Nico Rosberg beamed. The former Formula 1 world champion was clearly proud. Third race, second victory, lead in the overall standings: The defending champions from Rosberg X Racing are still on course for the next championship in the Extreme E.
Because Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky dominated the second Island X Prix at the double header in Sardinia and celebrated a sovereign victory. X44, the team of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, with Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez, came in second.
For RXR this means: The lead is already relatively comfortable, the team has 80 points, the first pursuer Chip Ganassi has 43 points.
“It was an incredible weekend for us. We are very happy about that,” said RXR CEO Nico Rosberg.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to work with this team. It reminds me of my time in Formula 1. It’s a great team effort, where everyone is doing their best and is at the peak of their ability,” said Rosberg, who especially praised Ahlin-Kottulinsky: “She was the star in Sardinia with her speed and her incredible overtaking maneuver through the river on the last lap to take the win. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Joy for one German team, drama for the other. Dakar legend Jutta Kleinschmidt kept shaking her head when she crossed the finish line. With her it was the deep disappointment that one could not overlook. Because she knew what was coming. What would happen again.
Since Jutta Kleinschmidt wasn’t buckled up properly after the change, Abt was disqualified.
It’s not the first time that something has gone wrong at Abt in the Extreme E. The potential for more is there, for podiums or even victories, but after a total of eight races in 2021 and 2022 there is only one podium finish – not enough for the ambitious racing team.
Things didn’t go much better for two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider, who, with Tamara Molinaro, was unable to repeat the feat in the first race of the double header to a sensational second place. Molinaro dislocated his shoulder in the first X Prix and was put back in shape by the Italian national football team’s physiotherapist. She was still ailing – in the end the duo was eliminated from the Crazy Race.
“Unfortunately, Tamara lost the car and the steering was damaged. In the end, the steering broke completely, which is why we had to give up. But we’ve got a big surprise for you here. We hope that we can come back and show what we’re made of if we get everything together,” Scheider said.
The first Island X Prix on Thursday caused trouble and discussions when Sainz crashed heavily after colliding with Kristoffersson. Rally legend Sainz later chafed against the Swede and against the 30-second time penalty imposed by the race director. “In more than 40 years of motorsport, it was one of the most dangerous actions I’ve experienced without an exemplary penalty,” said Sainz. The Rosberg penalty brought Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price (Chip Ganassi) ahead of Scheider/Molinaro and RXR.
What’s next? Three out of five races of the season have been completed in Extreme E, the next event will take place on 24/25. September in South America, the Copper X Prix takes place in Antofagasta (Chile). The finale of the second season will then take place on 26/27. Held in Punta del Este (Uruguay) on November
Extreme E
Championship Stand
2. No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing 43
3.X44 41
4.ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team 40
5. XITE ENERGY Racing 27
6. Andretti United Extreme E 27
7. McLaren 19
8.JBXE 18
9. Veloce Racing 7
10. Abbot Cupra XE 6
