Motorsport is crucible of new automotive technology and GMC hasn’t forgotten that. The manufacturer has teamed up with Chip Ganassi Racing and will enter the 2021 Extreme E off-road racing season for 2021.
Chip Ganassi and GM already have some experience together in IMSA with the Cadillac DPi. This appears to be the team’s first foray into electric racing.
“It’s truly an honor to represent GMC, especially during such an exciting time in auto racing,” said Chip Ganassi, CGR team owner. “The new GMC HUMMER EV is going to be a game changer in terms of how the world views off-road EV capability, and we couldn’t be more proud to represent GMC in such an innovative new series.”
The race vehicle will be purpose-built for the series with graphics and design inspired by the Hummer EV. It will churn out 550 hp and compete against the likes of F1 racers like Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg.
Also Read: Jenson Button Joins List Of Champions To Compete In Extreme E Series
“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s HUMMER EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” said Jim Campbell, General Motors U.S. vice president, Performance and Motorsports. “Both GMC HUMMER EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”
The truck will be raced by off-road veterans Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price. LeDuc has won multiple truck championships while Price has raced in Stadium Super Trucks since 2016.
“We feel very proud to welcome GMC and its iconic GMC HUMMER EV to the Extreme E family, as it joins forces with our Chip Ganassi Racing team,” said Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E. “Not only will Extreme E be a thrilling motorsport, it will also showcase the performance and benefits of electric vehicles.”
The inaugural 2021 season will feature five races held at far flung locations such as Greenland, Senegal, Brazil, Patagonia, and Saudi Arabia.
Although the truck will be designed to look like the Hummer EV, Extreme E is a spec series, so all teams will use the same chassis. The vehicle, Spark Odyssey 21, was designed by Spark Racing Technologies, the same group that designed the Formula E race car.
The trucks will be produced by Williams Advanced Engineering and weigh 3,600 lbs and are capable of 0-60 in just 4.5 seconds. The first race of the season is set to take place on April 3.
