(Motorsports news) E.ON Next Veloce Racing took control in qualifying for Round 3 of the Hydro X Prix, winning both their heats at the Dumfries and Galloway course. Drivers Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor secured maximum points and a strong start at the team’s home event.

They will be joined in the Grand Final later today by Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and Rosberg X Racing (RXR), who both also won heats, with ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE) filling the final spot.

The Redemption Race will be contested by JBXE, SUN Minimeal Team, the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team (NEOM McLaren XE) and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB IN ASSOCIATION WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON (LEGACY M.C.).

Qualifying 1 – Heat 1

The action in Scotland kicked off in dramatic style, as SUN Minimeal’s Timo Scheider made contact with E.ON Next Veloce’s Taylor as they battled for the lead heading into Turn 2, resulting in an early 10-second penalty for the SUN Minimeal team.

SUN Minimeal were leading at the Switch Zone, just ahead of JBXE and E.ON Next Veloce. A painful puncture for debutant Patrick O’ Donovan and Legacy M.C. sent Gray Leadbetter to the back of the pack, a lap behind upon return to the Hydro X Prix course.

An enticing battle between E.ON Next Veloce’s Hansen and JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud saw contact between the two, with the Swede eventually completing the contested overtake. Bakkerud spun shortly afterwards following a puncture, but was able to continue.

SUN Minimeal’s Klara Andersson held on for the win, but suffered a huge roll when crossing the finish line, followed by a further time penalty for the team which promoted E.ON Next Veloce to the top spot. Thankfully, Andersson was unhurt from the accident.

Qualifying 1 – Heat 2
Andretti Altawkilat’s Timmy Hansen led into turn 1, followed closely by ASXE, NEOM McLaren XE and RXR. The latter moved up to third, before a spin which sent them down to the back marker.

RXR suffered another setback as a dropped flag resulted in a 10-second penalty. NEOM McLaren XE swiftly moved up to second after a clean overtake on ASXE at the end of lap 2, and there were no further position changes at the switch.

A magnificent tussle between NEOM McLaren XE’s Cristina Gutiérrez and ASXE’s Fraser McConnell was brought to a halt as the British team suffered a 10-second penalty for a dropped Waypoint flag, as ASXE fought off their attack. 

Andretti Altawkilat’s Catie Munnings persevered strongly and held on for the Q1 H2 victory.

Qualifying 2 – Heat 1

The first Heat of Qualifying 2 saw JBXE quick out of the blocks, leading E.ON Next Veloce and ASXE in what quickly became a three-horse race for the lead.

We saw yet another brilliant battle between frontrunners E.ON Next Veloce and JBXE, with Hansen eventually making the pass, but not without some contact which saw him miss a flag at Waypoint 11, resulting in a five-second time penalty.

Following the driver switch, Taylor maintained the E.ON Next Veloce lead as JBXE and ASXE traded positions behind, with NEOM McLaren XE falling behind in fourth.

Although NEOM McLaren XE’s Mattias Ekström began to close in on JBXE, a dropped flag at Waypoint 20 saw the team suffer another 10-second penalty. 

Despite E.ON Next Veloce’s earlier penalty they finished the race with another victory, with ASXE second, JBXE third, and NEOM McLaren XE fourth.

Qualifying 2 – Heat 2

A strong start from Johan Kristoffersson saw RXR lead from the outset, followed by SUN Minimeal in second with an exciting battle between Legacy M.C. and Andretti Altawkilat taking place for the third spot.

At the Switch Zone, RXR led, with Andersson setting a strong pace for SUN Minimeal in second as Legacy M.C. edged ahead of Andretti Altawkilat for third.

A dropped flag at Waypoint 6 resulted in a 10-second time penalty for Legacy M.C. This saw them fall to fourth in the results, with RXR holding on for victory –  an impressive recovery from Q1 – as they secured a Grand Final spot. SUN Minimeal and Andretti Altakwilat followed in second and third, respectively.

Q1 Heat 1:
1. E.ON NEXT Veloce Racing 9:20.011 mins
2. JBXE +21.144s
3. SUN Minimeal Team +58.556s
4. Legacy Motor Club +2:12.149mins

Q1 Heat 2:
1. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E 9:15.491 mins
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +7.212s
3. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +18.238s
4. Rosberg X Racing +27.170s

Q2 Heat 1:
1. E.ON NEXT Veloce Racing 9:05.213 mins
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +1.957s
3. JBXE +4.138s
4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +15.017s

Q2 Heat 2:
1. Rosberg X Racing 9:06.746 mins
2. SUN Minimeal Team +3.004s
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +8.592s
4. Legacy Motor Club +21.696s

Qualifying classification:
1. E.ON NEXT Veloce Racing: 20
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 16
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 16
4. Rosberg X Racing: 14
5. JBXE: 14
6. SUN Minimeal Team: 14
7. NEOM McLaren Extreme E: 10
8. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ IN ASSOCIATION WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON: 8

Also read: ASXE claim top spot in Round 4 qualifying in Scotland