Rosberg X Racing is very close to winning the Extreme E title after having conquered the Island X-Prix thanks to the shock retirement of the leaders of Chip Ganassi Racing.
Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson scored their third triumph out of four events after their direct rival Lewis Hamilton’s X44 and Chip Ganassi had their respective car problems.
This allowed Kristoffersson, who replaced Taylor, to reach the finish line of the final with a 25 “advantage over Mattias Ekstrom (ABT Cupra), who lost the right door.
The X44 started from the far left of the grid with nine-time world rally champion Sébastien Loeb at the wheel against 2001 Dakar Rally winner Jutta Kleinschmidt (ABT Cupra) and Taylor (RXR), followed by Kyle Leduc (Chip Ganassi ) and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky (JBXE).
Kleinschmidt was unable to leave, while JBXE and RXR touched slightly, allowing Leduc to fight Loeb.
The Frenchman, whose car had been hastily rebuilt after the semi-final bang with Timmy Hansen, but Leduc went astray without using one of the conventional and predefined routes at the first gate.
This slammed into the bumps in the undergrowth, but also gained more speed and found himself with a three-second advantage over his rival Loeb, who then began to slide back with a puncture in the front left.
Loeb seemed to be able to handle the problem, but the suspension and steering cracked leaving him on foot and allowing Chip Ganassi Racing’s opponent to stretch to 45.5.
Leduc slowed to deliver the car to teammate Sara Price, with Taylor doing the same with Kristoffersson and Ekstrom with Kleinschmidt.
Sara Price, Kyle Leduc, Chip Ganassi Racing
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images
Chip Ganassi Racing was about to clinch the victory, but Price ran into a steering failure: this allowed Taylor to jump to first place, ahead of Ekstrom for 24 “588.
Kevin Hansen (who took the place of Ahlin-Kottulinsky) completes the podium.
The X44 took the 5 points for setting the fastest time, but Rosberg X Racing now leads with 26 points before the final round, which will take place in the UK in December.
For the second round in a row, the JBXE had taken a final place in the ‘Crazy Race’ shootout after a spectacular roll-over from Stephane Sarrazin.
Hansen had started on the left to take the best lane, which forced Emma Gilmour (Veloce Racing) to stay on the right.
Gilmour tried to find clean air to avoid the dust, but cut behind Oliver Bennett (Xite Energy Racing) and slipped to third on the sprint to the first gate.
Bennett grabbed the rightmost lane and missed the second waypoint, while Gilmour took the left, albeit still in last position.
Bennett also took 9 “for not passing through the gate and gaining, then lost ground by choosing a bumpy lane and Hansen finished first in the opening lap.
Christine ‘GZ’ Giampaoli Zonca, Oliver Bennett, Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team
Photo by: Charly Lopez / Motorsport Images
The JBXE driver gave the car to Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, while Christine Giampaoli Zonca took over from Bennett, and Sarrazin replaced Gilmour.
Sarrazin undermined Giampaoli Zonca, who after risking to take a danger-boulder sign, went wide and crashed into the bushes with the steering KO.
Sarrazin got even closer to Ahlin-Kottulinsky, but first hit a bump with the front axle and then the rear took off, bouncing and tipping over.
The blow was considerable, with the body covers and the wheel flying off, but the Frenchman came out unscathed.
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