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French star Sarrazin completes Veloce Racing driver line-up

Published

5 years ago

January 21, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Versatile French legend joins W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick for Season One
Sarrazin aiming to add Extreme E success to impressive career CV
Cross-country specialist Lance Woolridge appointed reserve and development driver

Veloce Racing has completed its driver line-up for the inaugural season of Extreme E, after signing successful French all-rounder Stéphane Sarrazin to partner reigning W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick. In support of this duo, South African cross-country and off-road specialist Lance Woolridge joins the team as reserve and development driver.

Sarrazin has enjoyed a long and diverse career in the sport, and arrives at Veloce boasting an impressive résumé. Whilst perhaps best-known for his sportscar racing exploits – with six podium finishes in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours, two Le Mans Series titles and multiple victories in the FIA World Endurance Championship to his name – he has a far more versatile CV than many of his Extreme E rivals, which should serve him well in the pioneering new electric off-road racing series.

In 1999, Sarrazin contested the Brazilian Grand Prix and continued to carry out Formula 1 testing duties until the end of 2002. Four seasons in the FIA Formula E Championship yielded three rostrum visits and 21 points finishes, while in 2011 and 2012, he tested his mettle in Australia’s V8 Supercars Championship.

Since 2004, the Gard native has also made successful appearances in the FIA World Rally Championship, increasingly honing his off-road expertise. From 22 starts at the highest level, he has achieved ten points-scoring results – highlighted by a brace of fourth places – and in both Germany and France in 2005, he finished just one position behind Subaru World Rally Team stablemate and 2003 World Champion Petter Solberg.

Sarrazin’s first international rallying triumph came on the 2014 Tour de Corse – the finale of that year’s FIA European Rally Championship season – and from three Monte-Carlo Rally outings as part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, he has never finished lower than fourth, with a podium to his credit in 2009. That experience makes him well-equipped indeed to deal with the variety of surfaces and conditions competitors are likely to encounter in Extreme E.

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing, said:

“I am delighted to have agreed terms with Veloce Racing to contest the first season of Extreme E. This is a hugely appealing new series that has already attracted a lot of international attention – and all before the racing has even begun! As a driver, the concept is tremendously exciting and motivating – both on a competitive and personal level – and the challenge will be like no other.

“I’ve driven a lot of different types of car during my career, but the ODYSSEY 21 really is something special and it’s going to generate some incredible action. When we went testing together, it did not take me long to ‘click’ with the Veloce Racing guys – like me, they arrive in Extreme E with a lot of experience from different disciplines in the sport, and that can only be to our advantage over the forthcoming campaign. I can’t wait to go racing!”

Sarrazin and Chadwick will be supported throughout the forthcoming campaign by Lance Woolridge, who has established a fearsome reputation for his off-road endurance skills in his home country.

Born into a motorsport family – his father Neil Woolridge is a multiple cross-country champion on both two wheels and four, and tackled the iconic Dakar Rally in 1998 and 1999 – Woolridge already has 12 seasons of competition under his belt at the age of just 29. Not only that, but he has been breaking records every step of the way, including becoming the youngest driver in South African history to win a national championship cross-country event.

One of the leading protagonists in the South African Cross Country Series (SACCS), he secured consecutive Class T championship crowns in 2018 and 2019.

Lance Woolridge, Reserve and Development Driver, Veloce Racing, said:

“I’m thrilled to be joining Veloce Racing as reserve and development driver. Having tested the ODYSSEY 21 a couple of times now, I can vouch for the fact that it is a seriously impressive piece of kit and I’m confident that my background in cross-country rallying and with similar vehicles will enable me to offer valuable feedback to Stéphane, Jamie and the engineering crew. I’m looking forward to playing a key role behind-the-scenes to help give the whole Veloce Racing team the best possible chance of success.”

