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  • Extreme H: Electric Cars Out, Hydrogen Is The Future Of Extreme Motorsport

    Extreme H: Electric Cars Out, Hydrogen Is The Future Of Extreme Motorsport

    Viewers said goodbye (once again) to Extreme E this weekend as it completed its ‘Final Lap’ ahead of the launch of Extreme H on the 9th-11th October. Though much had changed with drivers and teams going into the weekend, it was packed with all the drama viewers have come to expect from the series.

    Extreme E’s ‘Final Lap’ started with a bang on Saturday as the first qualifying heat of the day saw Season 1 Champion Molly Taylor involved in a huge accident. The Australian was chasing Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky for the lead of the heat when the car landed wrong following a section of jumps. Momentum brought the Jameel Motorsport machine into a barrel role, rolling four and a half times before it came to rest on its roof. Fortunately, Taylor was able to get out of the car under her own steam and was later cleared by the medical centre to compete the following day. The race was red-flagged following the incident and timings taken from shortly before it.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 2 had no less drama, though not quite as explosive, as three of the four competing teams failed to complete more than one lap. The ever-present Laia Sanz got an excellent start for Acciona Sainz, before Timo Scheider made an ambitious move up the inside. The resulting damage broke the steering on both cars, forcing them to retire. In a separate, unseen incident, Patrick O’Donovan’s Stard car had a front suspension collapse and he too was forced to park the car. Hansen Motorsport were the only team to complete all four laps.

    The heats in Qualifying 2 were much less eventful as Acciona Sainz and Team Even won Heats 1 and 2 respectively. After Saturday’s qualifying was all said and done, Acciona Sainz topped the classification, level on points with Kristofferson Motorsport. Hansen Motorsport and Team Even also progressed to the Grand Final, whilst Stard, JBX, Jameel Motorsport, and Carl Cox Motorsport were to compete in the day’s Redemption Race.

    And the Redemption Race certainly lived up to its name as Jameel Motorsport took the victory following their accident earlier in the day, with Kevin Hansen and substitute female driver Claire Schonborn guiding the team to the win. Hansen had gotten the team off to a flying start, entering the switch zone comfortably in the lead, and Schonborn was able to extend that as she crossed the line first on her Extreme E debut. Further behind, JBX just held onto second place, narrowly beating out Stard. Carl Cox Motorsport brought up the rear.

    The first Grand Final of the weekend saw a repeat of Laia Sanz’s heroics from Qualifying 1 Heat 2, but unfortunately with the same end result. Getting away well, Sanz, as the only female driver to start the race, took an early lead. She would soon be undone, however, as Johan Kristofferson dived down her inside, damaging the toe link on the Acciona Sainz machine and forcing her to retire from the race. Despite the contact, Kristofferson Motorsport won the race, with Team Even not far behind. Hansen Motorsport rounded out the podium on the first day of Extreme E’s ‘Final Lap’

    Sunday’s Qualifying Heats were a little less dramatic than the previous day’s but there was still plenty of hard racing. Jameel Motorsport and Hansen Motorsport won the first two heats respectively, before Kristofferson Motorsport went on to win their second heat and qualify for the Grand Final. The biggest incident of Sunday’s Qualifying came in Qualifying 2 Heat 2 as Acciona Sainz’s Fraser McConnell went hard over the banking that lines the track and broke the car’s suspension. Team Even took the victory securing their spot in the Grand Final, alongside Jameel Motorsport, Hansen Motorsport, and Kristofferson Motorsport. JBX, Carl Cox Motorsport, Acciona Sainz, and Stard would compete in the Redemption Race.

    An uneventful Redemption Race saw JBX cruise to victory, some 23 seconds clear of their closest competitor, Carl Cox Motorsport. Stard finished another 25 seconds behind them to round out the race’s top three. Acciona Sainz did not start the race due to the damage sustained in the earlier qualifying session.

    Extreme E’s final race did not disappoint, as the Grand Final got off to a hectic start. Jameel Motorsport got the best launch, coming across to the lead as the other three went side by side as they entered the first turn. Catie Munnings in the Hansen Motorsport car backed out of the sandwich, leaving Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky on the inside, being squeezed by Hedda Hosas. The Kristofferson Motorsport car ran out of track on the inside, causing it to get onto the ruts lining the track. The car went airborne, rolled twice, and came to a stop shortly after. The driver pairing that has dominated Extreme E in the last few years, would not complete the series’ final ever race. Team Even were also out.

