When McLaren enters Extreme E off-road electric vehicle (EV) racing in 2022, it will do it with Multimatic as its vehicle dynamics partner. The McLaren Extreme E team has joined the innovative all-electric series and will compete in the five-race global championship in 2022.
Extreme E, who have partnered with Unicef, offers an opportunity to test clean technology innovations in some of the world’s toughest environments, whilst highlighting the impact of climate change.
The series is focused on raising awareness of sustainability by showcasing a low carbon future via the adoption of electric cars and by promoting diversity, equality and inclusion. Engineering and testing at this level are ideal when it comes to extremes and efficiencies and often results in technologies found on road in the future.
McLaren will use Multimatic’s Vehicle Dynamics Development Centre to prepare its all-electric ODYSSEY 21 Extreme E sports utility vehicle (SUV) ahead of the 2022 race season.
Situated in Norfolk in the UK, the facility is home to an innovative multi-post rig, one of the company’s driver in the loop (DiL) simulators and a state-of-the-art kinematics and compliance (K&C) test rig.
Multimatic will provide the support of two world-class engineers to the collaborative programme. Leena Gade will serve as the team’s race engineer, while Teena Gade will undertake performance and systems engineering.
Leena Gade, race engineer, said: “This is an exciting challenge for us at Multimatic as it is a new arena so it provides huge opportunity for learning. McLaren has put together a great team and we have already started work.
“I’m thrilled to also be working with Teena on this project. We worked together in Superleague Formula many years ago but not to the extent that we are now.”
Larry Holt, Multimatic Special Vehicle Operations executive vice president, said “We have had a long history of collaboration with McLaren and this is a new chapter in the relationship.
“Zak (Brown) has consistently proven his instinct for where are our industry needs to head, and this latest move into Extreme E is another that I fully agree is imperative to focus attention on sustainability, reduced carbon emissions and ultimately the viability of the sport.”
