Legacy Motor Club (LMC) is set to make its debut in the Extreme E championship with drivers Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter. This move comes after the departure of other teams like Lewis Hamilton’s X44 team, Chip Ganassi Racing, and the Abt Cupra team. The Extreme E championship is an FIA-sanctioned off-road racing series that features spec silhouette electric SUVs competing in remote locations around the world. By the 2025 season, the championship will transition to Extreme H, running under hydrogen power.
Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, expressed his excitement about LMC’s entry into the Extreme E championship. He highlighted the significance of representing America in this competitive series and expressed his commitment to the challenge. Johnson emphasized that watching the team’s colors race on foreign soil for the first time while he is at the ‘Great American Race’ in Daytona is a thrilling experience.
Both Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter will be making their Extreme E debuts. Leadbetter, a 19-year-old competitor, has already showcased her talent by becoming the first woman to win a U.S. Pro Class Championship in the Championship Off-Road closed-course series. She expressed her enthusiasm about the opportunity to race with Jimmie Johnson and Legacy M.C., acknowledging that it will be an adventure given her lack of experience with these cars.
On the other hand, Pastrana is a motorsports legend with a successful career in motocross and X Games. Having ventured into NASCAR with a Daytona 500 outing last year, Pastrana brings a wealth of experience to the team. Despite not having driven an Extreme E Odyssey 21 before, Pastrana is excited about the prospect of competing in this unique series. His belief in Jimmie Johnson and Legacy M.C. played a key role in his decision to join the team.
Jimmie Johnson intends to participate in some events as his schedule allows. He finds the transition to hydrogen power in 2025 intriguing from a technical standpoint and highlights the interest of the entire motorsports community in this development. The team’s involvement in the Extreme E championship signals a new chapter for Legacy Motor Club, providing them with an exciting opportunity to showcase their skills on a global stage.
Legacy Motor Club’s entry into the Extreme E championship marks a significant milestone for the team and opens up new possibilities for success in the world of off-road racing. With talented drivers like Travis Pastrana and Gray Leadbetter at the helm, along with the guidance of Jimmie Johnson, the team is poised to make a strong impression in this competitive series. The anticipation surrounding the team’s debut is palpable, and fans can’t wait to see what they will achieve in the upcoming races.