Extreme E Season 2’s ‘The Race For the Planet’ returned to the course today as the ten teams got back behind the wheel for their first taste of an X Prix since February.
Extreme E Season 2’s ‘The Race For the Planet’ returned to the course today as the ten teams got back behind the wheel for their first taste of an X Prix since February.
The seven-kilometre course in Sardinia proved the trickiest of the five events in the Championship’s inaugural season last year, offering up a much more compact terrain than the 20 world-class drivers were used to.
The teams returned to take on the NEOM Island X Prix double-header, co-organised by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna, with much more in their arsenal. New upgrades to the ODYSSEY 21 include a suspension package from FOX and an improved chassis, both of which will allow the drivers to push harder than ever.
With double the points available this week, Sardinia could prove a crucial turning point in Season 2 and the Extreme E grid were primed to hit the ground running in the NEOM Island X Prix I.
Having warmed up in a Shakedown, No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing set the pace in Free Practice. Riding the momentum gained from winning Semi-Final 2 at the Desert X Prix, the American team have been topping the time sheet in both sessions.
Their closest challengers were Rosberg X Racing (RXR), NEOM McLaren XE, and Genesys Andretti United Extreme E.
Finishing fourth in FP1, RXR showed signs of the same pace that secured them the victory at the season opener in FP2, finishing in second place. It proved to be an ominous afternoon for their rivals, as RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson also set the fastest lap of the day.
Third in both practice sessions were NEOM McLaren Extreme E, with Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour achieving a consistent start at only the team’s second ever Extreme E event.
Close behind were Genesys Andretti United Extreme E. Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen were straight on the pace in the first session, with the latter setting the fastest time in FP1. The duo maintained a high level of performance to finish fourth in FP2.
Sara Price, No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing: “Last year we didn’t have that great of a start, so it’s great that we are off to a good one. Consistency is key for us this year.
“I am very confident in the team, I think we have a good setup and we’ve learned a lot in the time we’ve been in Extreme E, so we’re in a good position.
“I think the course has been worked in a little bit more since last year. It’s going to be a lot faster, not as rough, and maybe not as technical at times. This is terrain that we are used to coming from South California and racing in Baja, so it’s where we feel at home.”
Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing: “I feel refreshed and in great shape and the team made some great progress during our test in France, so we are all set for an exciting week of racing.
“It’s very exciting to come back to Sardinia. The track looks really fast and it’s smoother than last year. Most of the part at the beginning/the start is very similar but the corners are graded a little bit differently. I think also the last part is a little bit more exciting than last year so I hope that there will be some good racing and some overtake opportunities as well.
“It’s still going to be warm – we are not used to this heat in Scandinavia so it’s going to be bit different!”
Emma Gilmour, NEOM McLaren Extreme E: “The track is looking really nice and looking fast so I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to drive.
“We are feeling confident after we had a really good test together and we know so much more now about the race weekend. Turning up in Saudi Arabia was a huge learning curve for a lot of us all working together so it was really encouraging to see us competitive straight out the box.”
Catie Munnings, Genesys Andretti United Extreme E: “I really like the new section of the course – it’s going to be very fast and flowing.
“With the two races back-to-back, it’s especially important to keep the rhythm. Usually it gets to the end of the weekend and we want to keep going, so now we have the opportunity to go again with this double-header. I think it will give people an opportunity if they have disappointment in the first event. Obviously, though, everybody’s ultimately looking for two strong results.”
With things already so close in the early stages, there’s everything to play for as the teams head into what promises to be a competitive Qualifying tomorrow.