    The two remaining cars, Jameel Motorsport and Hansen Motorsport, came into the switch zone nose to tail. Kevin Hansen in the Jameel Motorsport car eked out an advantage following the change of drivers, but disaster struck when he entered the slow zone (in place from the earlier incident) too quickly. Although he would finish first on the road, post-race penalties saw the final ever race awarded to Hansen Motorsport and Catie Munnings and Andreas Bakkerud. Jameel Motorsport would still finish second, whilst Team Even and Kristofferson Motorsport were not classified.

    Extreme E went out as fans knew and loved, with a bang, and will certainly have whet the appetite for Extreme H’s debut on Thursday 9th October.

    Extreme H

    The Extreme H World Cup will do things a little differently to its electric forbear. Set over three days and three disciplines, teams will accumulate qualifying points that set the grid for a final featuring all eight cars.

    Thursday consists of a time trial akin to qualifying in the early days of Extreme E. Each team will get two runs, which are then combined together for a total qualifying time, meaning every run counts. These combined times set the standings for the time trial event.

    Friday will see a short, knockout head to head. Competing against one other team, drivers will go side by side across a short stretch of the track. The teams to cross the line first will advance to a Semi-Final and a Final.

    But that’s not all for the multi-car section of the week. Saturday will begin with two rounds of four car heats, similar to the qualifying format used in Extreme E’s ‘Last Lap’. These heats will determine the multi-car rankings and the points across all three disciplines will set the grid for the World Cup Final.

    Taking place on the same day as the multi-car heats, the World Cup Final will include all teams, with the winner crowned World Cup Champions.

    There are two changes to the grid line-up from Extreme E’s ‘Final Lap’ from the weekend. Acciona Sainz have been replaced by Zeroid, with Gray Leadbetter replacing Laia Sanz as Fraser McConnel’s teammate. Here’s how the teams line-up:

    • Team Hansen – Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings
    • Jameel Motorsport – Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor
    • JBX – Tommi Hallman and Christine GZ
    • Carl Cox Motorsport – Timo Scheider and Klara Andersson
    • Team Even – Ole Christian Veiby and Hedda Hosas
    • Zeroid – Fraser McConnell and Gray Leadbetter
    • Kristofferson Motorsport – Johan Kristofferson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky
    • Strad – Patrick O’Donovan and Amanda Sorensen

    Extreme H makes its long-awaited debut on Thursday. With a fresh new format designed to test the cars (and drivers) to the limit, viewers are bound to get more action than ever before. After three days of fast-paced drama, we will surely get an answer to the question: is Hydrogen the future of extreme Motorsport?

    Image courtesy of Extreme E

  • Extreme E: RXR Pick Up Where They Left Off With Round 1 Win

    Image courtesy of Extreme E
    FEBRUARY 17: Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (SWE) / Johan Kristoffersson (SWE), Rosberg X Racing celebrate , 1st position during the Saudi Arabia on February 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Ferraro / LAT Images)

    Two-time Extreme E champions, Rosberg X Racing (RXR), got their title defence off to a flying start today, as they won the opening round of the Desert XPrix.

    The former F1 world champion’s team saw off close challengers McLaren to take almost maximum points from the round.

    In an entertaining first day, here’s how the day’s action unfolded.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 1:

    McLaren, Veloce, SUN Minimeal, and JBXE got the first competitive session of the new season underway, with Veloce starting the better of the four teams to take the lead.

    Though the pack stayed close together, there was little in the way of overtaking in the first qualifying heat.

    It wasn’t all plain-sailing for Veloce, however. The team were initially awarded a time penalty for a switch zone infringement. The penalty was later revoked.

    Veloce won the heat, taking ten classification points and setting themselves up nicely to make the final. McLaren finished second, closely followed by debutants SUN Minimeal. JBXE rounded up the grid.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 2:

    The remaining four teams – Legacy Motor Club, Andretti, Acciona Sainz, and RXR – competed in the second heat of qualifying one.

