‘Transition year’. It’s almost like a symbol for those “excuse our look” signs that appear during construction work. It basically says “be patient with us, this year might be uneventful, but next year will be better”.
Extreme E is about to enter its own transition year before its major rebranding as the hydrogen-focused Extreme H in 2025. However, the upcoming season won’t be dull. Firstly, by its very nature, the races in Extreme E are anything but boring – there’s too much action for that. But this year, there has been one of the busiest transfer periods since the series began, which adds plenty of intrigue before the 10-race schedule kicks off.
For a series that is relatively small compared to Formula 1 and the NASCAR Cup Series, there has been a lot of drama since the conclusion of the 2023 season. Out of the eight teams competing this season, only three – Andretti Altawkilat, Rosberg X Racing, and E.ON Veloce Racing – will retain the same driver lineup. Three other teams have undergone major changes, and there are two completely new teams.
One of the teams making significant changes is NEOM McLaren. After featuring an American and a Kiwi – Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour – in its first two seasons, McLaren has taken a completely different approach for its third attempt at Extreme E.
But NEOM McLaren is not alone. Fraser McConnell, formerly of X44, will replace Ekstrom at championship-contenders Acciona Sainz. McConnell is considered a rising star, but that description doesn’t do him justice. He is already a two-time race winner in Extreme E and has also achieved multiple victories in the U.S.-based Nitrocross series. McConnell will form a formidable partnership with Laia Sanz at the Spanish team, which is seeking redemption after a heartbreaking defeat in 2023.
With the revamped driver lineups of McLaren and Sainz, we could potentially witness a five-way battle for the title. Both teams will pose a strong challenge to reigning champions Rosberg X Racing, Veloce Racing – who had a similarly strong but unlucky season like Sainz – and the often fast but unlucky Andretti team, all of which are retaining their proven driver lineups.
Andretti and Veloce’s decision to retain their drivers comes as no surprise. Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen for Andretti, and Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen for Veloce, are all tied to long-term contracts. It was also expected that RXR would keep Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Kristoffersson since they had just won the championship, but there was still speculation until the team confirmed both drivers.
The final team making changes from the existing pool is JBXE. Andreas Bakkerud will return for his first full season, alongside Saudi driver Dania Akeel, who should have been in Extreme E much earlier given her success as one of the Middle East’s top female off-road racers. Bakkerud is an established driver, and Akeel already has an impressive resume. However, this team is perhaps the biggest unknown of the year, even more so than the new entrants who join after several departures.
Team exits have unfortunately been a theme this off-season. OEM-backed teams Abt Cupra and GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing have left due to business reasons related to their road car operations and a lack of interest in hydrogen. Additionally, entries named after Lewis Hamilton and superstar DJ Carl Cox will have different identities this year.
Replacements have already been announced. SUN Minimeal is the first new team for 2024. Team boss and driver Timo Scheider and teammate Klara Andersson both have a history of podium finishes in the category, and now they have secured long-term futures and stable teammates for the first time. This stability should give them the best opportunity to reach their full potential.
Out of the various intriguing storylines in recent months, the biggest and most surprising one came late. The arrival of NASCAR icon Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club was completely unexpected.
Among the champion drivers who have ventured into team ownership, Johnson is likely the most credible behind the wheel. His Garage 56 teammate Jenson Button retired after one race when he realized he wasn’t up to the task, Nico Rosberg has been content serving solely as a team boss – Johan Kristoffersson dominates the competition in the seat that could have been his – and Lewis Hamilton never even visited the paddock during his team’s three-year tenure in the series, with his participation limited to a few social media videos.
Despite being best known as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Champion who has also competed in IndyCar and sports car racing in recent years, Johnson has extensive off-road experience. He was a frequent race winner in Short Course in the 1990s before making it big, so it will be interesting to see how he performs in Extreme E.
However, due to his primary commitments, he will miss the season opener. Travis Pastrana, who knows a thing or two about winning on loose surfaces, will take his place. Pastrana proved his speed by winning a stage at last weekend’s Sno*Drift rally in the U.S., despite recent knee surgery.
Joining Legacy MC as the female driver will be Gray Leadbetter, an emerging talent in the off-road world who has been personally chosen by Pastrana as a potential successor. The two have competed against each other in Side-by-Sides in Nitrocross, where the 19-year-old has consistently finished no lower than fourth in the 2023-24 season. Therefore, any adjustment or team-building period will be accelerated, at least for the season opener. All three Legacy MC drivers are new to Extreme E, but the combination of youth and experience will be captivating to watch throughout the year.
So despite doubts about the legitimacy of the 2024 season, the reality is that it could be an incredibly intriguing season. The construction work is still ongoing, and the focus is primarily on 2025, but don’t underestimate this year just yet. There’s no need to apologize for its appearance because, thanks to the significant driver changes, the 2024 season is likely to be the best one yet for the category.
According to the Source racer.com