The pioneering Extreme E series has its second round this weekend: the Ocean X Prix at Lac Rose in Senegal.
The electric SUVs will be racing along the North Atlantic coast and through sand dunes, as the championship looks to highlight coastal plastic pollution.
Organisers expect the course to avoid the problems seen at the inaugural Saudi Arabia round, where the immense clouds of dust kicked up by the vehicles forced them to switch to timed runs for the heats. When the cars did race wheel-to-wheel, the dust made following — and overtaking — impossible.
Back among the contenders are nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb — driving for Lewis Hamilton’s team — and W Series winner Jamie Chadwick. However, Jenson Button will sit this round out, with rallycross racer Kevin Hansen taking his place in Button’s own team.
It’s the round where we should really discover if the series lives up to its billing as a made-for-TV event with short, frenetic action, and you’ll be able to watch it live, free of charge. Qualifying and the semi-finals will be streamed online from 12.30pm on Saturday and you can watch above. The sessions are available on TV. Scroll down for full details and session timings for the whole weekend.
(All times BST unless stated).
Final: 3pm-5pm, Sunday May 30
The Ocean X Prix final will feature the fastest four cars from the weekend.
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Semi-final: 11am-1.30pm, Sunday May 30
The contenders for the final will be decided in two semi-finals, featuring three cars racing in each.
Qualifying: 12.30pm-2.30pm and 5pm to 7pm, Saturday May 29
Qualifying will be held the day before. As in Saudi Arabia, the cars will run twice in individual time trials; the first at 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Saturday and the second at 5pm to 7pm on the same day.
See our full guide to Extreme E for more information on the race format, as well as the teams and drivers involved in the series, plus the environmental legacy that the series hopes to leave.
Terrestrial viewers can catch the final live on ITV, where coverage starts at 3pm on Sunday, May 30. It will also be available on demand on the ITV Hub.
The final also be available on the BBC Red Button and both broadcasters will show highlights packages.
Sky Sports will be broadcasting action from every stage live on Sky Sports Mix and or/Sky Sports Action.
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Entire live coverage is available to BT Sport subscribers too, who can watch it live on BT Sport 1 as well as on-demand highlights.
ITV, BT Sport and Sky Sports will additionally broadcast a 20-part magazine series called ‘Electric Odyssey’, telling the story of Extreme E and documenting the progress of its environmental mission.
The Ocean X Prix final will be available to stream live on the BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub and the Sky Go app.
Qualifying sessions can be streamed on the BBC iPlayer, the Extreme E website and all its social media channels.
Shakedown 6pm — 6.30pm
Qualifying 1 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Qualifying 2 5pm – 7pm
Semi-final 11am – 1.30pm
Final 4pm – 5pm
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