McLaren has announced that they will be making their debut in electric car racing. Supported by Neom, the Saudi Arabian government’s smart city project, which is the main sponsor.
McLaren will make its Formula E debut later this year after announcing in May that it was taking over from Formula E team Mercedes-Benz that chose to leave next season.
The McLaren team will be known as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team and NEOM McLaren Extreme E, and operate under the auspices of NEOM McLaren Electric Racing.
“This partnership represents the union of two organizations with a common goal of technology and innovation. Selected candidates from Saudi Arabia will be given the opportunity to take part in a one-year placement with McLaren Racing as part of the NEOM Graduate Opportunities in Work,” said a team statement.
McLaren Racing CEO, Zak Brown also welcomed this collaboration. They are delighted to welcome NEOM to the McLaren Racing family. It’s a great way to kickstart your entry into Formula E and to unify the electric racing series.
“We are excited to introduce NEOM McLaren Electric Racing and work closely with NEOM to develop talent and drive innovation.”
With this announcement, it means that McLaren is serious about taking a new step towards Saudi Arabian motorsport. They recently had a long-term deal to host Formula 1 after racing in 2021, and a sponsorship deal came from Aramco.
McLaren has previously confirmed Nissan as the provider of the electric powertrain for the 2022/2023 Formula E season.
