Claire Schönborn and Adrien Tambay will serve as the reserve drivers for the Extreme E Final Lap and Extreme H’s inaugural races, both in Qiddiya.

If something were to happen to a male driver, Tambay would take his spot; likewise, Schönborn does the same if a female driver is unable to compete. The two are also tasked with testing the course and Pioneer 25. Such a role was called “Championship Drivers” during the Extreme E era, though that moniker appears to be dropped now.

Like his F1 father Patrick Tambay, Adrien is mostly a pavement racer won the 2022 FIA eTouring Car World Cup and is a DTM veteran. In 2023, he did a one-off at the season-ending Copper X Prix in replacement duty at ABT CUPRA XE for fellow Frenchman Sébastien Loeb. He and Klara Andersson finished seventh in Race 2.

While his off-road experience is limited, he has also raced the Andros Trophy and did the 2022 Race of Champions on snow and ice alongside Loeb.

“I had a very good experience there, and when I got the call I was very happy to come here and help out in a country, in a place I never seen before. I’m also looking forward to testing the hydrogen car,” Tambay commented.

Schönborn is a rally driver who competes in Junior WRC and WRC3. She won the WRC Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Program, which earned her a scholarship into the developmental tiers of the rally ladder.

“To be Extreme E and Extreme H reserve driver, it’s a big opportunity because I have never raced in the desert, and also not with this type of car,” Schönborn commented. “I really enjoyed the testing and I’m looking forward to the race.”

Featured image credit: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool