered a record loss of ice from the ice sheet in a single day – 12.5 billion tons of water melted and of course ended up in the ocean, causing faster sea level rise.
“This record may get beaten this year, given the extraordinary air temperatures which we have been experiencing. The melt, and the rise in sea level, are accelerated even more by the fact that the ice surface is dirty with sediment, dust and plankton. This is left behind when the ice crystals melt, to produce what is called "black ice", which absorbs radiation very effectively. We will be studying the origin and nature of black ice and its power to speed up ice melt.”
Hjörtur Smárason, CEO at Visit Greenland, said: “Extreme E is a perfect match for Greenland. The innovative mindset and focus on sustainability fits how Greenland aims to develop as a tourism destination. With its grand glaciers and the Ice Sheet, Greenland offers a chance to explore climate change in action, giving guests an opportunity to unplug into nature and experience pure silence in an otherwise busy world.”
The Arctic X Prix will be held on 28 – 29 August and will be broadcasted globally through ITV, Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC, Fox Sports amongst many others.
