Rosberg X Racing rebounds with Island X Prix 2 qualifying sweep

Rosberg X Racing had the perfect start to the Island X Prix by sweeping qualifying and winning the first race, only for the latter to be taken away for a penalty. As the Sardinia double enters its second and final round, the Extreme E points leader’s vengeance campaign is off to a good start as Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky once again won both qualifying rounds on Saturday.

RXR easily cleared Chip Ganassi Racing, who was promoted to the Race #1 win after RXR’s penalty, by over ten seconds in single-car qualifying. The points leader then claimed Heat #1, though not with a challenge from X44 as Sébastien Loeb kept the margin to Kristoffersson close. Åhlin-Kottulinsky then beat Cristina Gutiérrez for the heat win, and RXR was aided by X44 suffering a fifteen-second penalty for leaving the switch bay too soon.

“I think this was the best qualifying session for me since I started in Extreme E, so this day was epic,” said Åhlin-Kottulinsky. “Johan and I prepared intensely yesterday, and the team worked very hard on the car after our impact in the first event, so I am glad that it all worked out in our favour.”

CGR had their momentum from the Race #1 win and strong Round #1 qualifying effort end on a sour note in Heat #2 following a pair of time penalties for hitting a waypoint flag and a switching zone infraction. However, the team’s solid pace throughout the week means they will continue to be a threat for Sunday’s races.

ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team won Heat #2 much like in the previous round, which was made all the more impressive as the outfit is in Extreme E’s spare car as their primary was too damaged to take part following a massive wreck in the Island X Prix #1 Final.

Qualifying results

Intermediate Classification

Rank	Team	Round #1 Points	Round #2 Points	Total Points	Placement
1	Rosberg X Racing	10	10	20	Semi-Final #1
2	X44	8	8	16	Semi-Final #2
3	McLaren XE	7	8	15	Semi-Final #2
4	Chip Ganassi Racing	3	10	13	Semi-Final #1
5	ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team	9	2	11	Semi-Final #1
6	ABT CUPRA XE	5	6	11	Semi-Final #2
7	JBXE	4	6	10	Crazy Race
8	Andretti United XE	6	0	6	Crazy Race
9	XITE Energy Racing	2	4	6	Crazy Race
10	Veloce Racing	1	4	5	Crazy Race

Round #2

Heat #1

Finish	Number	Team	Total Time	Driver #1	Lap Time	Driver #2	Lap Time
1	6	Rosberg X Racing	9:12.199	Johan Kristoffersson	3:45.492	Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky	3:47.088
2	44	X44	9:35.424*	Sébastien Loeb	3:46.481	Cristina Gutiérrez	3:54.710
3	42	XITE Energy Racing	9:35.476	Timo Scheider	3:55.476	Tamara Molinaro	3:59.830
4	22	JBXE	9:43.437	Kevin Hansen	3:50.647	Hedda Hosås	4:14.289
5	23	Andretti United XE	10:52.140* (DNF)	Timmy Hansen	10:52.140	Catie Munnings	N/A

* – Received a penalty

Heat #2

Finish	Number	Team	Total Time	Driver #1	Lap Time	Driver #2	Lap Time
1	55	ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team	9:22.515	Carlos Sainz	3:47.374	Laia Sanz	3:53.856
2	58	McLaren XE	9:27.234	Tanner Foust	3:55.169	Emma Gilmour	3:51.402
3	125	ABT CUPRA XE	9:35.697	Nasser Al-Attiyah	3:56.315	Jutta Kleinschmidt	3:59.108
4	5	Veloce Racing	9:51.878	Christine GZ	4:17.874	Lance Woolridge	3:47.776
5	99	Chip Ganassi Racing	10:12.776*	Kyle LeDuc	4:05.452	Sara Price	4:03.697

Round #1

Finish	Number	Team	Total Time	Driver #1	Lap Time	Driver #2	Lap Time
1	6	Rosberg X Racing	9:00.503	Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky	3:47.197	Johan Kristoffersson	3:35.040
2	99	Chip Ganassi Racing	9:11.244	Sara Price	3:52.824	Kyle LeDuc	3:39.281
3	44	X44	9:11.877	Cristina Gutiérrez	3:53.312	Sébastien Loeb	3:38.430
4	58	McLaren XE	9:15.629	Emma Gilmour	3:55.105	Tanner Foust	3:40.941
5	23	Andretti United XE	9:15.706	Catie Munnings	3:56.841	Timmy Hansen	3:38.421
6	125	ABT CUPRA XE	9:17.422	Jutta Kleinschmidt	4:01.653	Nasser Al-Attiyah	3:35.527
7	22	JBXE	9:22.137	Hedda Hosås	4:03.583	Kevin Hansen	3:39.015
8	55	ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team	9:22.204	Laia Sanz	3:54.414	Carlos Sainz	3:42.084
9	42	XITE Energy Racing	9:23.420	Tamara Molinaro	4:00.386	Timo Scheider	3:42.231
10	5	Veloce Racing	9:34.568	Lance Woolridge	3:52.466	Christine GZ	4:02.208