EXTREME E The Electric Odyssey SEASON 3 CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 / Round 5°/ 6° Capo Teaulada, Sardegna, 8-9 Luglio 2023 ISLAND X PRIX. In copertina ©Andrew Ferraro. Photo ©Extreme E Courtesy Extreme E Communications. https://www.extreme-e.com
Il più tecnico e insidioso circuito della Extreme E all’interno della Campo di addestramento militare italiano a Capo Teulada in Sardegna riporta al successo in entrambe le gare dell’Island X-Prix i primi campioni del Rosberg X Racing. Dal fracasso e i fuori pista nell’Idro X Prix in Scozia al fango e alla durezza della terra sarda, Kristofferson e la Åhlin-Kottulinsky vengono ricompensati in parte per la sfortuna dei primi round della stagione, la Acciona Sainz riottiene invece il primo posto nella classifica grazie a due secondi posti che Laila Sainz e Mattias Ekström conquistano in una competizione dei super suv elettrici sempre più sperimentale ma ultra competitiva. Un ritorno alla base delle Electric Odissey con i team e i piloti più esperti e con anche il ritorno in Extreme E alla Abt Cupra del campione in carica Sebastien Leob in sostituzione di Nasser Al-Attiyah vincitrice nell’ultima Redemption Race dell’Island X Prix. Di leggenda in leggenda ma nel podio dei favoriti per il titolo finale pur avendo perso il primo posto Molly Taylor e Kevin Hansen con la Veloce Racing, Amanda Sorensend e RJ Anderson con la Ganassi dimostrano sempre più continuità. Per il team Hamilton X44, l’Andretti, la Mclaren, il Team di Jenson Button e la debutttante Carl Cox c’è invece ora il tempo per diminuire lo svantaggio tecnico e di performance in attesa dell’ufficialità del 7° e 8° Round Amazonia o Usa il 16 e il 17 Settembre. (m.g.)
EXTREME E The Electric Odyssey SEASON 3 CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 / Round 5°/ 6° Capo Teaulada, Sardegna, 8-9 Luglio 2023 ISLAND X PRIX. Photo ©Extreme E Courtesy Extreme E Communications. https://www.extreme-e.com
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Rosberg X Racing take first win of Season 3 at Island X Prix
8 Jul 2023
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took the win in Round 5, marking the team’s first victory of Season 3 and a third victory at an Island X Prix, co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson reached the top step of the podium, despite the latter finding himself off-track at the start of the Grand Final. Finishing second in the race, RXR inherited the win after on-course winners No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing received a 15.7-second penalty for a Switch Zone infringement.
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: “It feels great to take the win today! I didn’t have the best start in the Grand Final, and with all the teams choosing the same line, it was a tight squeeze. Unfortunately, I hit the bushes and had a huge impact. I came to a complete stop because I didn’t know if there were any stones in the bush, but I made it out, and my tactic after that was to drive as fast as I could, and I managed to pick up the pace.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “Johan [Kristoffersson] did an amazing job after that start, and I got good information from him in the Switch Zone, which meant I had a good run. Teamwork, as usual, made it great. I’m happy to hear that Catie [Munnings] is doing alright after the impact, as that is the most important thing. But happy to be back on the top step of the podium.”
Promoted to second were ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, who find themselves at the top of the championship standings having gained extra championship points for a Heat win in Qualifying and recording the quickest time in the Continental Traction Challenge.
The penalty dropped No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing down to third, marking a second podium of the season for RJ Anderson and Amanda Sorensen. In fourth were ABT CUPRA XE, who suffered a puncture early in the race which Sébastien Loeb and Klara Andersson nursed home for all important points.
Disappointment struck for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, as Catie Munnings’ ODYSSEY 21, running in second-place on the final lap, entered a roll off the back of an overtake by RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinksy. Munnings came away unscathed, but the team were out of the Grand Final.
Winners of the Redemption Race were Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor, gaining some crucial points to ensure that, despite losing the championship lead, Veloce Racing remain in contention.
Find out where to watch tomorrow’s racing action here as Extreme E heads into Round 6 at the Island X Prix in Sardinia.
Grand Final
The day’s action came to a head in an exciting Grand Final, which saw all five ODYSSEY 21s converge into the left hand lane for the first time on this course. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Anderson emerged in front, ahead of Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Timmy Hansen.
Behind them Sébastien Loeb managed to secure third, ahead of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Mattias Ekström. Meanwhile, RXR’s Kristofferson found himself off course in the bushes to the left as the cars ran out of room.
Ekström recovered well, hitting the brakes late to secure an overtake on Loeb, who continued to lose pace in his ABT CUPRA XE car due to a puncture. Kristoffersson soon took fourth from Loeb, closing in on the pack and getting ahead of Ekström as they entered the Switch Zone.
The front four were tightly packed as they left the Switch Zone, with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Munnings running wide as she pushed to defend against Åhlin-Kottulinsky, with the Swede sensing second place for RXR.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky executed the crucial move on the final tour, pushing up the inside of Munnings’ ODYSSEY 21 on a tight left-hander. Following the contact between the two, the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E car continued to slide wide, eventually entering a roll that would put the team out of contention for the podium and down to fifth.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen held onto the lead, but the team received a 15.7-second penalty for exiting their Switch Zone bay early. This dropped the American outfit into third place, but marks back-to-back podiums for Sorensen and Anderson.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team finished third on-course, but moved up to second following No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s penalty. This marks a third podium of the season for the Spanish team as they replace Veloce Racing at the top of the championship standings by two points.
ABT CUPRA XE came home in fourth to secure valuable points ahead of Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E.
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We have started the weekend really well. On pure pace today we would have even deserved a race victory. Although, given the grip that we had in the Grand Final, we will settle for second. It seemed like the Final was lost, but we knew how to fight and we are happy because we got something out of the situation. We are happy to take the lead in the championship.”
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We drove two very solid races in Qualifying 1 and Qualifying 2, with no big issues, just enjoying ourselves, and then for the Grand Final we had a difficult starting position. I immediately felt it was better to back off, because we would have been amongst five cars into one lane. I took a conservative line and I was P4 after the first corner.
“In the end, we are leading now by two points, but the championship is only halfway through. We need to continue pushing if we want to stay in the lead.”
Amanda Sorensen, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “RJ [Anderson] did a phenomenal job from the start to make it through to the front. He passed me a clean windshield and from there we held it down. Unfortunately, we had a penalty coming out of the Switch Zone. We crossed the line in P1 but stood on the podium in P3. Overall, we’re making steps in the right direction. Tomorrow is a new day and we’re going to go get them.”
RJ Anderson, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “Back-to-back podiums for the team is great. We’ve been building and building all season. Not going to lie or hide the fact that it stings to cross the finish line first and receive a penalty. We keep getting better and stronger every round. Tomorrow is a new day. Sweep it under the rug, take this podium finish, and we’ll come back out tomorrow and see if we can earn the top step of the box.”
Redemption Race
Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen cut across early on the opening straight to take the lead of the race, with contact for Andreas Bakkerud in the JBXE ODYSSEY 21 as the teams came together in the narrow lane seeking the lead.
Fraser McConnell took the alternate line, slotting into third just behind NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust as the different tracks merged into one. Behind them Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider closed in on the tussling pair, while Bakkerud was unable to rejoin the fight and retired.
Despite the pressure from Scheider, McConnell soon pitched up the inside of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team car, making contact with Foust and pushing him wide to take second place for X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
The Jamaican lost track position soon after, however, locking up as he missed the entry point for the Switch Zone. X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Cristina Gutiérrez exited the Switch Zone fourth, behind Carl Cox Motorsport’s Lia Block.
A clear run up front saw Molly Taylor cross the line first for Veloce Racing and bag some all important championship points having failed to join their closest rivals in the Grand Final.
Second place went to NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team as Emma Gilmour fought hard to hold off Block on debut for Carl Cox Motorsport, who initially finished third but dropped to fourth following a 15.5-second penalty for a Switch Zone infringement.
Lia Block, Carl Cox Motorsport, said: “I enjoyed it a lot. Coming in I didn’t have high expectations for myself – a new series, new competitors and a whole new car. The car was very cool and nothing like I’ve ever driven before.
“Today was hard, for sure. Free Practice yesterday was my only time in the car, so going into today I just had the mindset to try and do the best as possible. We ended P3 in the Redemption Race but unfortunately had a penalty coming out of the Switch Zone so we moved to fourth. The day went really good for me I think. I’m really enjoying Extreme E right now.”
X44 Vida Carbon Racing inherited third in the Redemption Race, with JBXE finishing fifth with a DNF having not made it much further than the start.
RESULTS
Grand Final
1. Rosberg X Racing 09:14.533
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +1.610s
3. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +14.723s (PENALISED)
4. ABT CUPRA XE +2:34.490s
5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E DNF
Redemption Race
1. Veloce Racing 08:52.483
2. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +1.350s
3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +9.874s
4. Carl Cox Motorsport +21.893s (PENALISED)
5. JBXE DNF
Rosberg X Racing secure back-to-back victories at Island X Prix
9 July 2023, Sardinia: Rosberg X Racing (RXR) took the win in Round 6 of Extreme E Season 3, marking back-to-back victories at the Island X Prix, co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson reached the top step of the podium for the second time this weekend, becoming the first team to do so in the new double-header format.
The haul of championship points sees the team leapfrog Veloce Racing in the standings, with Nico Rosberg’s outfit now sitting just four points off the lead as we pass the halfway point of the season.
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing, said: “We had a great weekend here in Sardinia, which seems to be a proper RXR Island. Yesterday we managed to take the win from a very tricky grid slot, and then today, we found ourselves in the same slot again but went for a different tactic, and when I saw a small gap I went for it. For a split second, I regretted it because there was no space, but I managed to get through, and from there, I managed the pace quite well.
“We also had a brilliant switch and managed to open that gap a bit more, and from there on, Mikaela [Åhlin-Kottulinksy] did a fantastic job bringing it home. Today was the perfect day winning all three of our races, and the car has been in perfect condition. A big thanks to the team, the mechanics and everyone for making this possible. It’s great to be back in the fight for the championship.”
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, Rosberg X Racing, said: “Wow, what an epic weekend! We had really good pace all weekend, and the team worked so hard to get the car in the perfect shape every time. Today, I thought it would be hard at the start, but Johan [Kristoffersson] just did what Johan does best. When I took over, there was some pressure from Laia [Sanz] behind me, but I tried to keep it tidy and keep the lines. It just feels surreal to have two wins in Sardinia! It’s epic!”
Nico Rosberg, CEO and Founder of Rosberg X Racing, said: “The level of competition in Extreme E is world class, and so to win two races this weekend is absolutely epic. During yesterday’s Final we were last after the start and managed an incredible comeback, and today we were second to last but the others had a tangle and we managed to slip through. Huge driving from Johan [Kristoffersson] and Mikaela [Åhlin-Kottulinsky] means we’re now back in the championship battle.”
Runners-up once again were the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, who retain their lead at the top of the championship standings with 109 points having also stood on the second step of the podium in Round 5. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E completed the podium, after a sensational overtake at the death from Catie Munnings saw the team seize third from No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing.
Rounding out the top five were JBXE, with Andreas Bakkerud and Hedda Hosås reaching their first Grand Final of the 2023 campaign.
Winners of the Redemption Race were Klara Andersson and returning champion Sébastien Loeb, gaining a crucial eight points from today’s racing after a challenging double-header for ABT CUPRA XE.
Extreme E returns to action for Rounds 7 and 8 in September (16-17), with the location to be revealed soon.
Grand Final
Continuing their run of quick getaways at the green light, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E looked to have secured the right line for the lead. As the cars came together in the narrow lane, however, Timmy Hansen found himself in the bushes to the left with a lot of work to do from the back of the pack
Meanwhile RXR’s Kristoffersson, recognising the risk of being squeezed in the middle of the tussling ODYSSEY 21s, dropped back into fourth before surging through the clear space to take the lead in a spectacular strategy.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Ekström hunted Kristoffersson down from second and was soon right in the Swede’s mirrors. RJ Anderson also closed the gap from third, giving Kristoffersson some breathing space as Ekström went on the defensive against the No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing driver.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Hansen excecuted his move round the outside of JBXE’s Hosås in quick fashion, allowing him to reel in the front three as the teams headed towards the Switch Zone.
The order remained unchanged after the driver change, with Laia Sanz pushing hard to take the lead from RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky, but the Swede showed her experience and kept a comfortable lead to take RXR’s second victory of the season.
Running in fourth for the majority of her stint, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings continued to slice the seconds off Amanda Sorensen in the No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing car. Fighting until the closing stages, Munnings pulled off the overtake in the final corner to secure third and Andretti Atltawkilat Extreme E’s second podium of the campaign.
