Rosberg X Racing (RXR) fought hard to claim victory in Semi-Final 1 and progress to the NEOM Island X Prix 1 Final, with XITE Energy Racing joining them as Genesys Andretti United Extreme E missed out having led the race at the halfway point.
In an exciting first race on Finals Day, RXR switched up their strategy for Semi-Final 1, sending Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky out to take on the first lap against Timmy Hansen for Genesys Andretti United Extreme E and XITE ENERGY Racing’s Tamara Molinaro.
Hansen charged off the line, but Åhlin-Kottulinsky managed to shut the door on the Genesys Andretti car. The two tussled in the opening corners, testing alternate lines and coming into contact multiple times as they fought for the lead.
A defensive masterclass from Åhlin-Kottulinsky lasted until the final corners, when Hansen took a wide line to cut through on the inside of RXR and get ahead in one of the best duels of Extreme E so far.
XITE ENERGY Racing’s Molinaro was only 8 seconds behind the battle up ahead as the teams entered the Switch Zone.
Johan Kristoffersson took over the wheel for RXR’s second lap and soon overtook Genesys Andretti’s Catie Munnings as her ODYSSEY 21 appeared to be losing pace.
The Brit soon dropped to the back of the pack as Timo Scheider made up ground to take second place and a spot in the Final in his first ever X Prix.