The NEOM Island X Prix double-header in Sardinia marked the return to racing of one of the Championship’s leading lights – Kevin Hansen. We caught up with the JBXE driver as he got back behind the wheel of his ODYSSEY 21 for the first time since injuring his back at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.
Extreme E: It was great to see you back in the ODYSSEY 21– how did you find it?
Kevin Hansen: It was great to be back, especially with the new upgrades. The car was much more comfortable and fun to drive, and not so rough over the bumps which really helped my back. We spent a lot of time adjusting the seat before the race to make sure my safety was stepped up for this, and I was pleased with the feeling I had!
XE: Were there any nerves before getting behind the wheel?
KH: There was a little, but that was more down to not having been in a race situation for a few months. That, however, went away as soon as I hit the track!
The first time I strapped myself into the car on shakedown I got a little worried as I was initially feeling some pain, but that too went away the second time I began driving.
XE: Did the car feel different to drive, especially given the upgrades over the past few weeks?
KH: It was a huge difference! The car has been improved hugely, especially for the sort of terrain we experienced in Sardinia. Even just to drive it on a flat surface felt like a great improvement. It was behaving more like a rally car, too, which I think helped all of us on the grid and delivered even better racing.
XE: Is it correct that you hadn’t driven the car since your accident in NEOM?
KH: It was about 16 weeks between the races and most of that time I spent carrying out my rehabilitation. The first eight weeks was tough, but I was able to take huge steps forward. The last eight weeks has been about getting to a better place than I was before the Desert X Prix, which I have succeeded in doing.
I was able to drive again through testing [Hansen Motorsport’s] Rallycross car, and crucially I was able to push over the jumps. Nevertheless, I had no testing in the ODYSSEY 21 before Sardinia, so my first time back in the car was during Shakedown for the double-header!
XE: You were straight on the pace in Sardinia – is that down to the rehab work you have put in?
KH: I believed when I hit rock bottom and broke my back that there is no one else other than myself that can get me back to the top. As a result, I have had a huge increase in motivation and really worked incredibly hard on myself.
I think not only did my vertebrae heal to become stronger, but so did my mind, and I have never felt so at home in myself like I did in Sardinia. I would definitely say that the pace I had straight out of the blocks is down to the hard work I’ve put in to get back behind the wheel.
XE: You had another new team-mate for Sardinia in Hedda Hosås. What was it like working with her and what advice did you give her on her debut?
KH: It’s my third team-mate in Extreme E – so I’m getting used to it!
It was fun to work with Hedda – obviously we can speak our native languages and that helped us move forward faster. I thought she took it really steadily and built her speed step-by-step – so at the end of the week compared to the beginning of the week, it was like two different drivers. Hedda still has a long way to go, but she’s a very hard worker and I believe she will keep improving with more time in the car.
XE: You were so close to a podium in the first event, and then just missed out on the Final in the second. What were your thoughts on the week?
KH: I was disappointed not to score even more points for the team because I could feel the speed I had. However, that’s the charm of the series. It doesn’t matter what one of the drivers does, it’s down to the both of us to pull it off and we were so close both times!
Nevertheless, if someone told me before the week we would contest for podiums, finishing fourth overall in the first event and just shy of the final in the second event, we’d take that… even if we always want to win!
XE: Did you enjoy the double-header in Sardinia?
KH: I really enjoyed the double-header. I also think it is a great way to increase the amount of races in the championship without increasing our CO2 footprint massively. It’s basically adding another day to the travel for a single race weekend.
XE: Now you’ve managed to get back out on track, what are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
KH: I would love to win some races in South America and from that who knows, maybe claim my first world title…
Extreme E’s final two X Prix of Season 2 will see the Championship race in South America for the first time. The series heads to Antofagasta, Chile, for the Copper X Prix on September 24-25, before the season finale in Punte del Este, Uruguay, for the Energy X Prix on November 26-27 to round off 2022.
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