The Extreme E series for purpose-built all-electric SUVs is in its third season this year and the island of Sardinia off Italy was again the location for its Island X Prix over the weekend. The season has reached Round 8, with the final two rounds to be held in December in Chile.
X44 Vida Carbon Racing took the win in Round 8, marking the team’s second victory of this season and its first victory at an Island X. Cristina Gutierrez and Fraser McConnell took the win ahead of Rosberg X Racing (RXR) in second, who just miss out on taking the championship lead from ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, sitting just 3 points behind the Spanish outfit in the standings.
The third step on the podium went to ABT CUPRA XE, as Klara Andersson and Sebastien Loeb secured back-to-back podiums at this round.
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing took fourth, with RJ Anderson going wheel-to-wheel with RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson in an exciting bout. A DNF for JBXE in their second Grand Final dashed the team’s hopes of a first podium in Season 3, but matches their season best of fifth place.
Winners of the Redemption Race were Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor, as Veloce Racing keep themselves within reach of the title as the championship battle reaches its climax. Just 21 points now separate the top three as Extreme E heads into the last two rounds of Season 3.
What happened at the Island X Prix
Fraser McConnell secured the perfect start for X44 as he charged around the outside in the opening corner. Another impressive overtake followed, as Loeb managed to pass RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson to take second.
The Swede went wide in the water splash soon after and lost another place, this time to No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson. Kristoffersson pushed hard to overtake back as the pair made contact over the jump at the end of Lap One.
The RXR driver soon regained third, taking a wider line to carry more pace exiting a corner. Up ahead Loeb then went wide, opening the door for Kristoffersson to gain ground and fly up the inside a few corners later to take second.
As the next drivers took over, a confident drive from Gutierrez ensured the win for X44 ahead of RXR’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky in second and ABT CUPRA XE’s Andersson in third.
Fourth place went to No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Amanda Sorensen, while JBXE’s race ended with a DNF as Andreas Bakkerud pulled up with a damaged front right wheel.
“We had a tough start to the weekend, but we kept our spirits up and with all the team working together we prepared well for the final. Fraser had an amazing start and I just had to keep my head focused to get us round for the win! We are so happy and proud of the team!” said Gutierrez.
