Scheider: Jurassic X Prix track 'completely different' challenge for drivers
Extreme E Championship Driver and Track Advisor Timo Scheider has described the course for the Jurassic X Prix in Dorset, UK this weekend as “completely different to everything we have had so far,” in the previous four rounds of Extreme E Season One.
The 3.8 km layout, located inside the British Ministry of Defence Base at Bovington in Dorset, UK, features extreme mud, water and slippery conditions from the clay and gravel-based surface.
The start area has been prepared pre-race to give the teams and drivers the best opportunity of sling-shotting their identical ODYSSEY 21 E-SUV machines into the challenging course, but like all of the surfaces around the lap, in the British winter weather conditions grip will evolve, and devolved, throughout the event.
For the first time in Extreme E history, the first driver in each race will complete two laps, before heading into the Switch Zone for the second driver to complete a final tour. That means the start line will be driven over at racing speeds.
“Right after the start we have very deep mud from the left to the right, it will be important to have a good starting spot,” explains Scheider.
After the muddy section in the downhill run into turn one, the track turns right, left, then right again, into a very long, tightening right-hander. “There you sneak into a single lane, it’s super-quick, the surface is compressed so traction should be fine, but it will still be super slippery because it’s wet,” says Scheider. A further section of deep mud leads into the Traction Challenge portion of the route, following a long uphill right-hand turn. Like much of the lap, the lead up to the Traction Challenge area is lined by trees.
“You have to find your line and manage the speed you are going there. It feels like you are going very quick, but in some places it’s very narrow through the trees, so the drivers need to pay attention not to lose the car. There are some hidden bumps there that can be quickly very ugly, so drivers need to be prepared, do a proper track walk and analyse the track.”
As seen on social media in recent days though, with Scheider’s fellow Extreme E Championship Driver and Track Advisor Tamara Molinaro at the wheel of an ODYSSEY 21, the Traction Challenge includes the ‘Knife Edge’ section – a 5.40-meter-high, 23-degree jump.
“The big highlight for me is the Knife Edge. It’s a big jump that looks like a wall when you’re driving up to it, and the ODYSSEY 21 just shoots for the sky over it,” grins Scheider. “It’s a very high jump, you have to control the speed. You can take off quickly, but it will take a long time until you land if you are too quick. The teams need to figure out how much speed to take over the jump to be back on the ground as soon as possible to get the traction. If you jump high you will have nice pictures probably, but this is not the quickest over the jump.”
To conclude the UK track’s route, an open section runs over rough terrain and another crest, with multiple line options and overtaking opportunities, before the finish line and the Switch Zone area.
