Extreme E Ocean X-Prix
Kleinschmidt to replace Hurtgen for full XE season at Abt
The Abt Cupra Extreme E team has called up series reserve driver Jutta Kleinschmidt for the remainder of the season after her star performance in Senegal to replace Claudia Hurtgen.
Matt Kew
Edited: Jun 24, 2021, 1:24 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Kleinschmidt, who in 2001 became the first and so far only female driver to win the Dakar Rally, will partner two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom for the remaining three rounds.
The 58-year-old German, making a professional front-line comeback for the first time since 2016 after myriad amateur rally outings, deputised for Hurtgen last time out in Senegal.
She impressed hugely during qualifying, combining with Ekstrom to set the second- and third-fastest times across the two sessions, to progress into the first semi-final.
But the duo failed to reach the final after a driver change over communication error meant the car fell from first to last in the heat after Kleinschmidt could not see when to rejoin.
Kleinschmidt said: "I'm really looking forward to this new challenge, the preparation with the ABT team and of course to work with Mattias.
"At first, I followed the series from the organisers' point of view, then I got a spontaneous drive and now, together with Mattias, I'm actually a permanent member of the family of drivers. I'm very happy for the chance to compete at the highest level again."
Kleinschmidt was called up on the Friday evening of the Senegal event to replace Hurtgen after the former Helmut Marko protege was sidelined with serious food poisoning from shrimp.
Autosport understands she was then flown back to Germany and required a week-long stay in hospital after contracting a viral or bacterial infection.
This followed her dramatic outing in the inaugural event in Saudi Arabia when Hurtgen was involved in two massive shunts that caused terminal chassis damage to the car.
Claudia Hurtgen, Mattias Ekstrom, ABT CUPRA XE
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Hurtgen said: "This high time commitment is unfortunately not compatible at the moment with my professional work at BMW, which I live for with the same passion.
"I'm very grateful for the experiences that I've had within the Extreme E family and wish ABT, Cupra and Jutta only the very best for the next races."
Ekstrom, who made a point of telling team members only to eat rice and bread in Senegal, added: "accidents in Saudi Arabia, a spontaneous driver change in Senegal - it's time for us to now have a smooth weekend.
"We will thoroughly review the season so far, prepare more intensively than ever and try to make a fresh start in Greenland."
"Having [Kleinschmidt] in the team is also something special for me. I'm looking forward to the collaboration and her cumulative experience, which will serve us well in Extreme E."
The season continues with an event in Greenland across 28-29 August, when Kleinschmidt will celebrate her birthday, but two further race locations are to be confirmed.
This follows the double cancellation of the Brazil and season-final Argentina rounds owing to the COVID-19 situation in South America that forced Extreme E to abandon its course recces.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article W Series introduces new team structure from this season
Next article Rossi’s VR46 MotoGP team partners with Ducati for 2022
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Latest news
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe