The Season 1 champions’ 2023 campaign had flown slightly under the radar ahead of the Island X Prix. However, two wins on the Italian island launched Nico Rosberg’s outfit back into championship contention.
With two victories from three X Prix previously in Sardinia, Rosberg X Racing (RXR) were always likely to be amongst the favourites when the championship returned to Italy.
That they appeared twice on the top step of the podium, in what has been a highly-competitive Season 3 of Extreme E was hugely impressive – becoming the first team to win both races of a double-header since the new sporting format was launched earlier this term.
What’s more, in both Grand Finals, RXR had to come from the back of the five-car field to take both wins.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky, RXR, commented: “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.
“In Round 5, Johan [Kristoffersson] did an amazing job after that start and gave me great information, which meant I had a good run. Teamwork, as usual, made it great. I was just happy to be back on the top step.
“In the Round 6 Grand Final, I thought it would be hard at the start, but Johan 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!”
RXR finished second on the course in Round 5, but benefitted from No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing receiving a 15.7-second time penalty for a Switch Zone infringement to take the win.
A dominant Round 6 ensued, meaning Nico Rosberg’s outfit claimed a superb 53 points from their latest visit to Sardinia. RXR are just four points off new championship leaders ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, having leapt ahead of previous pacesetters Veloce Racing thanks to their back-to-back successes.
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR, said: “We had a great weekend in Sardinia, which seems to be a proper RXR Island. In Round 5 we managed to take the win from a very tricky grid slot, and then in Round 6, 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 did a fantastic job bringing it home.
“It felt great to take our first victory of the season, but Round 6 was the perfect day in winning all three heats, and the car has been in perfect condition. Big thanks to the team, the mechanics and everyone making this possible. It is great to be back in the fight for the championship.”
The momentum will now be with RXR heading into the final two X Prix of the 2023 campaign, as they look to secure their second Extreme E title.
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, but it was super challenging.
“Huge driving from Johan and Mikaela means we’re now back in the championship battle. We were hanging on for a while, and now we’re right back in it, which will be really cool for the remaining rounds.”
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