Loeb honoured to team up with Hamilton

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: INTERVIEWS WITH SEBASTIEN LOEB AND CRISTINA GUTIERREZ, WHO HAVE SIGNED WITH LEWIS HAMILTON'S EXTREME E TEAM, X-44 / B-ROLL OF EXTREME E / LEWIS HAMILTON / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF LOEB, HAMILTON AND GUTIERREZ

SHOWS:

UNKNOWN LOCATIONS (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - ACCESS ALL)

1. LEWIS HAMILTON PROMOTIONAL VIDEO ANNOUNCING HIS EXTREME E TEAM

UNKNOWN LOCATION, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, SEBASTIEN LOEB, SAYING:

"For me it's difficult to know exactly at what to think but I'm happy to be in this new challenge because I think maybe it is a bit the turning point of the motor sport. It is something completely different from what we are used to. It is completely another concept, to do it with the girl in the same car and to share some things like this I think it's really something different and looking forward to being on the first phase for that."

PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - DECEMBER 13, 2008) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL)

3. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON AND SEBASTIEN LOEB

UNKNOWN LOCATION, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, SEBASTIEN LOEB, SAYING:

"Much no. We we spoke together at the beginning of our project so it means maybe one or two months ago. And that's it but he seems really motivated to create this thing and it's an honour for me to drive for a guy like Lewis, so I'm really happy to be part of the year of the story."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER SEBASTIEN LOEB SAYING ON WHETHER LEWIS HAMILTON COULD BECOME A RALLY DRIVER:

"The talent he has, for sure he would be a good driver in rally also. So I'm not sure it's his plan but I always said that the main thing for me too in rally is the natural talent then you can improved but for sure this one he has it."

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (EXTREME E VNR - ACCESS ALL)

7. VARIOUS OF SEBASTIEN LOEB AND CRISTINA GUTIERREZ WITH X-44 TEAM

UNKNOWN LOCATION, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, SEBASTIEN LOEB, SAYING:

"I'm like a lot of people are for sure I take care of environment. I'm not doing anything super human for that. For sure and I am a racing driver but it's not because I'm a racing driver that I'm less ecological. Some other people were using their cars or trains to go to the to work everyday. So it's... I'm happy to be involved in this new discipline. Which is a mix between racing for sure but on electric car and trying to be bring something positive for the ecology side. I think that is great, so I'm happy to be part of this and, yeah to run with this project."

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (EXTREME E VNR - ACCESS ALL)

9. VARIOUS OF SEBASTIEN LOEB AND CRISTINA GUTIERREZ WITH X-44 TEAM

UNKNOWN LOCATION, SWITZERLAND (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, SEBASTIEN LOEB, TALKING ABOUT HIS FUTURE, SAYING:

"Now, I don't have a precise plan. I will do Dakar this year next year. I will be Extreme E this year and next year. I don't know at the moment but like you said I'm 46 and I'm still motivated, I still enjoy driving, I still enjoy the competition. So why not? You see Carlos Sainz is still here in Dakar in Extreme E now so it means that there's still some place for a bit older driver, less young drivers and so for me it's nice to see that and I can see a nice future for that."

UNKNOWN LOCATION (RECENT) (EXTREME E HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

11. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LOEB

12. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LOEB AND CRISTINA GUTIERREZ

13. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF CRISTINA GUTIERREZ

DUBAI, UAE (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, CRISTINA GUTIERREZ, SAYING:

"Well I feel strange and same time it is a good chance for me, it is a great opportunity to grow up like a driver. I'm very glad and I'm very happy to be here and of course in this special time for me cause obviously Lewis and Sebastien Loeb are legends for me. It is like a dream."

UNKNOWN LOCATION (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - ACCESS ALL)

15. VIDEO PROMOTING EXTREME E SERIES

DUBAI, UAE (DECEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) RALLY DRIVER, CRISTINA GUTIERREZ, SAYING:

"Yeah, I think no one is perfect when it comes to climate change, but it's important that we take positive steps in the right direction. Driving with X-44 is one way and I'm hoping to make a positive impact. And I think we have to innovate and we have to believe in change. Extreme E is a good initiative and it is better this than anything, and I think it's a good idea."

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

17. LEWIS HAMILTON ON THE RED CARPET AT THE 2019 BRITISH FASHION AWARDS

BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE - NOVEMBER 7, 2019) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

18. VARIOUS OF HAMILTON ON RED CARPET OF GQ GERMANY'S MEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS

STORY: Nine-times rally world champion Sebastien Loeb will race in the new Extreme E off-road electric series next year for a team owned by seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The two are the most successful drivers of all time in their respective series.

Frenchman Loeb, 46, will be partnered by 29-year-old Spanish racer Cristina Gutierrez, a four-times finisher in the Dakar Rally.

Every team in the series, which aims to raise awareness about climate change by racing in some of the world's most remote and harsh environments, must have a male and a female driver.

Both drivers have tested the Odyssey 21 car on off-road stages.

Loeb will not be the only world rally champion in the field, with Spain's double champion and triple Dakar winner Carlos Sainz driving for his own team.

Hamilton's former Mercedes team mate and 2016 F1 world champion Nico Rosberg also has a team in the series run by Formula E founder Alejandro Agag.

The first race is scheduled for the Saudi Arabian desert in March.

Other rounds will be in Senegal, Greenland, the Brazilian rain forest and Argentine glaciers of Tierra del Fuego.

(Production: Iain Axon)