Take for example two worlds that have long intertwined their destinies and strategies: auto racing and fine watchmaking. In recent years, both have made significant efforts to find more sustainable ways to continue writing their story, while continuing to fuel the fans’ passion for adrenaline and precision.
The second season of Extreme E – an off-road electric vehicle competition held in some of the most remote locations on the planet – has been proof that sporting events can continue to engage fans while promoting practices such as decarbonizing engines, minimizing its effect on the environment, promoting renewable energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Set against the grasslands of Punta del Este, in Uruguay, and the Atlantic coastline, the final of the tournament was a spectacular close to a circuit of five races that took place on three continents. The choice of this destination obeyed criteria that are aligned with the core values of the Energy X Prix, since today Uruguay generates 98 percent of its electrical energy from renewable resources, mainly wind and hydraulic energy.
Additionally, logistical factors that define the completion of each race were taken into account, such as the fact that all the equipment and infrastructure used must arrive at each venue on board the ship. st helena –maritime transport is the one that produces the lowest carbon footprint–, the generation of the minimum impact on the environment, the reduction in the volume of people who attend the races in person –the aim is to encourage an audience that follows them through broadcasts live on social networks, television and platforms such as YouTube–, the creation of social and environmental support programs in each host country, and the involvement of a scientific committee in all its actions.
For this reason, in the previous days, the special guests had access to various experiences such as a visit to a wind power plant to understand how it works and a tour to Isla de Lobos led by OCC experts (Organization for the Conservation of Cetaceans) with the aim of admiring one of the largest colonies of sea lions in the world.
ZENITH, A KEY ALLY
Such an ambitious project requires allies that help materialize a vision that breaks with many of the paradigms of sports, cars and luxury. Zenith is the official timekeeper of the competition and one of the brands that have supported the project since its first season. Uruguay was the perfect setting to present the fourth and final special edition watch celebrating the 2022 Extreme E championship.
The robust chronograph, capable of dominating the rough terrains and harsh environment of Uruguay, was also a means to communicate a message in favor of sustainability. The 20 pieces are distinguished by purple accents – the official color of the race, inspired by the lightning that lights up the Uruguayan skies during storms – and in keeping with the purpose of Extreme E and the ZENITH HORIZ-ON initiative, they incorporate recycled and upcycled elements of the championship on both the strap and the packaging. With its rugged form and function, it is the world’s lightest and most robust high-frequency automatic 100th-of-a-second chronograph, made of carbon fiber.
“The second season of Extreme E has surpassed last year’s in every possible way. It’s not just that the championship has grown with the addition of more teams and with the completion of more races. Also the enthusiasm that has been felt thanks to the fans around the world and the local support that we have received in the remote destinations where we have carried out actions of the Legacy Program have shown that Extreme E is the future of rallying”, said Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith.