Mattias Ekström, one of racing’s great all-rounders, has joined NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team for the 2024 season, partnering with fellow newcomer to the squad Cristina Gutiérrez.
Ekström has won championships on and off track, twice being crowned champion of DTM and winning the World Rallycross Championship in 2016. The Swede also secured the maiden Electric TCR touring car championship, and has shown his versatility by claiming the Race of Champions four times. He’s also contested the World Rally Championship, Dakar and even NASCAR.
In 2023, he finished runner-up in Extreme E with two wins for Sainz XE Team.
Gutiérrez, meanwhile, can go one better, having won the Extreme E Championship in 2022.
An off-road specialist, Gutiérrez recently became the first female to win the Dakar for more than 20 years when she took the T3 category in January.
“I am delighted to be part of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team for their third season in the championship,” the Spaniard said. “I would like to thank NEOM McLaren for counting on me to be part of this beautiful adventure with them in Extreme E, since it is a championship that fights to give visibility and spark action to reduce the impact of climate change and promotes equality. I am very motivated to start working with the entire team. I cannot wait to get going in Saudi Arabia this month!”
Extreme E begins its season in Jeddah on 17-18 February, before returning to Europe on 13-14 July at an as-yet unannounced venue. Sardinia follows for back-to-back events on 14-15 and 21-22 September. Phoenix hosts the final round, with the championship in America on 23-24 November.
