How ABT CUPRA XE shone in Sardinia
After showing promise as the team’s driver pairing at the last round in Sardinia, this time Andersson and Loeb translated their speed into strong results – accumulating the most points out of all 10 teams in Rounds 7 and 8, co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d'Italia and Regione Sardegna.
The newly formed duo, with Loeb standing in for Nasser Al-Attiyah once again, was among the fastest pairings on the track on the Italian island in July, but were beset by bad luck on track. For the second visit to Sardinia, though, ABT CUPRA XE were on the pace throughout, with two wins and two second places in the Qualifying Heats confirming their speed.
“We had a good car, the team and Klara [Andersson] did a mega job,” said Sébastien Loeb after securing his first podiums of the season for ABT CUPRA XE.
“I took the start for the first Grand Final and after the first turn found myself in fourth – Mattias [Ekstrom – ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team] found a way past from around the bushes. I don’t know how, but I think he planned that!
“It was an amazing move, and then I was stuck between two cars on my right so I exited the first part of the lap in fourth. I then dropped back down to fifth after a fight with Johan [Kristoffersson - Rosberg X Racing]. I then tried to close the gap and managed to repass Kristoffersson before closing up to third. When we changed drivers at the Switch Zone, Klara was right behind the podium positions and then managed to pass and hold on!
“In the second Grand Final we could definitely have been much stronger, we just had a little problem with the wipers which affected our visibility. We could have fought for the victory, or at least for second place, but another podium was a good result.
“It was a much stronger weekend than our last visit to Sardinia in July. Last time the best we could do was fourth, but this time around we were the only team to come away with two podiums and we scored the most points over the weekend.
“We had a good car and a good rhythm, but it is Extreme E and anything can happen. Two podiums and the most points of all teams – of course we’re happy about that, even if we would have liked to win.”
ABT CUPRA XE head to the season finale, the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix, in buoyant mood following their best result of the 2023 campaign.
The team’s last visit to Chile started with a low point, as driver Jutta Kleinschmidt was involved in a crash in Free Practice which ruled her out of the series’ debut in South America, where the German was replaced by then Championship Driver Andersson.
The Swede then shone on her debut for the team alongside Al-Attiyah, taking the team’s first podium of the campaign that weekend in the Atacama Desert – before securing a debut win in the 2022 season finale in Uruguay.
And Andersson, after reflecting on the team’s strong performance in Sardinia, is chasing another strong performance when the championship returns to the Atacama Desert in December.
Klara Andersson, ABT CUPRA XE, said: “The first Grand Final was chaos!
“Seb did a brilliant job to close the gap, but it was so difficult to follow because I could not see much off of the screen. It felt quick though and I planned on the next lap to make the overtake – and it worked! We only finished with three wheels, which was a bit dramatic, but managed to hold onto second so we were happy to take good points for the team.
“We were happy with third place in Round 8 as well. We were almost completely blind for the four laps so I think we did what we could. The team and the car were great.
“We had to give everything for the two trophies and together with the whole team we are proud of it. We have fought our way back to success from difficult times – after finishing second and third, the goal for the two races in Chile should be clear.”
You can find how ABT CUPRA XE fare at the 2023 season finale on ITV and STV in the UK, while outside of the UK please visit here for broadcaster details.
