Nasser Al Attiyah to enter Extreme E 2022 with CUPRA  
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Nasser Al Attiyah is making the leap to a new speciality right after winning his fourth Dakar; the Extreme E, an all-electric SUV championship, created by the Spanish co-founder of Formula E, Alejandro Agag in 2021. 

The Katari racer will compete for the ABT CUPRA XE team, as revealed by the latter this past Thursday. By his side, he will have another legend of the desert, Jutta Kleinschmidt, the only female driver to ever win the Dakar Rally (2001 with a Mitsubishi), and who has already competed for the Spanish team during the previous season. 

This new adventure will be the 51-year-old’s debut in an all-electrical speciality. The vehicles that he has been using this season, by the way, the Toyota Hilux T1 + at the Dakar and the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 with which he takes part in rallies, drive exclusively on a heat engine. 

Nassers’ proven skill and versatility at the wheel will sufficiently make up for his lack of experience in this type of car. He will nonetheless require a period of adaptation to the particularities of these ‘zero emission’ vehicles. 

A strategic signing to shake things up 

The signing of the Katari champion can be regarded as part of a necessary change of course for the team following a disappointing 2021 campaign when expectations were not met. Following the setback, the Spanish marque has reacted by investing in one of the great stars of the raids to take the seat of the Swede Mattias Ekstrom. 

Both Nasser and his experienced German teammate, who already competed in the inaugural edition of the electric championship with CUPRA, should form a very competitive couple and produce better results for the team. Nasser himself has declared his optimism regarding their chances of success: 

 “I’m already a bit excited and believe that this will be a great experience for me. Extreme E is an exciting series with the ambition to contribute to a better future. I am proud to be a part of the team now. Expectations are high: with the experience of ABT CUPRA XE and Jutta [Kleinschmidt] by my side, we are determined to race for victories. I can’t wait to sit in the car and have fun.”

For her part, the German driver has also spoken of her excitement ahead of the 2022 season, particularly after the addition to the team of her shinning new partner: 

“Last year we created a solid basis and fought for front positions. This year the challenge is to be even more consistent in taking wins and trophies, and we are ready for that. Being able to share my passion for off-road racing with such a great team and now a Dakar star like Nasser [Al-Attiyah] is fantastic motivation. I just want to start the season.”

To be in the top three and among the title bidders

As per the expectations manifested by CUPRA, Al-Attiyah and Kleinschmidt have a very clear goal; to work as a team in order to finish in the top three in each and every race. Last season, the German driver and her teammate Ekstrom finished fifth in the 2021 standings and could only claim one lonely podium in Sardinia. In this second participation, however, CUPRA is out with a very serious title bid. 

In order to achieve this, they will have a very effective machine, the new CUPRA Tavascan XE, whose design is based on the future ‘all-road’ SUV of the Spanish firm and will be replacing the e-CUPRA ABT XE1 from the first season. The competition vehicle has been given two very striking small shark fins to adorn its rear. 

Images: CUPRA Racing.

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