Extreme E announces 2023 schedule

The Extreme E Series will once again boast five-rounds with the announcement of their 2023 schedule, which begins March 11-12 in Saudi Arabia. Next year’s schedule features one race in the Middle East, two in Europe and two in the Americas.

In their third season, Saudi Arabia will host the opening race of the Extreme E electric rally car series. In the inaugural season, Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor took the Desert X Prix victory on their way to winning the Season 1 championship. In 2022, Kristoffersson was once again victorious with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky as his co-driver. With one round remaining this year, Kristoffersson and Ahlin-Kottulinsky lead the points by 17 over Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez.

In 2022, a proposed date in Scotland during the month of July did not materialize and was moved instead to Italy. In 2023, Scotland is scheduled for May 13-14 as Round 2.

Italy had two races in 2022 and will host Round 3 of 2023 in July.

The Amazon E Prix was planned as part of the inaugural calendar, but challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic kept that race from materializing. The ongoing pandemic forced several changes to the 2022 schedule as well, including Italy being named as a substitute in for Brazil. In 2023, Extreme E will attempt to finally race there as Brazil is listed a potential site for Round 4 pending homologation. Should that race not clear the final approval process, a site in the United States will replace it in September.

The 2023 season will conclude in Chile on December 2-3.

THE 2023 CALENDAR IS HERE 📢

This is where Extreme E will be racing in Season 3 ⚡️🏁 #ExtremeE #Motorsport #Racing #RaceForThePlanet pic.twitter.com/2cEpDE88ug

— Extreme E (@ExtremeELive) November 16, 2022

“We have had two spectacular seasons of Extreme E so far and the third promises to be even more thrilling,” CEO and founder of Extreme E Alejandro Agag said in a release. “All of us here at Extreme E are looking forward to revisiting some of the amazing race locations we have visited so far, and to build on the impacts we have made in those areas and further develop our vital legacy programs as we continue to raise awareness of the climate crisis.”

“It is also extremely exciting to potentially add a race in the USA or Brazil to our global championship, while returning to the UK, the birthplace of top-level motor racing, is fitting. We cannot wait for the 2023 campaign to begin as the race for the planet continues.”

The Extreme E series competes in Odyssey 21 electric vehicles and each race has a legacy initiative designed to combat the effects of climate change.

Extreme E 2023 schedule

February 19-20: Saudi Arabia
May 13-14: Scotland
July 8-9: Italy
September 16-17: Brazil or USA
December 2-3: Chile

In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

Extreme E announces 2023 schedule that includes potential date in the United States

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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