HANOVER, Germany — Continental A.G. has renewed its tire-supply partnership with the organizers of the Extreme E electric off-road racing championship, a business relationship Conti sees as a way to advance the concept of sustainable motorsports and environmental awareness.
The partners did not disclose the length or value of the contract, but it appears it will extend into 2025 when the series shifts to hydrogen power and morphs into Extreme H.
Continental and Extreme E Ltd. have been partners since 2019 in the Extreme E series, which began competition in 2021.
"Continental's continued dedication to creating bespoke tires that perform exceptionally in the world's harshest terrains aligns perfectly with our mission to drive change through motorsport," Extreme E Managing Director Ali Russel said.
"Their unwavering support plays a pivotal role in the success of Extreme E and the message we aim to convey."
The series features purpose-built, electric-powered all-wheel-drive racers competing on extreme off-road environments, including sites in the Arctic, deserts and tropics, forcing drivers to cope with extreme heat and humidity, high altitude and subzero temperatures over rally-style off-road stages of around four to six miles.
The 10-race 2024 season starts Feb. 17-18 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and include a pair of races in the U.S. for the first time on Nov. 23-24 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Continental uses the series to push the sustainable-materials envelope in developing the tires for the series. Last year, the CrossContact race tires were built with 43% recycled and renewable materials, including silica obtained from the ash of rice husks, waste material of agriculture, as well as polyester yarn from recycled PET plastic bottles, Conti said.
The sustainability pledge extends into the end-of-life realm, as well. Continental last year used carbon black from 300 recycled CrossContact Extreme E racing tires to make forklift tires and more recently donated roughly 4,300 square feet rubber paving stones made from the same tires to build a basketball court in Hannover.