Two championship points for achieving the quickest time through the Continental Traction Challenge softens the blow No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, while fifth for JBXE marks a season’s best so far for Jenson Button’s outfit.
Mattias Ekström, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “We drove a solid race, but in the end there was not enough for the win after an action-packed first corner. I thought for a short moment that it would end there, but I managed to get back on the road. Johan managed to pass me, so not much more to say. We were really fast, Laia did a good job and we finished second twice. We shouldn’t complain in this sport. We are leading the Championship and we can look forward to the last two races.”
Laia Sanz, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, said: “I think we can be very happy with the weekend we did. We were really consistent. The Grand Final was a shame, though, because we had the pace to fight for the win, but there was so much mud on track that the moment you got closer you lost visibility. I think we drove very intelligently during the weekend, thinking about the Championship, and in the end I think it’s a great result.”
Catie Munnings, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, said: “Very happy to take P3 – it was a really dramatic race right down to the wire. It was a really intense battle between myself and Amanda [Sorensen] – I saw so little in the end and I was just praying and putting it all on the line to try and get onto that podium. The team deserves it this weekend. We’ve had really good pace here and we’ve been working a lot to fix the car since yesterday. So I’m very happy overall and Timmy [Hansen] did a great job as always to climb back one of the places too.”
Timmy Hansen, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, said: “I so nearly had the lead in the first corner. I was ahead for a moment after one tap, but the second tap was too hard and put me out in the bushes. I managed to overtake the JBXE car to move up from fifth to fourth, and I handed over to Catie [Munnings] in fourth place. She did an awesome job to catch up to Ganassi and made a last corner move that got us a podium, so I’m super happy.”
Redemption Race
On a mission of damage control, all teams except for Carl Cox Motorsport deployed their ENOWA Hyperdrives off the line to secure that all-important best launch.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust moved over to the right lane to avoid the tussling pack, but the tactic ultimately saw the American slot into fifth as Timo Scheider swept into fourth from the far-left lane for Carl Cox Motorsport.
Sébastien Loeb secured the lead for ABT CUPRA XE ahead of his former team X44 Vida Carbon Racing, with Veloce Racing’s Kevin Hansen in third.
With all five ODYSSEY 21s tightly bunched together, Foust charged up the inside line to pass Scheider and take fourth for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team. Fraser McConnell attempted a similarly decisive move for the lead, but the X44 Vida Carbon Racing driver found himself sideways and fighting for control.
The teams entered the Switch Zone in this order, with Carl Cox Motorsport’s Scheider trailiing behind with a puncture. Following the driver change the front two began to pull away, but pushing hard Gutiérrez hit two Waypoint flags on her run and subsequently received a 20-second penalty.
ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson kept a cool head after a hard-fought weekend to take the race win, while the penalties for X44 Vida Carbon Racing dropped them from second on-course to third.
Championship contenders Veloce Racing inherited second and the extra championship points, which could prove crucial if ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and RXR continue their recent formidable form.
Running in fourth, the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team dropped off the pace in the final stages, while Lia Block completed her stint for Carl Cox Motorsport in fifth, marking important time in the car for the 16-year-old debutant.
Post-race penalties were handed to NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team and Carl Cox Motorsport for causing a collision and using an extra tyre, respectively.
RESULTS
Grand Final
1. Rosberg X Racing 8:54.133
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +2.444s
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +7.185s
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +7.759
5. JBXE +13.028
Redemption Race
1. ABT CUPRA XE 08:41.225
2. Veloce Racing +2.031s
3. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +21.514s (PENALISED)
4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +51.680s (PENALISED)
5. Carl Cox Motorsport +2:49.863mins (PENALISED)
Championship Standings
1. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 109 points
2. Rosberg X Racing: 105 points
3. Veloce Racing: 95 points
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 80 points
5. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 59 points
6. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 55 points
7. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 44 points
8. ABT CUPRA XE: 40 points
9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 26 points
10. JBXE: 26 points
Season 3 Calendar
Saudi Arabia: 11-12 March 2023
Scotland, UK: 13-14 May 2023
Sardinia, Italy: 08-09 July 2023
Amazon or USA: 16-17 September 2023
Chile: 02-03 December 2023
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