Chip Ganassi Racing show strength in Sardinia ahead of title decider
The 19 points earned across the weekend ensures they remain an outside bet for the 2023 championship when the series returns for the decider in Chile in December.
After enduring a difficult Qualifying in Round 7 the American outfit placed seventh overall, ensuring they would have to settle for a spot in the Redemption Race.
In an action-packed encounter, drivers RJ Anderson and Amanda Sorenson crossed the line in third, and eighth overall, after avoiding the opening lap crash which forced NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Tamara Molinaro into retirement. After taking an early lead in the Redemption Race, the team dropped back and lost ground on their nearest challengers.
It would be the first Grand Final of the season missed by No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, who have demonstrated remarkably consistency throughout the 2023 campaign.
RJ Anderson, No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “In the Redemption Race, we were able to snake around and secure the lead in the GMC HUMMER EV for the whole first lap.
“Then, there was a yellow flag for a competitor that had rolled and we had a bit of a misunderstanding about where that yellow was. We were then passed, then got back going again, and we battled on.”
In a bid to turn their Island X Prix fortunes around, Anderson, Sorensen and the No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing team quickly put Round 7 behind them and were flying in Qualifying for Round 8. In Qualifying 2 Heat 2, Sorenson pulled off a risky move on JBXE’s Hedda Hosås to take a dramatic victory in the closing stages. These heroics secured joint second place in the Qualifying standings, ahead by virtue of their speed through the Continental Traction Challenge, and a place in the Grand Final.
After a hard-fought battle with Rosberg X Racing’s Johan Kristoffersson in the Grand Final, the team just missed out on a spot on the podium, finishing in fourth.
Amanda Sorenson, No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “In the Grand Final, we fought hard and gave it everything we had.
“The team was fantastic, but it just didn’t play out how we wanted it to. I’m excited about going into Rounds 9 and 10 to finish off the season.”
Anderson added: “There was a lot going on behind the scenes and this team kept pushing. I’m really proud of them.”
“We drove our butts off in the Qualifying Heats to get into the Grand Final and, unfortunately, we just didn’t deliver. I’m happy that we came away with the Continental Traction Challenge. The speed is there we just need to keep trying to put it all together.”
The team earned 19 points over the doubleheader race weekend, putting them fourth in the championship standings heading into the final two contests in Antofagasta, Chile. They sit just 19 points away from breaking into the top-three and 40 points away from the championship leader.
The crowning of the 2023 champions will be live across ITV and STV in the UK, while outside of the UK please visit here for broadcaster details.