    As the lights went out it was Andretti who got off the line quickest.

    Their lead wouldn’t last long, however, as Johan Kristofferson pulled off a trademark move around the outside to put RXR into first place.

    After that initial excitement, the cars started to spread out as they attempted to negotiate the ruts in the sand left by the previous heat.

    RXR won the heat, with Andretti not too far behind in second. Last season’s runners-up, Acciona Sainz, finished third and Legacy Motor Club rounded out the heat.

    Qualifying 2 Heat 1:

    The second qualifying session started with Legacy Motor Club, Veloce, Acciona Sainz, and JBXE all looking to seal their place in the final.

    Acciona Sainz got the best start and took an early lead, but not before Legacy Motor Club had attempted an unsuccessful move up the inside.

    Not wanting to miss out on all the action, Veloce went side-by-side with Legacy Motor Club for second place. An initial move around the outside couldn’t quite get the job done, but a lunge up the inside into the next turn saw Veloce move into second.

    Acciona Sainz won the first heat in Qualifying 2, with Veloce coming in second. Legacy finished third and JBXE once more rounded out the grid.

    Qualifying 2 Heat 2:

    The final qualifying race of the round was contested between SUN Minimeal, RXR, Andretti, and McLaren.

    SUN Minimeal took an early lead, and looked good out front as the other three teams scrapped it out behind them.

    After a lap of chasing down the lead, Andretti were close enough to force their way up the inside of SUN Minimeal and move into first place.

    But it was in the switch zone that this heat was won. RXR were quicker on release than SUN Minimeal and were able jump up into second place, just behind leaders Andretti.

    RXR then used their hyperdrive on the pit exit to leapfrog into first – a lead they would not relinquish.

    Behind them, though, the battle for second was still well and truly on. McLaren chased down Andretti, and were eventually able to wrestle second place off of the American team.

    RXR won the race, comfortably securing their spot in the final, alongside McLaren. Andretti finishing third meant they dropped down into the redemption race.

    Overall Qualifying Classification Points:

    1. RXR – 20 Points
    2. Veloce – 18 Points
    3. McLaren – 16 Points
    4. Acciona Sainz – 16 Points
    5. Andretti – 14 Points
    6. SUN Minimeal – 10 Points
    7. Legacy Motor Club – 10 Points 
    8. JBXE – 8 Points

    Redemption Race:

    The bottom four qualifiers – JBXE Legacy Motor Club, SUN Minimeal, and Andretti – all looked to rescue some championship points in the redemption race.

    As the lights went green, Andretti got the best getaway and sailed into an early lead.

    Behind them, Andreas Bakkerud in the JBXE machine made an audacious move around the outside to go from the back of the pack into second.

    As the teams entered the switch zone, Andretti had pulled out a comfortable gap to JBXE, who remained ahead of SUN Minimeal and Legacy Motor Club.

    An mechanical issue on the third lap for SUN Minimeal meant they would, unfortunately, not get to complete their first ever round. As they went past, fellow debutants Legacy Motor Club gave the stricken car a wave.

    Not content with third place, Legacy Motor Club pushed hard to close the gap to JBXE. When they were close enough, a smart move around the outside saw the team jump into second.

    Andretti cruised to victory in the redemption race, taking 12 crucial championship points. Legacy Motor Club gave a good account of themselves on debut, finishing second in the race (6th overall). Last to finish were JBXE, still ahead of SUN Minimeal who recorded a DNF.

    Final:

    The final race of the round proved to be the best race of the round – as the top four qualifiers did battle.

    RXR got the best getaway and took an early lead, but Mattias Ekstrom in the McLaren car refused to be outwitted. Taking a very wide line, Ekstrom was able to put their power down much earlier than his competitors and he sailed by into first position.

    RXR were not to be beaten, however. On the second lap, Nico Rosberg’s team went down the inside of the McLaren and made the move stick.

    The teams entered the switch zone neck and neck – RXR just edging out McLaren, Veloce, and Acciona Sainz.

    The McLaren-RXR battle continued as their female drivers took the wheel, with several points of contact causing minor bodywork damage to both cars.

    Then, on the final lap of the race, McLaren regained the lead. Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky in the RXR machine kept the pressure on the McLaren, though, and managed to force the Gutierrez to go deep. Ahlin-Kottulinsky took the opportunity to sweep back into the lead to win the race by just one tenth of a second.

