Cupra: Two Dakar legends in the new offroad buggy 🎥
STRONG DUO The ABT Cupra XE team has scored a coup ahead of the start of the Extreme E season. The new partner alongside Jutta Kleinschmidt is four-time Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al-Attiyah.
The ABT Cupra Team celebrates its first podium at the Island X Prix in Sardinia in October 2021. Jutta Kleinschmidt and her new partner want to build on this success.
The multiple FIA Rally Raid World Cup winner from Qatar replaces Sweden's Mattias Ekström. The 51-year-old won the famous rally in 2011, 2015 and 2019 in South America and for the first time in Saudi Arabia last January.
Nasser Al-Attiyah: "I am proud to join the Cupra team for this adventure. With the experience of ABT Cupra XE and Jutta by my side, we are determined to race for victories. I can't wait to sit in the car and have fun."
Motivation injection for the only female Dakar winner
Kleinschmidt is the only woman so far to have won the legendary desert rally in Africa in 2001. The 59-year-old Cologne-born driver was initially nominated as an official substitute driver for all participating teams in the inaugural season of Extreme E, but then replaced Claudia Hürtgen in the ABT Cupra team as a permanent driver following the latter's withdrawal.
Jutta Kleinschmidt: "The fact that I can share my passion for off-road racing with such a great team and now also a Dakar star like Nasser is a fantastic motivation. Last year we created a solid basis, now the challenge is to be even more consistent and take victories - we're ready for it."
Race car gives foretaste of new production model
For the new season and the high goals, a new vehicle is also ready. The Cupra Tavascan XE immediately replaces the e-Cupra ABT XE1 of the first season.
With its spectacular exterior and striking LED lights, the off-road race car gives a first hint of the design language of the future Cupra Tavascan production vehicle. This is being designed and developed in Barcelona as the brand's second all-electric vehicle and is scheduled for market launch in Europe and overseas in 2024.
Sustainability is a top priority
The off-road racing series for all-electric buggies is the brainchild of Formula E creator Alejandro Agag. Here, motorsport is to be practiced under the sign of sustainability. He also wants to draw attention to climate change and endangered nature. During the individual races, the driver takes turns behind the wheel.
The season kicks off on February 18 in Neom (Saudi Arabia). At the beginning of May it's off to Sardinia (Italy), in June to Senegal or Scotland, in September to Chile and for the finale in October to the coast of Uruguay.
