Enel X Island X Prix Course Revealed
The seven-kilometer course, which is expected to be among the most challenging experienced by the 18 Extreme E drivers so far, begins with a unique multi-lane section, before drivers take a sharp left to traverse a more open, but bumpy plain.
A left-right layout will take the ODYSSEY 21 machines over a small hill, before a fast downhill section leads to the first of two water splashes on the course. Following a second water splash, the route picks its way through a series of narrow corners, leading into the fastest section, into a tight left-hand corner that will allow opportunity to exploit the Hyperdrive feature in each vehicle, and give opportunity for overtaking.
Another twisty section follows, before two flat-out areas sandwich a ten-metre drop into a ninety-degree left-hander. A right-hand corner completes the lap.
Championship Driver and Track Advisor Timo Scheider thinks it could be the toughest challenge yet in Extreme E 2021.
In his role as Track Advisor, double DTM Champion, Spa 24 Hour Winner and World Rallycross Championship podium-finisher Scheider travels to each race location to help design the circuit, several months before the events.
He then drives the route, together with follow championship driver Tamara Molinaro early in race week to gather data for ODYSSEY 21 constructor SPARK Racing Technologies to feed back to the teams ahead of the race weekend, to aid with the running of their own single-specification E-SUVs.
“The challenge is really high this time. It will be totally different to what we’ve seen in the entire season. We have a solid rock base here and water splashes which are brand new to the challenges we’ve had so far this year, but for me the biggest challenges in Sardinia are the hidden bumps,” explained Scheider. “We have some medium to high speed corners so weight transfer is very crucial, you have to be super sensible on the surface, the hidden bumps will create challenges I’m sure so for people watching it at home, it will be mega. The drivers will have to be very focused.”
Scheider says that the Thursday track walk for teams will be more critical than ever. “It will be so important to concentrate on a proper track walk, to analyse the bumps so you can try and remember them as well as possible. The more risk you take here the more time you will gain, but this is a lot of risk if you just smash it over the bumps.”
The multi-lane section has been incorporated immediately off the start line to give drivers numerous options, but Scheider says it isn’t known which route will be fastest, and that there are also good overtaking opportunities further along the route.
“Directly after the start there are five different lanes so if you don’t make it into the lead you have the chance to choose different lines. Those re-join to enter the second gate, so it will be interesting to see which line will be the quickest, to be honest I don’t know which it will be. In the second half of the lap we have places that are higher speed where you can dive into slower speed corners, so we will see some overtaking there.”
Due to the hard base under the surface on the Italian Island, lap times are likely be the fastest seen so far in Extreme E 2021. Molinaro agrees with Scheider that the undulating nature of the course will pose a substantial challenge.
“Like always in Extreme E, for sure it’s very difficult,” she said. “It’s really tricky in some places with bumps and compressions that you can’t really spot from being in the car, so it will be an interesting weekend. We have a really hard compact gravel, which has a different grip level compared to the surfaces we’ve seen so far.”
