The best on track battles in Season 3 so far
No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, Desert X Prix
The first racing action of Season 3 did not disappoint, with No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team locked in a race-long battle for honours in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, during Qualifying. It was the American outfit which came out on top, though, with RJ Anderson defending hard from Mattias Ekström throughout his stint, before Amanda Sorensen took over after the driver change to fend off Laia Sanz to claim an impressive Q1 H1 victory.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, Rosberg X Racing, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, Hydro X Prix
The Hydro X Prix course was one of the most dramatic so far in the championship, and the on-track action did not disappoint. In the Round 3 Grand Final, a three-way battle for victory ensued between Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, Rosberg X Racing (RXR) and X44 Vida Carbon Racing. After some dogged wheel-to-wheel action out on course, it was Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E who looked to gain the upper hand ahead of X44 Vida Carbon Racing, with RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson ultimately crashing out from third.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E’s Catie Munnings finished first out on track, but a time-penalty dropped the team down to second, allowing Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing team to take their maiden win of 2023.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team and ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, Hydro X Prix
Round 4 of Extreme E Season 3 saw NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team secure their best result of the campaign so far. Their second-place finish was thanks largely to a superb pass around the outside by Tanner Foust on ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team’s Ekström in the opening stages of the Grand Final in slippery conditions in Scotland.
NEOM McLaren Extreme E team kept eventual winners Veloce Racing close throughout the remainder of the race, but second place was just rewards for the excellent pace demonstrated by Foust and team-mate Emma Gilmour.
Rosberg X Racing, Island X Prix
In order to take their first win of the campaign, RXR had to battle from the back of the pack in Round 5 of the season in Sardinia. The Island X Prix had previously been a happy hunting ground for Nico Rosberg’s outfit, yet after a difficult start RXR’s Kristoffersson and team-mate Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky had to dig deep to take the win.
After ending up in the bushes as the five ODYSSEY 21s funnelled into one lane off the start, a strong recovery drive saw RXR take second on course at the chequered flag before being promoted to first following a post-race time penalty awarded to No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing.
Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E and No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing, Island X Prix
Munnings left it late, but a dramatic overtake at the last corner on the final lap of the Round 6 Grand Final secured a deserved podium for Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E in Sardinia. After rolling whilst in the podium places during the previous day’s racing in Round 5, Munnings and Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E responded well to take their second podium of the campaign.
Like RXR in Round 5, the team recovered from the pack of the field after a tough start with Timmy Hansen bringing Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E back into contention. Strong pace from Munnings, and excellent race craft to pass No. 99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s Sorensen, completed a remarkable recovery.
With four rounds still to go in 2023, expect more thrilling action on course in Extreme E Season 3.
