Carl Cox Motorsports

He’s the globally renowned DJ, producer, and label manager whose sixteen-year residency at Space Ibiza helped define an era of dance music. But now, Carl Cox is shifting gears—quite literally. Swapping decks for dragsters, Cox is carving a name for himself in the high-octane world of electric car racing and sustainable motorsports.

In this exclusive CircleZeroEight interview, fellow DJ and producer Kris Di Angelis (KDA) sits down with Carl Cox to talk all things music, motorsports, and what it takes to stay passionate after decades at the top. From his early days at Santa Pod Raceway to launching Carl Cox Motorsport and making his mark on the Extreme E racing scene, this is Carl Cox like you’ve never seen him before.

KDA: So, Carl Cox Motorsport! I’ve spent my entire life knowing you as a DJ, so it’s fascinating to know you’re also wildly into the speediest thing you can do in the world.
CC: It’s an absolute mindblower. Some people like golf. Some fly planes or go power sailing. I’ve always been into straight-line speed racing – but also racing more generally.

KDA: From what I understand, you’ve just taken home your first Extreme E podium this July.
CC: Yeah, that was the second race of the Extreme E season in Scotland. Here’s the thing: anything can happen in Extreme E. The track is gnarly—no real line, no place to overtake. Once those cars go, anything can happen: rollovers, doors flying off, wipers failing. You might be fourth and suddenly get a podium because the car in front gets a puncture. That’s exactly what happened!

KDA: Did you think a podium was on the cards?
CC: Not at all. We came in as a brand-new team in only our second race. It was surreal—people were asking, “How did you even manage that?” I’m going up against teams owned by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg who’ve been doing this for years. I’m an ex-scaffolder DJ and suddenly I’m on the podium with champagne—it’s hilarious! Next race, we were shunted into hay bales. That’s racing.

KDA: You’re not the one driving though, are you?
CC: I am a professional drag racer. Been doing it since the 1980s at Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire. I started with a Mini 850 and got hooked. Now I race a Pro Mod drag car, and the fastest I’ve gone over a quarter mile is 252 mph. I’m the fastest DJ in the world! I have a massive collection of bikes too—around 80. People think it’s for PR, but this is my real passion.

KDA: Aren’t you scared of those speeds?
CC: Never. When I get in the car, I feel like it’s my purpose. You hit 3.2g of force, and to stop at 250+ mph, two parachutes deploy. Once, only one deployed—I crashed. But I’m still here. Let’s go again.

KDA: Has music taken a backseat now?
CC: My life’s taken a new direction. I’ve kind of moved on from Ibiza after being there every year since 1985. Space was my church for 16 years, and it’s gone. I could play at Pacha and collect a cheque, but that’s not why I do this. I wanted to make a difference.

KDA: And you did.
CC: I helped lay the foundations. Back then, there were no resident DJs, no massive club brands. We made it what it is, and now that it’s the norm, there’s no challenge left for me there.

KDA: So how do you go from Space Ibiza to motorsport? Were you ambitious from day one?
CC: I was always obsessed with entertaining through music. I’d hear a record like Derrick May’s ‘Strings of Life’ and get goosebumps. I’ve never planned a set—just followed the vibe. One track can change your life. And I’ve always chased that feeling.

KDA: You’re fearless—whether on the decks or in a race car.
CC: Exactly. Whether I’m a top 10 DJ or not doesn’t matter. I’ve taken all my life experience and poured it into Carl Cox Motorsport. I don’t know everything, but I know passion. People ask why I didn’t get into Formula 1—because it’s full of rich idiots! [laughs]

KDA: Tell me more about Extreme E.
CC: It’s all about sustainability and environmental awareness. It’s a glimpse of the future. Whether we like it or not, we’re heading toward clean energy and lower emissions. Extreme E is part of that conversation.

KDA: Are others in motorsport on board with that?
CC: There’s pushback. That’s why someone like me—a person of colour from a completely different world—needs to be here. It matters.

KDA: And you’ve got the charisma to carry the message.
CC: I hope so. I think Extreme E does an amazing job with diversity and inclusion—especially with male and female drivers racing equally. How many women are in F1? None!

KDA: Last question. Is it true you once had a Minidisc player installed at The End nightclub?
CC: 100% true. Found it in the garage recently and thought, “What is that?”