    RXR completed an almost perfect first round, just missing out on the points for the Continental Traction Challenge. McLaren finished second, with Veloce rounding out the podium.

    Acciona Sainz recorded a DNF as the car rolled on its side on the final lap. McConnell was able to get out of the car okay.

    Overall Round Classification:

    1. RXR
    2. McLaren
    3. Veloce
    4. Acciona Sainz
    5. Andretti
    6. Legacy Motor Club
    7. JBXE
    8. SUN Minimeal

    Championship Standings:

    1. RXR – 27 Points
    2. McLaren – 18 Points
    3. Veloce – 18 Points
    4. Acciona Sainz – 13 Points
    5. Andretti – 12 Points
    6. Legacy – 8 Points
    7. JBXE – 6 Points
    8. SUN Minimeal – 4 Points

    The season kicked off with an exciting day of action. The series returns tomorrow for what is sure to be another entertaining couple of races.

  • Extreme E: Veloce take Maiden Win in Opening Race

    The opening day of the new Extreme E season was full of action, which ultimately saw Veloce win their first ever Extreme E race. Here’s a roundup of the day’s action.

    Image courtesy of Extreme E

    Qualifying 1:

    The first action of the day, Qualifying 1 Heat 1, saw Extreme E’s newest team, Carl Cox Motorsport, take on ABT Cupra, Andretti United, Acciona Sainz, and Chip Ganassi.

    Chip Ganassi were best off the line and took an early lead. Acciona Sainz were right on their tails. Despite being close behind, there was little action before the switch zone, with Chip Ganassi heading out Acciona Sainz, Carl Cox Motorsport, Andretti United, and ABT Cupra.

    The pressure eased on Chip Ganassi after the switch zone after Laia Sanz in the Acciona Sainz team got a bit too close to the water’s edge, costing the team a lot of time.

    Further behind, ABT Cupra’s Klara Andersson also got too close to the water. All the way to the back.

    The biggest drama of the session, however, was when Catie Munnings rolled her Andretti United car whilst attempting an overtake on Carl Cox Motorsport. Thankfully Munnings was okay, but the team would not finish the race.

    Chip Ganassi crossed the line first, receiving 10 intermediate points and the first championship point of the season. Acciona Sainz came second with championship new boys, Carl Cox Motorsport, picking up six intermediate points.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 1 Classification:

    1. Chip Ganassi 11:32.914 – 10 Intermediate Points
    2. Acciona Sainz +3.384 – 8 Points
    3. Carl Cox Motorsport +18.663 – 6 Points
    4. ABT Cupra +57.726 – 4 Points
    5. Andretti United DNF – 0 Points

    Qualifying 1 Heat 2:

    The five remaining cars, JBXE, McLaren, X44, RXR, and Veloce, all competed in Heat 2.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 2 was a much calmer affair. Whilst the teams were all tightly packed, the only move of note was a lovely move from X44’s Fraser McConnel to take the lead.

    X44 crossed the line first, with Veloce just behind, and JBXE in third. Season 1 championship winners, RXR, finished fourth ahead of McLaren.

    Qualifying 1 Heat 2 Classification:

    1. X44 12:32.993 – 10 Points
    2. Veloce +8.734 – 8 Points
    3. JBXE +19.100 – 6 Points
    4. RXR +20.980 – 4 Points
    5. McLaren +28.728 – 2 Points

    Qualifying 2 Heat 1:

    The second part of qualifying saw Chip Ganassi, Carl Cox Motorsport, Andretti United, Veloce, and RXR all compete for more intermediate points in Heat 1.

    After a messy start, Veloce took an early lead that they would not relinquish. RXR made some good overtakes on first Carl Cox Motorsport, then Chip Ganassi, but that would be the extent of the action. Carl Cox Motorsport would later grind to a halt after experiencing a technical issue.

    Veloce won the heat, securing their place in the final, whilst Andretti United’s fourth place cemented their spot in the redemption race.

