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Veloce Racing primed for Ocean X Prix success as Newey praises rebuild effort

Published

5 years ago

May 26, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Veloce Racing is ready to get back on track this weekend (29-30 May) at the scene of the second event on Extreme E’s inaugural calendar – the Ocean X Prix – featuring yet another breathtaking landscape, this time in Lac Rose, Dakar, Senegal.

The opening round of the series was one to forget for fledgling outfit Veloce Racing, with its drivers – 2019 W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick and two-time Le Mans Series Champion Stéphane Sarrazin – having completed just one lap each in the exploratory Friday shakedown session before a spectacular barrel roll early in Sarrazin’s Q1 run forced the team to withdraw from the remainder of the competition.

Prior to the incident, the Frenchman was on course to match the pace of his adversaries during the opening stages of the lap, meaning the team carries plenty of optimism into the next round of the championship.

Thankfully, Sarrazin emerged from the incident unscathed but Chadwick was left stranded at Extreme E’s Desert X Prix Command Centre, missing the opportunity to log valuable time inside the cockpit of the all-electric ODYSSEY 21 SUV.

However, the format of the Extreme E calendar is more forgiving than other motorsport series with the unique characteristics of each location meaning many drivers will approach the upcoming events with a relatively similar lack of experience – meaning Chadwick won’t be playing catch-up for long.

Veloce Racing’s ODYSSEY 21, meanwhile, required an extensive rebuild post-Saudi Arabia. Following a thorough investigation by the team, it was revealed that a significant refit was required owing to a damaged roll cage and suspension.

A small team of mechanics from Competition Partner ART GP and Veloce Racing Team Manager Ian Davies will complete an estimated 75-100 hours of labour in Senegal to ensure the SUV is race-ready.

These repairs have sparked an unlikely collaboration between two Extreme E teams, as the ABT CUPRA XE car is also undergoing reconstruction in the build-up to the race. With some parts common across all Extreme E vehicles, Veloce Racing are working together with the German-Spanish outfit to share some of the workload required on both cars and minimise the environmental impact of both rebuilds.

With no spectators permitted on-site in Senegal – in-keeping with Extreme E’s sustainable ethos and commitment to minimise its carbon footprint – the racing will be broadcast all around the world on a variety of networks, including ITV, the BBC Sport website and Red Button application, Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK, plus the championship’s official website.

The action will begin with the qualifying rounds from 11.30am local time (12.30pm BST) on Saturday, 29 May, with the semi-finals and final taking place from 10am local time (11am BST) the following day.

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing commented:

“I feel like I have the same level of excitement for this race as I did for the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. Obviously, I only got the one lap in during the shakedown session so that just gave me a little taste of what Extreme E is really like – and it was amazing! This weekend, I want more of that feeling and to really get my teeth into this series.

“I think in other championships my lack of track time would really hurt the team in this next race, but because each location is so different to anything the drivers have done before, I don’t think we’ll be at a huge disadvantage.

“The only goal I have this weekend is just to get some solid points on the board. You have some bumps in the road and difficult rounds every year so hopefully we got ours out of the way early on.”

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing added:

“I can’t wait to be back in the Extreme E paddock. It’s so different to anything I’ve experienced before, and it’s fantastic! We had a difficult start to our season, but I think that has made us more determined than ever to deliver results.

“The other teams have a head start on us in the championship, but everyone will probably have issues at some point so it’s definitely not over yet! The pace we had looked promising, so I think we have a lot to be positive about this weekend.

“I’m also really looking forward to being involved with the Legacy Programmes again in Senegal, this is one of the things that sets Extreme E apart from any other sporting series – helping local communities and creating a positive and lasting impact.”

Adrian Newey, Lead Visionary, Veloce Racing, added:

“I’m really excited to see what the team can achieve at the Ocean X Prix. Obviously, we didn’t have the opportunity to show what we’re really capable of in Saudi Arabia, but I think it looked promising before Stéphane’s roll. The team are going to come back fighting, I know that much!

