'Race for the Planet' docu-series returns with Season 3
‘Race for the Planet’ Season 3 is a five-part docu-series, co-produced with Extreme E’s partner NEO Studios, that provides a comprehensive look into the pioneering championship’s 2023 campaign.
Extreme E Season 3 comprised of ten rounds across five locations as part of an exciting new racing format for the series, bringing double the racing action with no additional carbon footprint. Each X Prix served as a doubleheader, hosting back-to-back rounds across the weekend. This meant double the opportunity for wins, podiums, and crucial points across the calendar, as well as double the action for ‘Race for the Planet’ to delve into.
Ali Russell, Managing Director at Extreme E, said: “It is a pleasure to be announcing our third season of ‘Race for the Planet’. The series continues to bring to light the untold stories of Extreme E, from the racing on track to the projects close to our hearts at each location.
“This series allows audiences to join in on our incredible adventure across the globe, witnessing environments and sustainable solutions that they might not otherwise be exposed to. We have captured each location and each race in a very raw form, and there is no hiding the challenges that the championship, teams, and drivers faced.
“Season 3 was action-packed in more ways than one, with even more racing action across five double-headers, and even more at stake with five teams in contention for the title. It went right down to the wire in Chile, and this edition of ‘Race for the Planet’ conveys so strongly the tension and emotion of those make-or-break moments throughout the 2023 season."
As part of the launch a sneak preview of two episodes took place at the Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, London, building anticipation ahead of the docu-series' official release later this year. Amongst the audience at the event were Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings and JBXE’s Hedda Hosås, as well as Championship Drivers Patrick O’Donovan and Christine GZ, who all took part in a Q&A with the series’ presenter Laura Winter.
Catie Munnings, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, said: “We got to watch the season finale which was so intense, and we also watched Sardinia and the races that happened there with the low visibility, so there was plenty of drama.
“It was hard to relive some of those moments, especially watching the championship battle between RXR and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. The emotion came through so strongly. I also don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous sat in the cinema, just wondering what they had filmed that we didn’t know about. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!”
Patrick O’Donovan, Extreme E Championship Driver, said: “I think the episodes of 'Race for the Planet' that we saw at the premiere did an amazing job at capturing the emotions and tension that exist in a high-level motorsport like Extreme E.
“It is great to be able to show what it’s really like. For example, those behind-the-scenes discussions that take place between the teams and Race Director Scot Elkins in the Stewards' room. I can remember being present for one of those moments, so seeing that on screen transported me straight back, and it’s great to be able to give people a chance to feel like they’re there in the background experiencing it first-hand.”
Extreme E’s third season brought back some of the world’s top male and female racers, alongside some fresh faces and an exciting new location in Scotland, to race wheel-to-wheel in electric SUVs through areas impacted by environmental issues.
The teams, including those founded by motorsport legends Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Chip Ganassi and Michael Andretti, were joined by heavyweight Carl Cox on the 2023 grid. The drivers battling it out on-course included Dakar legends Nasser Al-Attiyah, Laia Sanz and Cristina Gutiérrez, the returning Sébastien Loeb and Mattias Ekström, and exciting new talent in the form of Lia Block and Amanda Sorensen.
The 2023 season took the world-class teams and drivers to the Saudi Arabian desert in March before Scotland made its debut in the championship in May. July and September saw the series return to Sardinia for Rounds 5 to 8, with the season finale taking place in Chile at the start of December. NEO Studios’ crew were with the teams on each leg of the journey to tell the story.
Broadcast details for the third season of ‘Race for the Planet’ are expected soon.
