Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky joins JBXE for Extreme E

Having done major development work for the series and for tyre supplier Continental, Swedish racer Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky finally landed a race seat in Extreme E, as she joins Jenson Button at JBXE for the new all-electric off-road series.

The 28-year old from Karlstad, Sweden, is an ambassador for the FIA Women In Motorsport commission and one of the most prominent figures in the female racing movement in Europe. She has also been competing in STCC since 2017 with PWR Racing and was the first woman to ever win a race in the premier Scandinavian championship. She became the first female driver to secure a pole position in the series' history, and she would later add more podiums to her name.

Less than a month before the first ever race of the all-new Extreme E season, JBXE announced their female driver next to team owner Jenson Button: it will be Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. The Swedish driver is surely not new to the series, as she played a big role in the CrossContact Extreme E tyre development for founding partner Continental. All the ODYSSEY 21 SUVs will in fact be fitted with this specially designed tyre, with all the teams being supplied the same material.

Mikaela is best known in Europe for her STCC achivements, as well as for her succesful participation in the Scirocco R-Cup Germany, Audi Sport TT Cup and ADAC GT Masters. With her rallycross experience, she is well prepared for the 2021 season in Extreme E.

“I am delighted to be joining the JBXE team alongside Jenson Button, it feels like a dream come true." – she commented. "Not only do I get to race with such a fantastic team mate, but we both really believe in the platform of the series."

"Extreme E is more than just another motorsport, it is a sport for purpose which we can use to showcase electric vehicles and motivate people to rethink their views on the consequences of climate change. If we can make this racing series exciting, innovative and interesting to follow, the willingness to make big and small changes will grow – for the benefit of our world and everyone on the planet.”

Her teammate will be 2009 Formula 1 world champion and team founder Jenson Button, with their car featuring a predominantly white and bright-yellow scheme, similar to Button's title-winning Brawn GP F1 car.

“I am delighted to be welcoming Mikaela to JBXE and to have her as my teammate." – said the British racing star. "She brings with her some fantastic experience behind the wheel and her work with Continental and Extreme E to this point clearly demonstrate what an asset she will be to the team."

"In Mikaela I also have no doubt we have an incredibly valuable ambassador to represent JBXE, and Extreme E as a whole, in the fight to raise awareness of climate change and to help implement the Extreme E Legacy Programme projects along the way.” – he concluded.

With Mikaela, the grid for the current season is complete as Techeetah postponed their entry in the series. The main reason mentioned is the Covid19 pandemic, as the Asian-based team is facing the global travel restrictions. Owned by a Indonesian group, the team was not able to enter the European tests in preparation of the inaugural campaign and have not announced any drivers so far. Teechetah still states that their plan is to join the championship at a later time this year when possible.

The 2021 Extreme E season will kick off on 3-4 April with the Desert XPrix in Saudi Arabia.