ABT Cupra has given a clear signal for the 2022 season of the renewed commitment in Extreme E: aiming to win.
The signing of Nasser Al-Attiyah confirms that the Spanish brand, united with the German team, wants to be at the top with its new Tavascan electric SUV.
On the day of the presentation, Motorsport.com took part in a round table where all the protagonists of this project were able to underline their desire for success.
Antonino Labate, Director of Strategies and Head of Development and Commercial Operations, was the one to open the ‘dance’.
“It is a particularly important and exciting day. In addition to Jutta, who had participated from 2021 onwards, we are here to present Nasser with great pride”, explains Labate.
“As a brand we have come from an extremely positive year which in terms of business has seen us triple our results in 2020, despite the pandemic and delivery difficulties. We are very happy and have exceeded the most optimistic expectations we had 4 years ago. From sales to international presence, we did not imagine anything we have done “.
With two riders of this type, the intent is clear, but there is great responsibility, right?
“Of course, Cupra has the ambition to play an important role in XE. As you know, sporting competitions are always difficult to predict in terms of results, but we are very confident both in the drivers and in the new Tavascan. Nasser and Jutta have experience and I think they can play it. “
In terms of image, you have focused a lot on the sporty aspect and the Tavascan anticipates the product that we will see on the streets. How much room is there for development between the track and the road?
“In reality, with the advent of electrification, the lines of the car become extremely important to obtain a significant performance. In sports competitions, as in the case of electric cars, a lot of data is transferred to road cars, especially and especially regarding the general set-up. . The battery pack on the bottom of the electric cars gives us the opportunity to push a lot on acceleration and make driving much more agile, which in motorsport helps a lot, besides the braking system clearly “.
Where will the XE lead in the future, thinking about customers?
“We are focused on accumulating and developing experience. In this, racing cars are very important for us, as well as for road cars. Having a driving and piloting experience I think is exciting, but not something classic. Our project is a a reality that aims to be accessible, shareable and relevant for driving enthusiasts. I repeat, we are fans of this thing and in motorsport it is the norm “.
How do you work on a dual track-road concept?
“I believe that motorsport has always represented the territory where solutions are experimented and developed. For us it is valid in XE and in the ETCR, 4 years ago we relaunched the concept of electric racing tourism. On February 22nd we will celebrate our birthday and we will show our new vision linked to motorsport, which goes far beyond just taking advantage of the technological experience transferred from the track to the road. Cupra always explores new worlds, driven by very strong passion, experiencing emotions. It is our DNA and in motorsport we we feel at ease “.
Nasser Al-Attiyah, Cupra Tavascan
Photo by: Cupra
The word then passed to the pilots, with Al-Attiyah fresh winner of the Dakar who at 51 is faced with a novelty such as electric competitions.
What does it mean for you to compete in this series?
“I am very happy to face a new challenge like the electric, which I have never experienced before. I think it will be a good season for us, I don’t think I will have any problems with adaptation and I am really happy to have been involved by Cupra in this program. “.
Have you already had the opportunity to feel something?
“The first outing will be in Arabia, so we will have to understand very well how to fix the set-up, in order to adapt the driving. I am still confident of being able to start strong.”
The race format is very different from what you are used to, what do you think?
“With my aggressive way of driving I have won a lot of Super Specials of the rallies, so I am someone who knows how and where to go to the maximum. We will have to manage the battle situations well, respecting the other opponents and trying not to run into problems and damage to the car. , but I think we’ll have a lot of fun. “
Jutta Kleinschmidt, Cupra Tavascan
Photo by: Cupra
After being signed in the middle of last season, Kleinschmidt returns to the start with fewer unknowns and a lot of motivation.
What does it mean for you to compete in this series?
“I am very happy to face the second season in XE with Cupra. I will have the experience of 2021, but also the great help of a veteran like Nasser, from whom I want to learn as much as possible. I am very motivated”.
Are you confident that you will start strong right away, having raced in 2021?
“My experience will be important, I don’t think the car will be too different to drive than the previous one. It will be important for me to understand the suspension better, which is the aspect I suffered the most when I arrived. Maybe today it will be easier. , as well as managing acceleration, power and braking. In general, I don’t think I will have great difficulties in adapting because it is a world that I have already known. “
Do you think you can do well in the race?
“Last year I had a lot of fun, although I had to understand and learn. The start is very important and after that you have to know how to fight. It is a demanding challenge physically and in terms of strategies, but I am energized and I will have fun”.
What do you think if one day electric, hydrogen and synthetic petrol competitions were all combined?
“In fact it is something that already exists in cross-country rallies, with various technologies present. We have already seen the Audi in the Dakar win the first stages, I think it is very nice and interesting, but also a good sign for the future. . I know that at the beginning of every new series like XE there is something to understand and develop, but you have to be patient and let everything take its course for it to work. “
Xavi Serra, Zengő Motorsport X CUPRA Director
Photo by: Pure ETCR
Finally, the Technical Director, Xavi Serra, also intervened, underlining the goodness of the changes made in renewing the Odyssey SUV.
The first season there were flaws of youth: have they been solved?
“It is our hope! We have analyzed everything and tried to arrange things according to the indications that the championship has given us, but unfortunately we will know if we will only succeed when we go to Arabia because we have not been able to test before”.
Aside from the standard components, how did you rethink the look of the car?
“The look of the Tavascan has several innovations that have given a direction in the design that our products will have. I am talking about the lights and their innovative line, it is something that points to the future and we show it like this.”
Why did you decide to invest in the XE?
“We are always interested in competitions and the XE reflects the will and values of the brand. This is why we have chosen it, in electrification there is everything we want to achieve and achieve, even in the series product, therefore not only in motorsport. Obviously the hope is to be at the top! “
There is a lot of talk about the future and innovations, but currently electric races are few. What do you think?
“Currently there are not many electric platforms to compete on a professional level, but we have some guys from universities working on really interesting future vehicles. Today we have Formula E where the level is high, so I think there will be the margin because the competitions of this kind can increase “.
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