Extreme E cancels Brazil / USA X Prix without explanation, instead races in Sardinia again

In its third season in 2023, Extreme E will again not race in Brazil, nor will there be a first X Prix in the USA. Instead, on the weekend of September 16-17, the electric series will once again stage a double-header in Sardinia. Extreme E announced the location switch in a press release on Tuesday, less than three weeks before the event, without explaining the reasons behind the decision.

This is not the first time that Sardinia has stepped in as a substitute venue: Already in the previous year, Extreme E had held a double-header there, consisting of two race events within a week, after the cancellation of the Ocean X Prix. The electric racing series will thus stage its races 6 and 7 in Sardinia in total.

"It's exciting news that Extreme E will be heading back to Sardinia for the next rounds of the championship in September," said Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E. "Sardinia has been the setting for some thrilling on-track moments since we launched Extreme E and always provides incredible racing. What's more, given what has been happening across Europe with the extreme heat and weather patterns experienced throughout the continent, there is an important climate story to tell."

Agag: "Our ambition to host a race in the USA in the future"

"As a global championship, it remains our ambition to host a race in the USA in the future, as well as in other regions across South America, such is the passion for motorsport there," Agag further described. "Nevertheless our return to Chile, which was a hugely successful event for Extreme E in 2022, will go ahead in December as our Season 3 Finale."

"We are extremely grateful to the Automobile Club d'Italia, Regione Sardegna, and the Italian Army to be able to return to Sardinia for the next rounds of the 2023 championship," added James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer of Extreme E. "Extreme E has developed a strong relationship with the region across a number of years and they have always been incredibly supportive of our series, enabling us to go racing once more on the island."

German team Rosberg X Racing has won four of the five Extreme E races held in Sardinia to date. The team even crossed the finish line in first place at the first round of the 2022 Island X Prix, but was subsequently given a penalty for causing a collision. The victory was therefore inherited by Chip Ganassi Racing. It was the only race win so far for the US team.