Acciona Sainz claimed their first ever victory on Sunday as they cruised to the win in the final race of the weekend. Here’s how the day unfolded:
Qualifying 1 Heat 1:
Sunday’s first qualifying session started with ABT Cupra, Andretti United, X44, Veloce, and Carl Cox Motorsport all racing against each other.
ABT Cupra, who picked up damage during Saturday’s running, were using the championship car as they could not fix their own in time.
The lights went green and all but one of the teams got off to a good start. Unfortunately for ABT Cupra, they had issues and were slow to get going. They would finish the race, but they would treat it more like a shakedown than qualifying.
For the rest of the field, though, the running was tight. Andretti United made a good start but dropped to third on the final lap.
Veloce crossed the line first to take maximum intermediate points, with X44 not far behind. Andretti United would remain in third as Carl Cox Motorsport did not leave the switch zone.
Qualifying 1 Heat 1 Classification:
- Veloce – 10 Intermediate Points
- X44 – 8 Points
- Andretti United – 6 Points
- ABT Cupra – 4 Points
- Carl Cox Motorsport – 2 Points
Qualifying 1 Heat 2:
The remaining five teams, McLaren, Chip Ganassi, Acciona Sainz, RXR, and JBXE competed in Heat 2.
After an initial aborted start, RXR took a lead they would not relinquish. Further behind there was some side-by-side action between Chip Ganassi and McLaren, with Chip Ganassi eventually winning out. Acciona Sainz also got past.
After that there was not much action to report. McLaren were given a 2.4 second time penalty for speeding in the switch zone, but they would not lose a position.
Qualifying 1 Heat 2 Classification:
- RXR – 10 Points
- Chip Ganassi – 8 Points
- Acciona Sainz – 6 Points
- McLaren – 4 Points
- JBXE – 2 Points
Qualifying 2 Heat 1:
The first heat of Qualifying 2 got under way with Veloce getting the best start. Chip Ganassi and Andretti United were not far behind, with McLaren and Carl Cox Motorsport in fourth and fifth respectively. That order wouldn’t change into the switch zone.
However, disaster struck for Andretti United not long after. For the third time this weekend, the car rolled over, and they were unable to finish the race. The driver, Timmy Hansen, got out of the car okay.
The race was temporarily red flagged whilst the car was recovered, and when it was restarted, the teams finished in the position they resumed in.
Veloce took maximum intermediate points from qualifying to guarantee their place in the final, whilst a poor day for Carl Cox meant they would compete in the redemption race.
Qualifying 2 Heat 1 Classification:
- Veloce – 10 Points
- Chip Ganassi – 8 Points
- McLaren – 6 Points
- Carl Cox Motorsport – 4 Points
- Andretti United – 2 Points
Qualifying 2 Heat 2:
The final qualifying race of the weekend got underway, with Acciona Sainz getting the best start. Going into turn two, however, RXR’s Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky took the lead.
ABT Cupra, who had a poor first race, were using a different strategy to the other teams. Their make driver was put in the car first, and Nasser Al-Attiyah made his way to the front and stormed ahead.
Ultimately it would be a strategy that paid off, as they were not caught for the rest of the race. Further behind, though, there was trouble for X44, who picked up a 3.7 second penalty for speeding in the pitlane. As a result, Acciona Sainz and X44 were tied on intermediate points, though Acciona Sainz went through to the final because they were quicker through the Continental Traction Challenge.
Qualifying 2 Heat 2 Classification:
- ABT Cupra – 10 Points
- RXR – 8 Points
- Acciona Sainz – 6 Points
- X44 – 4 Points
- JBXE – 2 Points
Overall Qualifying Classification:
- Veloce – 20 Points
- RXR – 18 Points
- Chip Ganassi – 16 Points
- ABT Cupra – 14 Points
- Acciona Sainz – 12 Points
- X44 – 12 Points
- McLaren – 10 Points
- Andretti United – 8 Points
- Carl Cox Motorsport – 6 Points
- JBXE – 4 Points
Redemption Race:
Just as yesterday, the redemption race was full of action as the bottom five qualifiers looked to salvage as many championship points as possible.
The first two laps were fairly uneventful as X44 lead into the switch zone. Carl Cox Motorsport were just a little way behind and, when X44 took slightly too long, the two cars appeared side by side.
Upon exiting the switch zone, Carl Cox Motorsport took the lead, though X44 soon regained it again. A subsequent roll for the championship’s newest team and they dropped to the back.
Also having a roll was JBXE, as the car ended up on its side. They would not finish the race.
X44 won the redemption race to claim eight championship points, with McLaren just behind. Andretti United came in third.
Redemption Race Classification:
- X44
- McLaren
- Andretti United
- Carl Cox Motorsport
- JBXE
Final:
The final race of the weekend was contested between the top five qualifiers, ABT Cupra, Acciona Sainz, Veloce, RXR, and Chip Ganassi.
Off the line it was Acciona Sainz who got the best start, leading Veloce then RXR. However, problems for Veloce on the opening lap saw them lose out a position to RXR. Acciona Sainz flew off into the distance, whilst Veloce regained the position before the switch zone.
Not a lot of action followed that, despite a flying ABT Cupra in the last two laps. Acciona Sainz won their first ever Extreme E race, followed by yesterday’s winner Veloce. RXR rounded out the podium,
Final Classification:
- Acciona Sainz
- Veloce
- RXR
- ABT Cupra
- Chip Ganassi
The weekend saw two new race winners, as Veloce and Acciona Sainz started the season on a great note. Hoping for better in the rounds to come will be Andretti United and Carl Cox Motorsport, who have both had weekends to forget.
Championship Standings:
- Veloce – 46 Points
- Acciona Sainz – 46 Points
- RXR – 31 Points
- X44 – 23 Points
- Chip Ganassi – 21 Points
- ABT Cupra – 15 Points
- McLaren – 14 Points
- Carl Cox Motorsport – 8 Points
- JBXE – 5 Points
- Andretti United – 5 Points
With Veloce top of the standings, all eyes will be looking ahead to Scotland for the Hydro XPrix in May.