Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series, revealed the organization will visit a damaged region in the Brazilian state of Pará during its Amazon Rainforest Stage of racing when Season One gets underway in 2021.

Extreme E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag made the announcement from a location near Santarém and was joined by members of the Santarém 4 Firefighter Battalion.

The race will take place in a deforested area that has been impacted by recent fire damage.

“I am delighted that we will be heading to the Amazon in Season 1,” Agag said. “A number of issues affect the long-term health of the rainforest here, with deforestation and wildfires among the most topical, and pressing, at this moment in time. I was actually in this precise location just one month ago where we saw pristine forests, which have now been decimated by fire—which has personally brought home the shocking extent of the situation facing the Amazon.

“Our goal is to provide support, not only to dedicated professional firefighters but also [to] the local residents, who lack off-road vehicles, specialist equipment, and training as they strive to control the situation and protect their land.”

The Amazon rainforest is the second location to be confirmed, following the recent announcement that Greenland will host the series’ Arctic round. Three further events are being scouted in the Himalayas, the desert, along with a coastal ocean location.

A first of its kind in motorsports, Extreme E will see electric SUVs compete in remote environments that have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.

For more information, visit extreme-e.com.

Photo of Alejandro Agag, center, and the Santarém 4 Firefighter Battalion courtesy of Extreme E