The 2021 Extreme E season will travel to five remote locations around the world, all of them damaged by climate change, as the series aims to shine a spotlight upon global environmental issues. The action will begin in AlUla, Saudi Arabia (3-4 April) before moving on to Dakar, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Para, Brazil (23-24 October) and Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

Ian Davies, Team Manager, Veloce Racing, said:

“We are delighted to announce Stéphane as our male driver for the first season of Extreme E and to confirm Lance’s reserve and development role within the team. Both of them tested with us at MotorLand Aragón last month, and to be honest, they gave us a real headache in terms of who to choose. Since we didn’t want to lose either, in the end, we decided to sign them both.

“Both Stéphane and Lance worked extremely well with Jamie and Veloce’s engineering team at the test, and their different skillsets and experience complemented each other perfectly. Stéphane is very much an all-rounder – a master of endurance racing but also clearly extremely adept in sprint and off-road competition – while Lance is well-accustomed to vehicles like the ODYSSEY 21 from his cross-country racing and has a very well-developed mechanical understanding.

“Both guys were quick out-of-the-box in Spain, and we believe both will bring a great deal to Veloce Racing as we aim to hit the ground running in Saudi Arabia. We are confident that with Jamie and Stéphane driving and Lance working hard behind-the-scenes, we have a very strong team indeed.”

Carl Gatt Baldacchino Head of Account Management SlotMatrix

Royal Paws, Royal Payoffs: SlotMatrix’s Catsino Royale

Published

27 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

royal-paws,-royal-payoffs:-slotmatrix’s-catsino-royale

SlotMatrix, the leading casino content aggregator globally, has enhanced its exclusive content collection with the debut of Catsino Royale, a playful slot that merges feline attitude with traditional casino excitement.

Located within a lively cat-themed casino, the game provides swift gameplay that allows players to accumulate increasing rewards and activate various bonus chances with each spin. Featuring stunning visuals, captivating characters, and intricate mechanics, the game combines enjoyable presentation with significant winning possibilities.

Central to the activity is the Coinstack function. Each coin symbol that appears increases the value of the stack, enlarging it and enhancing rewards with every spin. Players activating either the Catsino Wheel or the Stack N Spin bonus will reap the rewards of the total accumulated amount.

Landing four Bonus symbols triggers the Catsino Wheel, filled with rewards that include multipliers of Coinstack and can reach the Grand Jackpot valued at up to 500x. Landing five bonus symbols activates the Stack N Spin feature, which increases the Coinstack and provides several opportunities to re-trigger the wheel for extra rewards.

The Wild Deal feature creates Golden Frames each time Wilds appear. Wilds introduced into current frames enhance their multipliers, and when the Cat Dealer shows up, all frames transform into Wilds.

Only accessible via SlotMatrix, Catsino Royale is upgraded with EveryMatrix’s unique gamification features, such as free spins and leaderboards, and can be effortlessly incorporated with EngageSuite, the comprehensive player loyalty platform.

Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix, said: “Catsino Royale blends playful visuals with mechanics that continuously build value. It will be a strong performer for operators looking to add something fun, distinctive, and rewarding to their lobbies.”

The post Royal Paws, Royal Payoffs: SlotMatrix’s Catsino Royale appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Booming Games

Booming Games Strengthens Leadership with Appointment of New CFO

Published

27 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-strengthens-leadership-with-appointment-of-new-cfo

Booming Games has elevated Luke Sammut to the newly established position of Chief Financial Officer effective immediately.

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has today enhanced its C-suite by promoting Luke Sammut to the newly established position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective immediately. This comes after a series of recent high-level promotions at Booming Games, including the announcement of a new Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff last month.

Luke Sammut has dedicated more than eight years to Booming Games in multiple senior finance positions, most recently as the Director of Finance and Accounting. Having a solid foundation in accountancy and a strong enthusiasm for the iGaming sector, he contributes a vast amount of experience and industry expertise to the team. Located in Malta, Luke will be accountable for steering the company’s international financial strategy and managing reporting across various jurisdictions.

