(Motorsports news) Rosberg X Racing (RXR) finished as top qualifiers in Round 6 of Season 3 at the Island X Prix, co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna.
Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson won both of their Heats to finish at the top of the Qualifying standings with a perfect score and two extra championship points, which could prove crucial as they chase the lead of the standings.
Joining Nico Rosberg’s outfit in the Grand Final are ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, with the Spanish outfit securing a Heat win in Qualifying 2 and the American team’s consistently achieving two second-place finishes.
Finishing fourth in Qualifying overall are JBXE, with second place in Qualifying 2 proving enough to reach their first Grand Final of Season 3. Rounding out the line-up for the Grand Final are No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, who edge ahead of current championship runners-up Veloce Racing with the a quicker Continental Traction Challenge time.
Veloce Racing, despite winning their Qualifying 1 Heat, enter their second Redemption Race of the Island X Prix with the remaining four teams having finished fifth in Qualifying 2 Heat 2.
Qualifying 1 Heat 1
As the ODYSSEY 21s squeezed together to secure track position at the start, RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson came out in front while X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Fraser McConnell dropped to the back of the pack after contact. The Season 2 champions had to nurse the car back to the pits after suffering a puncture, which ruled them out of contention.
Up ahead, Kristoffersson stretched his lead ahead of No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson who was under pressure from the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tanner Foust. After taking an alternative line off the start, JBXE’s Hedda Hosås remained in touch further back in fourth.
As the drivers entered the Switch Zone, Foust managed to draw level with Anderson in the battle for second, but the No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing team maintained track position on the exit.
Amanda Sorensen then began to catch RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky up ahead, but it was Nico Rosberg’s outfit that took the victory. Behind the front pair, Emma Gilmour defended heavily from Andreas Bakkerud as the JBXE driver closed in, narrowly staying ahead of the Norwegian as they crossed the finish line.
On top of finishing fifth, X44 Vida Carbon Racing was also awarded a 15-second time penalty for improper use of the ENOWA Hyperdrive.
Qualifying 1 Heat 2
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E had yet another strong getaway off the line, with Timmy Hansen taking the lead ahead of brother Kevin Hansen for Veloce Racing. ABT CUPRA XE’s Sébastien Loeb tested alternate routes at the start of the lap, but the risk dropped him to the back of the back behind Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Mattias Ekström.
Ekström soon made a decisive move, late on the brakes, to overtake Scheider down the inside. This opened up the opportunity for Loeb and some thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing ensued, with Scheider defending strongly to keep fourth in Heat 2.
At the front, Veloce Racing’s Hansen hustled his brother Timmy for the lead of the Heat, making a superb overtake around the outside to snatch first place.
A quick getaway from the Switch Zone saw Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E draw level with Veloce Racing, but Molly Taylor was able to keep the lead ahead of Catie Munnings. The top two remained unchanged meaning maximum points for Veloce Racing as they look to reclaim the championship lead.
Current Season 3 leaders ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team had to settle for third in the Heat, while Carl Cox Motorsport’s Lia Block held fourth ahead of ABT CUPRA XE’s Klara Andersson. There was to be a disappointment for debutant Block, however, as the team received a 10-second penalty for knocking down a flag at Waypoint 10 which dropped them to fifth.
Qualifying 2 Heat 1
Åhlin-Kottulinsky muscled her way through to the front for RXR ahead of Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E after a good launch from Munnings.
As the track narrowed ABT CUPRA XE’s Andersson slotted into third, with Emma Gilmour in fourth for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team and X44 Vida Carbon Racing’s Cristina Gutiérrez in fifth. The Spaniard soon looked to the inside line of Gilmour as a broken bonnet obstructed her view in the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team ODYSSEY 21.
Third-placed Andersson managed a puncture on her ABT CUPRA XE car, while up ahead Munnings gained ground following a mistake by RXR’s Åhlin-Kottulinsky who drifted wide while turning.
An action-packed Switch Zone saw Gutiérrez spin at the entrance as she fought her damaged ODYSSEY 21, and X44 Vida Carbon Racing retired ahead of the driver change.
ABT CUPRA XE fitted a new tyre and Loeb was able to continue and take third, ahead of the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, who suffered a DNF from too much damage. Both teams will join X44 Vida Carbon Racing in the Redemption Race to salvage championship points.
Up front Kristoffersson retained the lead for RXR ahead of Hansen in the Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E car, with both teams securing a spot in the Grand Final.
Qualifying 2 Heat 2
No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen was quickest off the line, followed by Veloce Racing’s Taylor in second and Laia Sanz in third for ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team.
Taylor quickly dropped to fifth, however, behind Carl Cox Motorsport’s Block and JBXE’s Bakkerud, as the Australian struggled with damage to her car.
The front three progressed in close quarters, and it was looking like a clean run for Sorensen before a double overtake ensued, as both Sanz and Block charged through with their ENOWA Hyperdrives. Block failed to hold onto her momentum though, and quickly dropped back into fourth behind JBXE’s Bakkerud.
The Norwegian then gained another spot as the teams approached the Switch Zone, braking late to take second for JBXE ahead of No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing. The American outfit then lost further ground, dropping to fifth behind Veloce Racing as they struggled to leave their Switch Zone bay.
On a mission, Veloce Racing’s Hansen soon passed Scheider, but the German bit back, taking bodywork off the Veloce Racing car as he regained third place for Carl Cox Motorsport.
Clear of Hansen, who began to struggle with his damaged Veloce Racing ODYSSEY 21, Scheider closed in on JBXE’s Hosås. The young Norwegian fought to hold onto the second place her team needed to reach the Grand Final, but Scheider executed a strong overtake, despite strong resistance from Hosås.
Scheider’s overtake was later deemed too aggressive, and the team was subsequently dropped back into third place in the Heat with a penalty for causing a collision, promoting JBXE into their first Grand Final of Season 3.
Out in front of ACCOINA | Sainz XE Team’s Ekström completed a trouble-free run to take the Heat win and a spot in the Grand Final. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, despite finishing fourth in the Heat, takes the remaining spot in the Grand Final after a strong Qualifying 1.
Fifth place for Veloce Racing was not enough to see the team through, meaning back-to-back Redemption Races for the current championship runners-up alongside Carl Cox Motorsport.
Q1 Heat 1:
1. Rosberg X Racing 8:50.714mins
2. No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing +1.604s
3. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team +7.253s
4. JBXE +8.143s
5. X44 Vida Carbon Racing +2:41.525s (PENALISED)
Q1 Heat 2:
1. Veloce Racing 8:45.068mins
2. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +1.477s
3. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team +3.729s
4. ABT CUPRA XE +7.971s
5. Carl Cox Motorsport +14.917s (PENALISED)
Q2 Heat 1:
1. Rosberg X Racing 8:44.755mins
2. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E +3.869s
3. ABT CUPRA XE +40.789s
4. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team DNF
5. X44 Vida Carbon Racing DNF
Q2 Heat 2:
1. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team 8:59.696mins
2. JBXE +8.776s
3. Carl Cox Motorsport +7.877s (PENALISED)
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing +20.111s
5. Veloce Racing +27.305s
Qualifying Standings:
1. Rosberg X Racing: 20 points
2. ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 16 points
3. Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 16 points
4. No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 12 points
5. JBXE: 12 points
6. Veloce Racing: 12 points
7. NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 10 points
8. ABT CUPRA XE: 10 points
9. Carl Cox Motorsport: 8 points
10. X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 4 points
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