As Extreme E heads to Sardinia for its first ever double-header, co-organised by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna, those in the midfield are primed and ready to chase down the top three.
With all eyes on ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team and X44 as they battle it out to take the top spot away from Desert X Prix winners Rosberg X Racing (RXR), the chasing pack will be looking to take advantage of any slip ups from the leading teams.
No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing will be keen to claim a maiden podium finish after showing great promise in the Semi-Finals of the season opener.
Having finished third overall in Qualifying, No.99 GMC Hummer EV then secured a comfortable win in Semi-Final 2 to progress to the Desert X Prix Final, as both Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price put forward confident performances.
ACCIONA | Sainz XE team’s Laia Sanz surged through the middle of the field at the start, but LeDuc quickly overtook the Spaniard to take first, handing over a 15 second lead to his teammate when he entered the Switch Zone.
With everything running smoothly for the ODYSSEY 21 the American team breezed into the Final, where they had to settle for fourth place.
After the difficulties suffered in 2021, taking 12 points away from the opening X Prix of Season 2 could prove invaluable. No.99 GMC Hummer EV chase an elusive podium finish in Sardinia, where they came tantalisingly close to their first victory in Season 1.
NEOM McLaren XE looked to hit the ground running as they began their Extreme E adventure at the Desert X Prix in NEOM.
Steady opening runs from drivers Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust saw the team in 7th place as they adjusted to their new environment and prepared for Qualifying 2 Heat 2.
In their first five-car race, a masterclass in late braking saw Foust enter the Switch Zone right behind Timmy Hansen who occupied first for Genesys Andretti United Extreme E. But disaster struck for Gilmour, who was unable to set off from the Switch Zone, ensuring that McLaren came last in their Qualifying Heat and would compete in the Crazy Race for a spot in the Final.
The team recovered from their difficult Qualifying session to win the Crazy Race, taking the fifth spot in the Desert X Prix Final away from JBXE in the closing stages.
A brilliantly executed double overtake from Gilmour saw the team climb to second, before Foust chased down leaders JBXE and soon passed 2021 Champion Molly Taylor on the inside to secure his team’s place in the Final.
After witnessing such impressive drives, McLaren fans were left wanting in the Final after Foust crashed out in the opening lap. But fifth place in the Championship standings was a promising start for the debutants and provides a strong foundation as they head into the next rounds.
Currently sitting sixth in the Championship, XITE Energy Racing achieved a strong start to their second Extreme E campaign.
A season-opening fifth place for the team last year was followed by multiple setbacks in Senegal, Greenland and Sardinia, so the team will be working hard to avoid any repeats as they head into the double-header next week.
With Klara Andersson cruelly denied her Extreme E racing debut at the hands of Covid-19, Championship driver Tamara Molinaro stepped in and stepped up to the mark, helping Oli Bennett secure fourth overall in Qualifying with two solid performances.
Semi-Final 1 saw Molinaro and X44’s Gutierrez tussle for second place, with the Italian debutant coming out on top initially, but dropping to third by the time they reached the Switch Zone.
Bennett then picked up the fight against X44’s Sébastien Loeb. It was during this tussle, though, that the British driver picked up a ten-second time penalty, hitting a flag trying to claim second place.
It was this penalty that dropped XITE behind inaugural Extreme E Champions RXR to just miss out on the Desert X Prix Final. With Timo Scheider joining Molinaro for the Sardinian double-header, XITE Energy Racing will be looking to make a big impression.
Eager to build on their fourth-place finish in the Championship last year, Genesys Andretti United Extreme E certainly started as they hope to go on. The team finished second overall in Qualifying, just one point behind specialists X44.
Drivers Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen showed signs of the same pace that secured them three podiums in Season 1 in Qualifying 2 Heat 2.
Leading for most of the heat, Genesys Andretti United Extreme E’s Catie Munnings was passed at the final corner by RXR’s Kristoffersson, but a time penalty dropped the eventual event winners back to fourth in the Heat.
As a result, Genesys Andretti United Extreme E took the win to end overall Qualifying in second place. This gave the team prime position for Semi-Final 2, but their hard work in Qualifying was undone on race day.
A strong first lap from No.99 GMC Hummer EV in Semi-Final 2 left ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team and Genesys Andretti United to compete for the second available spot in the Final. Catie Munnings worked hard to keep Laia Sanz in her sights as both teams entered the Switch Zone, albeit more than 15 seconds behind Kyle LeDuc.
Hopes were high for an exciting battle between Hansen and Carlos Sainz Snr. as they looked to close down Sara Price out in front. Those hopes were dashed when a huge roll for Hansen ruled Genesys Andretti United Extreme E out of contention.
The team, alongside the other midfielders, will be looking for better consistency at the NEOM Island X Prix.
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