NEOM McLaren XE look to move on from Island X Prix
After a difficult Free Practice on Friday, where the team was disqualified for weighing in under the minimum allowance, NEOM McLaren Extreme E were up against in Rounds 5 and 6 of Season 3 in Sardinia.
In the first Qualifying Heat of Round 5, Foust enjoyed a fierce battle with No.99 GMC Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing’s RJ Anderson, but a subsequent puncture as a result of damage to the team’s ODYSSEY 21 dropped them down to fifth place.
A slow start from Gilmour in Heat 2 left NEOM McLaren Extreme E with it all to do and although Foust managed to get ahead of JBXE’s Andreas Bakkerud on his run, fourth in the Heat was not enough to secure a spot in the Grand Final.
An appearance in the Redemption Race ensued, with NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team taking second, and thus seventh overall, after a four-lap battle with Carl Cox Motorsport and X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
On Round 5, Emma Gilmour, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, said: “It was a tough day and we didn't have luck on our side. The car was quick and the team has been working hard on ensuring it is. There were definitely positives in the day, but the results unfortunately don't reflect that. There was good racing from Tanner [Foust] and myself in the Redemption Race as well, and finishing that in P2 was good, but other than that I think we were disappointed with the results."
Tanner Foust, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team, added: “We tried every option and I think we made good decisions along the way. However, it wasn’t enough for us to get into the Grand Final.
“In the Redemption Race, we found a little bit of redemption with a second-place finish, which gets us some valuable points, but that’s not where we ultimately want to be.”
Unfortunately for the team, Round 6 in Sardinia would not yield a finish higher up the order – missing out on a spot in the Grand Final by just two points after their Heat scores were added together.
In Qualifying 1, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team secured a credible third place. Foust once again fought hard against fellow countryman Anderson to run third at the driver change. New Zealander Gilmour then took the wheel, and showed excellent race craft to keep a charging Bakkerud at bay in his JBXE ODYSSEY 21 to keep position.
Despite this strong start, a retirement after suffering in Heat 2 ensured a second Redemption Race for NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team in Sardinia – where Foust and Gilmour could only manage fourth and ninth overall from Round 6.
After a hard-fought Island X Prix, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team will look to get their championship back on track in the remaining races of Season 3.
Foust added: “I would say a very long weekend in Sardinia comes to an end. Our only real weakness was our start – and unfortunately for us, on this course, as on a lot of Extreme E tracks, the start is really important for the final result. If you are not able to get out as one of the leading cars, then you find yourself fighting for positions and visibility for the rest of the race.
“Our pace around the track was good. I think we overtook well, which is promising, but almost bittersweet, as we were not able to convert that into good results. We will be focusing on the work needed ahead of the next round.”
Gilmour concluded: “It was a tough day again for us and a tough weekend overall in Sardinia. We got punished on our starts and it's a very difficult course to fight back on. The first Qualifying race went well, finishing P3 – the second Qualifying race was much poorer. We got damage to the car and then had to retire from the race, finishing P4.
“In the Redemption Race it didn't get much better. A poor start, followed by again damage to the car, left us unable to fight back. A tough day, with few positives for us here in Sardinia – although the team did amazing work, ensuring the car was repaired on multiple occasion, and was in a good window.
“We will have to wait another while until the next event to be able to bounce back. I am confident we will.”
