Extreme E heads to Sardinia next week for the third consecutive year. Here’s a recap of the Island X Prix action that has already taken place at the former army training area at Capo Teulada in Sulcis-Iglesiente, Italy.
Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing (RXR) is the most successful team when it comes to the Italian venue, accruing a total of two victories from three races since Extreme E’s first visit back in September 2021. In that year, difficult weather conditions saw the pairing of RXR’s Molly Taylor and Johan Kristofferson execute a measured drive to claim the win and extend the team’s advantage at the head of the championship standings.
(Semi-Final 1 Race Highlights: https://youtu.be/i4dHefYR-LI)
On the flipside, it was heartbreak for both SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing and X44 in the final. With Sebastian Loeb at the wheel, X44 had made it into the final race of the weekend following a semi-final crash, but the team were scuppered with a technical problem whilst fighting for victory and had to retire. This left SEGI TV Chip Ganassi Racing out front with what looked like an unassailable lead, but damage to their ODYSSEY 21 meant Sara Price also had to retire with a lap to go, handing RXR the win ahead of ABT CUPRA XE and JBXE.
Last year saw the championship undertake its first ever double-header in Sardinia. This also proved to be a special event for No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing - the American outfit picking up their maiden championship win last term.
In contrast, there was a red flag following high drama for ACCIONA | SAINZ. A big accident ensued for Carlos Sainz Snr. as RXR’s Kristofferson collided with the Spaniard in the early stages of the NEOM Island Prix I Final. A 30-second penalty was handed to RXR following the incident, and the team were latterly handed a further reprimand dropping them to fifth.
(Semi-Finals 1 Race Highlights: https://youtu.be/uB0nOGZcgKY )
Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price inherited their first win as a result, while XITE ENERGY Racing claimed a first top-three finish – and a podium for Tamara Molinaro on home soil.
Rosberg X Racing (RXR) made amends in the second part of the double-header, taking the win at the NEOM Island X Prix II with a late overtake to secure their second victory of Extreme E Season 2. X44 finished second and Genesys Andretti United Extreme E third after ABT CUPRA XE were disqualified following a safety infringement.
(Semi-Final 1 Race Highlights: https://youtu.be/9FFfSsjZnbc)
With Nico Rosberg in the NEOM Island X Prix II paddock to watch his team’s progress, a superb pass by Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky on ABT CUPRA XE’s Jutta Kleinschmidt sealed the victory. RXR also scored maximum points from Round Three, with the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge, to assert their lead at the top of the standings.
Veloce Racing heads into Sardinia with the lead in the Extreme E Season 3 standings after two victories in 2023. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team are a close second with 69 points – 11 off the lead – while Season 1 Champions RXR sit third. Last year’s winners, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing, are fourth in the standings.
With three different winners across just four rounds, the double-header format means more points are up for grabs and more opportunities awaiting the 10 world-class teams in Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3 in Sardinia. The countdown is on!