The ABT CUPRA XE team continues to prepare for its debut in the off-road racing series 18.12.2020: The e-CUPRA ABT XE1, with Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen at the wheel, competes against seven other electric SUV’s The engineering team counts with the support of

    The e-CUPRA ABT XE1, with Mattias Ekström and Claudia Hürtgen at the wheel, competes against seven other electric SUV’s

    The engineering team counts with the support of CUPRA Racing Head of Technical Development, Xavi Serra




CUPRA continues with its preparation for Extreme E, the off-road electric SUV’s competition that in 2021 will travel across the world in a five-event voyage, using its entertainment platform for the purpose of promoting electrification, sustainability, and equality. After completing the first technical tests at the Oschersleben circuit (Germany), the automotive brand’s team participated in the Extreme E official tests, which were held at the MotorLand Aragón track (Spain).



This is the first time that the ABT CUPRA XE measured up against the other seven confirmed teams for the first season of the competition. The tests were carried out on two types of surface: to test the maximum power of the electric engine, the teams completed fast laps on the speed track; and to ensure the endurance and drivability of the vehicle, the cars faced a real race situation on the off-road circuit.



CUPRA e-ambassador Mattias Ekström and German driver Claudia Hürtgen took full advantage of the 400 kW electric power of the e-CUPRA ABT XE1 to challenge its limits ahead of the start of the season, scheduled for March in the Saudi Arabian desert.



After completing the first session, Rally Cross and DTM champion Mattias Ekström said: “These training sessions have helped us to get used to the size and movement of the e-CUPRA ABT XE1. Both Claudia and I are fast learners, and this will be a key factor in getting the most out of the vehicle on each of the five surfaces we’ll be competing on. We have five unique races ahead of us.”




An electric team



The two drivers will be supported by the team of engineers who will accompany them throughout the season and whose job it will be to ensure the maximum performance of the e-CUPRA ABT XE1. The ABT CUPRA XE technical team will count with the support of CUPRA Racing Head of Technical Development, Xavi Serra, who also directed the development of the world’s first 100% electric touring racing car, the CUPRA e-Racer.



SEAT’s executive Vice-president for Research and Development, Dr. Werner Tietz, highlighted: “The Extreme E is a great opportunity to demonstrate CUPRA’s electric potential. We aim to contribute to the future development of this race car and gain knowledge about high-performance electric engines that we can later apply in our street models. At the same time, we want to help raise awareness of environmental issues through motorsport.”




Ready for the Odyssey



Last September, CUPRA became the first automotive brand to announce its participation in Extreme E by partnering with ABT Sportsline as the team’s main partner. The ABT CUPRA XE has now completed its team of drivers and engineers who from March 2021 will compete in five areas of the planet including Arctic, desert, jungle, glacier and ocean locations which have been damaged or affected by climate change.



The format of the races includes two days of competition, with one day of qualifying and another where the final will be decided among four teams. Each race consists of two laps: one driven by the female racer and one driven by the male. The results for each race will depend on their finishing position, not on their time.

Cristina Vall-Llosada,Sergio Ripollés- photos Cupra