    Qualifying 2 Heat 1 Classification:

    1. Veloce 11.380 – 10 Points
    2. RXR +8.86 – 8 Points
    3. Chip Ganassi +14.42 – 6 Points
    4. Andretti United +25.39 – 4 Points
    5. Carl Cox Motorsport – 0 Points

    Qualifying 2 Heat 2:

    The final qualifying race consisted of Acciona Sainz, ABT Cupra, X44, JBXE, and McLaren.

    As the lights went out, Laia Sanz for Acciona Sainz got a lightening start, with X44 and JBXE battling ot out for second place behind.

    After the start there was little action, and Acciona Sainz topped both their heat and qualifying overall. X44 finished in second place, with McLaren finishing in third.

    When all the intermediate points were added up, three teams, Acciona Sainz, RXR, and Veloce, had 18 points, only being separated by times through the Continental Traction Challenge

    Qualifying 2 Heat 2 Classification:

    1. Acciona Sainz 11:29 – 10 Points
    2. RXR +5.34 – 8 Points
    3. McLaren +11.34 – 6 Points
    4. ABT Cupra +18.34 – 4 Points
    5. JBXE +25.52 – 2 Points

    Overall Qualifying Standings:

    1. Acciona Sainz – 18 Points
    2. X44 – 18 Points
    3. Veloce – 18 Points
    4. Chip Ganassi – 16 Points
    5. RXR – 12 Points
    6. ABT Cupra – 8 Points
    7. JBXE – 8 Points
    8. McLaren – 8 Points
    9. Carl Cox Motorsport – 6 Points
    10. Andretti United – 4 Points

    Going through to the final following qualifying were tje top five teams, Acciona Sainz, X44, Veloce, Chip Ganassi, and RXR. The bottom five qualifiers would compete in the redemption race.

    Redemption Race:

    The redemption race saw the most action of the day, with three cars not seeing its end.

    McLaren took an early lead off the start but the main action was happening just behind. Three cars converged through a waypoint with Andretti United coming off worse. Their car rolled over and was unable to continue.

    Things calmed down for a couple of minutes after that, but a move from the ABT Cupra car on the McLaren also saw the former end on its side in an incident not dissimilar from Catie Munnings’ in Qualifying One. All drivers were okay but the race was red-flagged.

    The race resumed and JBXE reclaimed their lead. However, technical issues for the team saw them slow down and eventually stop, becoming the third retirement of the race.

    With three cars out of the race it was a comfortable finish for McLaren, who crossed the line in first, with Carl Cox Motorsport not far behind in second.

    Redemption Race Classification:

    1. McLaren 28:55.292
    2. Carl Cox Motorsport +5.552
    3. JBXE DNF
    4. ABT Cupra DNF
    5. Andretti United DNF

    Final:

    The last race of the day was the final, being fought between the top five qualifiers.

    RXR took an early lead with a brilliant move from Johan Kristofferson. All five cars were neck and neck for most of the first lap.

    However, Chip Ganassi ran into a technical issue and were forced to retire. A slow zone was put by the stricken car, restricting speeds to the switch zone speed limit. X44 also had an issue and retired not long after.

    The remaining teams came into the switch zone with just a few seconds separating them. RXR led, with Veloce in second, and Acciona Sainz in third.

    As the cars neared the slow zone, RXR’s Molly Taylor lost track of where she was and failed to slow in time, They were given a post-race penalty of 136 seconds.

    There was little going on after that incident, as RXR crossed the line first but Veloce taking the victory. Acciona Sainz came in second and RXR were saved a place on the podium by virtue of the other cars retiring.

    Final Classification:

    1. 11:56.291
    2. Acciona Sainz +16.709
    3. RXR + 2:08.041
    4. X44 DNF
    5. Chip Ganassi DNF

    Championship Standings:

    1. Veloce – 26 Points
    2. Acciona Sainz – 21 Points
    3. RXR – 15 Points
    4. X44 – 13 Points
    5. Chip Ganassi – 11 Points
    6. McLaren – 8 Points
    7. Carl Cox Motorsport – 6 Points
    8. JBXE – 4 Points
    9. ABT Cupra – 2 Points
    10. Andretti United – 1 Point

    So concluded an exciting day’s racing. With the chance to do it all again tomorrow, Veloce will be hoping for a similarly successful day, whilst Andretti United will welcome the chance to immediately get their championship back on track.