Extreme E News

Desert X Prix: Ahlin-Kottulinsky & Kristoffersson win on Saturday, Taylor injured after rollover

Tobias Wirtz

Tobias Wirtz

Birgit Dieryck / Extreme E

Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson lived up to their role as favourites on the first day of racing at the Desert X Prix. After a collision with their main rivals Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell from Team Acciona Sainz, the way was clear for the 2023 champions in the Grand Final. For Molly Taylor, however, the race day ended prematurely after a rollover in qualifying.

Even in the qualifying heats, everything pointed to a duel between Team KMS with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson on one side and Acciona Sainz with Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell on the other. Both won one heat and took second place in the other. In addition to these two teams, the other two winners of the other heats also progressed to the Grand Final: Catie Munnings and Andreas Bakkerud for Team Hansen and Hedda Hosas and Ole Christian Veiby for Team EVEN.

For Molly Taylor from Team Jameel Motorsport, the race day was already over after the first qualifying heat: The Australian rolled over, injuring her left arm and had to be taken to hospital for further examination. As the chassis was irreparably damaged in the accident, Jameel Motorsport had to resort to a replacement chassis and missed the second qualifying heat.

Redemption Race: Hansen & Schönborn win convincingly

In the Redemption Race, where positions five to eight were at stake, Jameel Motorsport was joined by STARD with Amanda Sorenson and Patrick O'Donovan, JBX Powered by Team Monaco with Christine GZ and Tommi Hallman and Carl Cox Motorsport with Klara Andersson and Timo Scheider. Kevin Hansen from Jameel Motorsport secured the top position immediately after the start and handed over the wheel to reserve driver Claire Schönborn in the lead.

The German extended her lead further and further and ultimately drove the race home with a seven-second advantage. Second place went to JBX, who crossed the line 0.078 seconds ahead of STARD. For Carl Cox Motorsport, only 4th place remained after Klara Andersson spun in the battle with Christine GZ for second position. A lot of dirt collected on her windscreen due to the close pursuit on the waterlogged track, Andersson misjudged and lost a lot of ground as a result.

Grand Final: Sanz out after crash at the start, Kristoffersson penalised

In the Grand Final, Sanz had the best start and initially took the lead, but was hit by Kristoffersson in the second corner. The rear right suspension on the Spaniard's car broke, she drove back to the pits at a slow speed and parked the car. Kristoffersson drove into the switch zone with a lead of around four seconds over Veiby, with Bakkerud following a further nine seconds behind.

Ahlin-Kottulinsky quickly extended his lead over Hosas after the driver changeover and subsequently controlled the race. Hosas also controlled the clear lead over Munnings, so that all three finished in these positions with a clear gap between them. Even a subsequent time penalty of five seconds for the race winners for the collision on lap 1 did nothing to change the result.

The second round of the Desert X Prix will take place on Sunday. It will be the last race to be driven with the Odyssey 21 cars. It will be decided early in the morning whether Taylor can drive for Jameel Motorsport or will be replaced by Schönborn again.

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