GMC of Detroit’s General Motors Co. announced a new multiyear sponsorship with Indianapolis-based Chip Ganassi Racing for the team’s first electric racing venture in the inaugural Extreme E season this year.
Chip Ganassi Racing’s 550-horsepower electric SUV, which features a unique grille, graphics, and bodywork, was inspired by the GMC Hummer EV.
“I can’t think of a better fit than showcasing the look of GMC’s Hummer EV in Extreme E with Chip Ganassi Racing,” says Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of performance and motorsports for GM. “Both GMC Hummer EV and the Extreme E series are designed to be revolutionary – to challenge perceptions of electric vehicles and to showcase their true capability.”
Noted off-road racers Kyle Leduc and Sara Price will serve as drivers for Chip in the series.
“It’s truly an honor to represent GMC, especially during such an exciting time in auto racing,” says Chip Ganassi, team owner. “The new GMC Hummer EV is going to be a game changer in terms of how the world views off-road EV capability, and we couldn’t be more proud to represent GMC in such an innovative new series.”
The Extreme E five-race global championship will take place in remote locations and is designed to promote the adoption of electric vehicles. Fans can follow along on GMC’s social channels.
The season one calendar is as follows:
- Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia: April 3-4, 2021
- Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal: May 29-30, 2021
- Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland: Aug. 28-29, 2021
- Amazon X Prix: Para, Brazil: Oct. 23-24, 2021
- Glacier X Prix: Patagonia, Argentina: Dec. 11-12, 2021
“We feel very proud to welcome GMC and its iconic GMC Hummer EV to the Extreme E family as it joins forces with our Chip Ganassi Racing team,” says Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E. “Not only will Extreme E be a thrilling motorsport, it will also showcase the performance and benefits of electric vehicles.”
Reservations are being accepted for select trims of GMC’s new super truck, the 2022 GMC Hummer EV, which will launch with initial production this fall. The Hummer EV will be a fully electric addition to GMC’s portfolio, powered by GM’s new Ultium battery system.
The Hummer EV Edition One will offer a three-motor e4WD propulsion system with GM-estimated 1,000 horsepower and a GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of torque. With 800-volt DC will offer fast charging capability.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2020, Chip Ganassi Racing has compiled victories including eight wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, four Indianapolis 500s, the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. In total, Chip has tallied 20 championships and more than 225 race victories. It has shop facilities in Indianapolis and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh
GMC has manufactured trucks since 1902 and sells them in 12 countries across the world.
Extreme E is a new motorsport series, which aims to highlight the impact of climate change and human interference in the quest for a lower carbon future for the planet.
