What goes through your mind as you step into the ODYSSEY 21 ?

CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ : “ I love the feeling of getting into the car , it makes the race weekend come to life and you feel the pressure and adrenaline of everything you ’ ve been working hard towards . I am always a little bit nervous , especially in Finals , but when I step into the car , I will have been working hard beforehand to make sure I am ready , so it is just a case of remembering what I need to do and working with my engineer to execute the race as best as I can .”

SÉBASTIEN LOEB : “ I forget the outside world and focus on the track . It is at that moment that the power is in your hands of how you perform that day — you can ’ t let any distractions come into your head . For me , that moment is the opportunity to make myself comfortable in the vehicle and just focus on how I will attack , because even before I step in , I have done the preparation to give myself the mindset that will allow me to drive the best I can .”

What is it about Extreme E that made you want to participate ?

CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ : “ One of the main reasons I was so excited to get involved with Extreme E is that there is a balance between both my love of racing and my concern about climate change . I have been racing since I was a kid , so motorsport is something I have loved my whole life , and to be able to combine that with a positive response to help the planet is ideal . When Lewis Hamilton approached me to join the team , I said yes immediately – of course !”

SÉBASTIEN LOEB : “ When I heard about the opportunity to join Extreme E , I was immediately interested to know more . I am always seeking out new challenges – I ’ ve done rally , rallycross , endurance racing , cross-country and have even driven a Formula 1 car – so why not add this to the list ? Then I learned about the other names who were getting involved , like Lewis , Nico [ Rosberg ], Carlos Sainz , Jutta Kleinschmidt , and my former teammate Timmy Hansen , and it made it even easier to say yes .”

34 [ Dec 2022 ] EVMAGAZINE . COM