“I have seen plenty of set-backs throughout my career, and the team has reacted to adversity in exactly the right way. It takes hard work and dedication to recover from an incident like we experienced at the Desert X Prix, and both the drivers and the team are working flat out to be as prepared as possible for this weekend. I know that there is still a lot of work going on in Senegal to get the car ready, and don’t underestimate how much that will motivate our drivers.

“As far as the location goes, this is going to be a really interesting one (as they all are!). It looks like the terrain is going to be similar to Saudi Arabia but the course will be totally different and pose entirely new challenges for even the most experienced drivers!”

Following the Ocean X Prix in Senegal, the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating paddock – will then set sail for Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August) followed by Pará, Brazil (23-24 October) and finally Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

bet365

Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup

Published

4 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

incentive-games-and-bet365-refresh-tournament-challenge-for-the-2026-world-cup

Incentive Games has refreshed its Tournament Challenge free-to-play football predictor in partnership with bet365 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The game sits in bet365’s free games portfolio and will be accessible via the operator’s website and app.

Tournament Challenge lets players predict match outcomes (win, lose or draw) across Group Stage match days and the Knockout Rounds. Players allocate a 10-point stake to each prediction, with returns based on the odds of the selected outcome, and can double points on one prediction per round. Match days and rounds are released individually during the tournament.

New for 2026, the product adds “Your Leagues”, a private league feature that lets players create and join groups using league codes, compare predictions and track performance. Incentive Games said further updates are planned during the tournament.

Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting moments on the planet, and Tournament Challenge is designed to bring fans even closer to it. We wanted to create something competitive, social and easy to jump into throughout the tournament. The addition of ‘Your Leagues’ adds a whole new dimension this year, giving players the chance to compete directly with friends and share the experience together. We’re incredibly proud to continue working alongside the fantastic team at bet365 to bring this to life.”

Rhead Hilton, bet365 Software Product Development Manager said, “With the World Cup bringing together fans from all over the world, Tournament Challenge gives bet365 customers a valuable opportunity to get closer to the action.

We are pleased to offer a free-to-play experience that is straightforward, engaging and built around competition, with our Your Leagues feature adding a social dimension that allows players to challenge one another directly and compare predictions. We are also proud to continue our partnership with Incentive Games and deliver another strong product for our customers.”

According to the companies, Tournament Challenge will be available across key global territories, alongside dedicated standalone versions for Brazil, Spain, Italy and Greece. bet365’s terms state the promotion is “only available to new and eligible bet365 customers”, is limited to one entry per person, and closes “at kick-off of the last scheduled tournament game on 19th July 2026.”

The post Incentive Games and bet365 refresh Tournament Challenge for the 2026 World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

EGT Digital

EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

egt-digital-brings-operators-the-ultimate-advantage-ahead-of-the-world-cup

Having the World Cup on the horizon, sportsbook operators are once again preparing for the intense demands that come with peak sporting activity, including surging traffic, increased betting volume, and sustained operational pressure.

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook enables Operators to navigate high-demand periods with stability, flexibility, and control.

Major sports events do not introduce new challenges. They amplify existing ones. Platform performance is tested, trading teams operate under pressure, and retention becomes just as critical as acquisition.

Performance When It Matters Most

EGT Digital’s Sportsbook is designed to perform when expectations are the highest. Built on cloud-native best practices and out-of-the-box scalability, our solution empowers operators to manage peak traffic and continuous activity while ensuring stability and reliability.

Turning Traffic into Long-Term Value

While major events drive player acquisition, long-term value depends on retention. Sportsbook equips operators with a fully configurable set of promotional tools designed to sustain engagement during high-activity periods without adding operational complexity.

Features such as Adjustable Margins, Boosted Bet Builders, Dynamic Parlays, Progressive Jackpot, Early Payouts, Acca Insurance, Price Boosts, and Free Bets give operators the flexibility to tailor campaigns in real time according to player behavior and market dynamics.

Built with automation in mind, the system allows precise control across player segments, sports, and events – helping operators transform traffic spikes into sustained player loyalty.

Flexible Trading, Controlled Risk

High-volume events place trading operations under constant pressure. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook supports both managed and hybrid trading models, giving Operators the flexibility to choose the level of control and support that best fits their business.

Teams are able to manage risk effectively, protect margins, and stay focused without sacrificing the players experience and expectations even during the most demanding schedules and fixtures.

