NEOM McLaren will field an all-new driver lineup in Extreme E next season, with the departures of Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour being confirmed on Tuesday.
Foust and Gilmour have been McLaren’s drivers in the all-electric off-road series since it entered at the start of 2022. The pair took a best result of second in the 2022 season finale in Uruguay, repeating that result in Scotland earlier this year.
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“It has been an honour to drive for a team with such a great motorsport lineage as NEOM McLaren,” said Foust. “It has been a privilege to compete for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E team for the last two years, in addition to other opportunities with the Heritage program. I have had the opportunity to drive cars that I never thought I’d drive in my life, and the podiums in Uruguay and Scotland were a big highlight.
“I wish everyone at the team all the best, and I would like to thank them for the incredible support they’ve provided for me during the past two years.”
Gilmour, who was McLaren’s first-ever female driver, missed the last three Extreme E rounds in Sardinia and Chile after crashing in practice for the second Island X Prix, being replaced by Tamara Molinaro and Hedda Hosaas.
“As a Kiwi, it has been unbelievably special to have driven for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E team for the past two years, and to make history as McLaren Racing’s first ever female driver,” said Gilmour. “It was amazing to race in some of the most extreme locations in the world, including Saudi Arabia, Chile and Uruguay, and to come through to secure those hard-fought podiums.
“I’m grateful for the team’s incredible support and for the unforgettable highlights we enjoyed together. I wish everyone at McLaren Racing all the best.”
McLaren will announce its new Extreme E drivers in the new year.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working together with both Emma and Tanner. They are not only incredibly talented racing drivers, but also great personalities that made every race weekend a pleasure to attend,” said NEOM McLaren Electric Racing managing director Ian James.
“Since McLaren Racing joined the Extreme E Championship two years ago, it’s been a steep learning curve and challenging journey for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. Both drivers have been a key part of the development process and they have grown together with the team. Although the results haven’t always reflected just how far we’ve come, both Emma and Tanner have made a significant contribution to the team’s future success. I feel fortunate to have had both as part of the team and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”
Gary Paffett, sporting director at NEOM McLaren Extreme E team, added:
“On behalf of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, I’d like to thank Emma and Tanner for all their incredible work over the past two years. With their help, we’ve established a strong foundation in the Extreme E championship, and secured two P2 finishes along the way, in Uruguay and Scotland.
“It’s no secret that we’ve faced some challenges during our time in the championship so far, but their support has been invaluable and we are all incredibly grateful. We wish them all the best for the future.”
Confirmation of McLaren’s impending driver change sets off what is expected to be a busy silly season in Extreme E, with a number of driver moves anticipated.