A moment of shock from Carlos Sainz, another victory for Rosberg and a sensational podium for Timo Scheider: The Island X Prix on Sardinia provided action, drama and emotions.
The defending champions from Rosberg X Racing, Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, also won the second Extreme E race of the season after the season opener in Saudi Arabia. The team around CEO Nico Rosberg has dominated the second season so far: After two of five runs, the team has 60 points, the first pursuer Chip Ganassi has 30 points.
Arrived with no expectations
Timo Scheider and Tamara Molinaro celebrated a podium finish with the Spanish team XITE Energy Racing on their debut in third place. Scheider grinned and was overjoyed after the coup, later he stormed the podium with the German flag. “We came here with no expectations. We came to surprise here and there. And now we’ve surprised you from start to finish. And I’m so happy. It feels so good, I love it,” said Scheider.
Second went to Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price (Chip Ganassi). But the most important news: Rally legend Sainz is doing well after a violent crash including a rollover in the finale.
Carlos Sainz collided with the Rosberg-Renner and rolled over violently.
Because it didn’t take long at the finale on the military training ground on the south coast of the island before there was a bang, and how: Carlos Sainz got off to a very good start and pushed himself to the front, hit the door when the different starting routes were merged door with Kristoffersson, collided with the Rosberg Renner and overturned violently. “I died, he died, and we went in different directions,” Kristoffersson said.
Cancellation after the first round
Kristoffersson was able to continue, but from then on the RXR SUV was missing the complete fairing at the front. Halfway through the race, he took a narrow lead ahead of LeDuc/Price, followed by the Scheider/Molinaro duo.
Ahlin-Kottulinsky didn’t miss his chance after the restart and confidently brought the lead home on the second lap. And Molinaro also kept his nerve, celebrating the first podium finish with Scheider in their first race together.
Bitter end for Dept
The German team Abt Cupra XE was once again unlucky.
In the semifinals, X44, the team of Rosberg’s rival Lewis Hamilton with Cristina Gutierrez and Sebastien Loeb, was surprisingly eliminated. “Unfortunately, the first round of Sardinia is over for us. We now have another race ahead of us. And we know we can do it,” said Kleinschmidt.
After the first Island X Prix in Sardinia comes the second Island X Prix: The third race of the year takes place on Saturday and Sunday with qualifying, semifinals, crazy race and final. ProSieben Maxx broadcasts on Sunday from 1 p.m.