Your Brand, Your Rules.

With EGT Digital’s Next Gen AI CMS, operators can seamlessly manage every aspect of their Sportsbook’s look and behavior, tailoring the experience to specific markets without relying on one-size-fits-all solutions.

One Platform Across Channels

Player behaviour during major events is fluid, with customers moving between Online and Retail environments. EGT Digital’s Sportsbook provides a unified experience across channels, delivering one platform and one operational view.

The post EGT Digital Brings Operators the Ultimate Advantage Ahead of the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

FIRST.bet

FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup

Published

5 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Wladimir P.

first.bet-launches-ultracup:-a-player-engagement-engine-for-the-world-cup

FIRST.bet introduces UltraCup: a single destination that keeps players engaged across the entire World Cup – live group standings, knockout brackets, tournament Outrights, Blind Bets on matchups before they’re even drawn, and automatic Bet Builder boosts in the slip. Everything fans need to follow and bet the tournament in one place, from the first whistle to the last.

FIRST.bet, the Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider, today launched UltraCup, a World Cup-focused sportsbook engine built to help operators own the biggest betting event in football.

The next World Cup is not a short tournament spike. It is 48 teams, 104 matches and one continuous peak with no recovery window. UltraCup is built for that reality, giving operators a complete tournament destination that keeps players engaged from the opening group match through to the final.

UltraCup connects the full World Cup betting journey in one place: live group standings, tournament-context match listings, bracket navigation from R32 to the final, dynamic outrights, Blind Bets on future matchups and automatic Bet Builder boosts inside the bet slip.

Tom Light, Founder and CEO of FIRST.bet, said:
“The World Cup is the one moment when every football fan is watching, betting and hunting for somewhere to follow it all – and most sportsbooks lose that player to a dozen rival apps. UltraCup keeps the entire tournament in one place: live standings, knockout brackets, Outrights, automatic boosts and Blind Bets on matchups that haven’t even been drawn yet. Operators capture that attention from the opening whistle and hold it all the way to the final.”

At the heart of UltraCup is a dedicated World Cup hub that mirrors how fans follow the competition. Players can track group tables, move through the knockout bracket, bet on tournament-wide markets such as Champion and Top Scorer, and engage with odds that shift dynamically as the tournament unfolds.

The product also introduces Blind Bets, allowing players to bet on future World Cup matches before the final matchup is confirmed. This turns tournament progression into the betting mechanic itself, creating suspense and repeat engagement across every stage.

UltraCup also includes Auto Boost Builder, which applies automatic odds boosts to qualifying Bet Builders directly inside the bet slip. Operators can configure boosts by sport, tournament, or league, and customer segment, with instant enable or disable controls and boost tiers of any percentage desired.

UltraCup also introduces the Welcome Bonus Boost, a new feature that allows operators to create boosted odds promotions exclusively for new customers who have not yet placed a bet. The mechanic targets the critical first-bet moment, giving operators a targeted tool to convert new registrations into active players during the tournament.

While UltraCup is being launched with a clear World Cup focus, the framework is built to live beyond one tournament. FIRST will extend the same journey into major league and tournament formats across football and other sports, giving operators a reusable engagement engine for the biggest moments on the calendar.

FIRST.bet powers 75+ live operators, 100+ partners and millions of daily transactions across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, and ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026.

About FIRST.bet

FIRST – Best in Sports is a Tier 1 sportsbook technology provider powering 75+ operators globally, including leading brands among Brazil’s top 20 by GGR. Founded by former SBTech leaders, FIRST delivers a fully managed, high-performance sportsbook engineered for speed, scale and precision across LatAm, Europe and Africa. The company holds licences from the Malta Gaming Authority and the Swedish Gambling Authority, and is GLI-33 certified and ISO-audited. FIRST was named ‘Sportsbook Supplier of the Year’ at the SBC Awards 2025 and EGR LATAM Awards 2025, ‘Best Sportsbook Provider’ at BiS SiGMA South America 2026, and received the ‘Individual Achievement Award’ at the EGR Awards 2026.

The post FIRST.bet Launches UltraCup: A Player-Engagement Engine for the World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.