Bethonie WaringDTM champion Timo Scheider has been revealed as Extreme E’s first “Joker Driver”.
Two Joker drivers will attend each Extreme E event, on standby to step in as a reserve driver at a moment’s notice.
Scheider, who has experience in several race categories, will also contribute to the design of the track layouts at each of the series’ five events.
“It’s a pretty new experience for me and I was super excited about the Extreme E team and the challenge to design a course in the middle of nowhere,” Scheider said. “I really enjoyed the first recce in Saudi Arabia and designing a course in the desert; there are so many things to consider but the course is going to provide incredible racing.
“I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the ODYSSEY 21 and be the first to drive the official Extreme E course in just a few weeks’ time, it’ll be a moment in history.
“The Joker Driver role is pretty cool too and I’m delighted to be available for all the teams and fulfil a driver role should it be required.”
Series Chief Championship Officer, James Taylor, added: “It’s fantastic to have Timo on the team, he has a huge amount of knowledge so we have a lot of faith in his abilities to support the championship.
“Timo has invaluable experience working across so many motorsport disciplines on terrains and conditions at either end of the scale, so he was a natural choice to help design the courses we’ll be racing on.”
With Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky joining JBXE, the grid for the inaugural Extreme E season has been completed, though only one team – Veloce Racing – has announced any reserve driver, an important role at the moment.
Extreme E is set to announce its second Joker Driver later this week.
Image courtesy of Extreme E/Palm Fiction
Andrea Perilli