The establishment of the CFO position signifies a new phase in the company’s development and highlights a strong dedication to attracting and developing exceptional talent. With the company aiming to achieve ambitious growth goals and enhance its global reach this year, the timing of the appointment is quite promising. Focusing on customers in game development, Booming Games is consistently aiming to innovate and broaden its portfolio, with intentions to substantially boost the frequency of game releases this year.

Booming Games has a solid history of investing in its workforce, with the number of employees recently exceeding 200. In the future, the expanding C-suite will guarantee that the company keeps evolving and is positioned to handle the upcoming phase of its growth.

Max Niehusen, Founder of Booming Games, said: “We are delighted to announce Luke’s promotion, in what is a landmark moment for Booming Games as we appoint our first Chief Financial Officer. Over the past eight years, he has made an immense contribution to the business, playing an important role in our success during a key growth phase.

“I look forward to continuing working closely with him as we look to break new ground this year. As CFO, Luke’s experience will be critical as we expand our operations, with the aim of being regulated in every major market within the next five years.”

Luke Sammut, Chief Financial Officer at Booming Games, said: “With ambitious growth targets, Booming Games’ rapid expansion shows no sign of slowing. I am proud to be taking up the position of CFO, helping to shape the next phase of our financial strategy, at such a pivotal moment for the business. With clear direction from a strong leadership team, Booming Games is well placed to build on its strong financial foundations and seize the opportunity to further cement its reputation for market-leading innovation.”

The post Booming Games Strengthens Leadership with Appointment of New CFO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Flashscore

State of Mobile 2026: Flashscore Claims “Double Crown” as World’s #1 Sports App Globally and Dominates Key Markets in Brazil, France, and Italy

Published

27 minutes ago

February 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

state-of-mobile-2026:-flashscore-claims-“double-crown”-as-world’s-#1-sports-app-globally-and-dominates-key-markets-in-brazil,-france,-and-italy

In a year defined by unprecedented digital sports consumption, Flashscore has cemented its status as the undisputed “second screen” for sports fans worldwide.

The prestigious State of Mobile 2026 report by market intelligence firm Sensor Tower has ranked Flashscore as the #1 Sports App globally for both Monthly Active Users (MAU) and MAU Growth, as well as #5 in sports app downloads.

The report validates that 2025 was a year of exceptional success for Flashscore. The platform shattered its own records, surpassing 125 million monthly active users globally in October – breaking the previous high (116 million MAU) set during the 2022 World Cup.

Regional Powerhouses: The “Big Three” Performance

While the global metrics are headline news, the Sensor Tower report reveals Flashscore’s overwhelming leadership in the world’s most passionate sporting nations:

Brazil: Flashscore has achieved absolute dominance in Latin America’s biggest market, ranking #1 in MAU and #1 in MAU Growth, while also securing the #2 spot in Downloads.
France: The platform achieved a clean sweep in engagement metrics, ranking #1 in MAU and #1 in MAU Growth, proving its essential status in the French market.
Italy: Operating under the historic brand Diretta, the app is the fastest-growing sports platform in the country, ranked #1 for MAU Growth, and holds a strong podium position at #3 for Total MAU.

Martin Matejka, Marketing Director of Flashscore, said: “The State of Mobile 2026 report confirms what we see in our raw data: sports fans are increasingly demanding speed and depth over simple content. “This dual achievement highlights a rare dominance in the mobile ecosystem: Flashscore is not only maintaining the largest global audience but is also acquiring new users faster than any competitor in the sector. “For the betting and sports marketing industries, these numbers represent a massive, highly engaged audience that relies on Flashscore for instant data, making it a critical touchpoint for real-time sports consumption.”

The post State of Mobile 2026: Flashscore Claims “Double Crown” as World’s #1 Sports App Globally and Dominates Key Markets in Brazil, France, and Italy appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.