X44 set the early pace ahead of Season 2 opener in NEOM

FEBRUARY 18: Cristina Gutierrez (ESP) / Sebastien Loeb (FRA), Team X44 during the Saudi Arabia on February 18, 2022. (Photo by Charly Lopez / LAT Images)
© Charly Lopez

Extreme E Season 2 ‘The Race For the Planet’ got underway today as the ten teams and 20 world-class drivers took to the course for their first taste of the Desert X Prix, in NEOM, Saudi Arabia.

The 6.9-kilometre course in NEOM provides a new set of challenges at the start of the new season for the Extreme E grid, offering up breathtaking backdrops, stunning rock formations and plenty of gradient changes. The teams will have plenty of variables to overcome if they are to score big points in the first X Prix of the season and get their campaigns off to a good start.

Alejandro Agag, CEO and Founder of Extreme E added: “Using our sport for purpose platform, Extreme E delivered truly ground-breaking action in its first season, on and off the racecourse, and now we are ready to go and do it all again, with more experience and more determination than ever.

“Taking the championship to NEOM for our desert location will be an exciting moment, as NEOM's long-term plans are very much in keeping with the ethos of Extreme E – it is attempting to do something that's never been done before and comes at a time when the world needs fresh thinking and new solutions.

“As we saw in our first-ever championship race, the Kingdom's terrain is stunning and unforgiving. The desertscape promises to be intense, and it will be an unprecedented challenge for our competitors to explore in a new desert terrain with warmer racing conditions.”

After a brief Shakedown session, the pace setters in Free Practice were Lewis Hamilton’s X44 outfit. Coming off the back of their victory at the Season 1 finale in Dorset, X44 posted a combined time of 9:44:041 to head the standings.

In second were Genesys Andretti United Extreme E, 8.823 seconds adrift and continuing their positive momentum after finishing third in last season’s finale in December.

Xite Energy Racing were third quickest, just over 25 seconds behind Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez’ leading time, and nearly 12 seconds ahead of fourth place ABT Cupra XE, whose new driver Nasser Al-Attiyah set the time to beat early in the session.

Season 1 Champions Rosberg X Racing (RXR) enjoyed a trouble-free session to complete the top five. McLaren XE, who made their Extreme E debut today, showed no signs of nerves as they finished sixth fastest.

In seventh place were Chip Ganassi Racing, looking for a strong start following an unlucky first season in Extreme E. Behind them came Veloce Racing, closely followed by Jenson Button’s JBXE, and Acciona | Sainz XE Team.

Nasser Al-Attiyah, ABT Cupra XE: “I’m so happy to be part of this family of Extreme E and to be driving with the Cupra team. I know the team very well and I am grateful for this chance to share the steering wheel with Jutta. We are waiting for tomorrow and waiting to drive and to race and maybe to be on the podium – this would be a great start for us for the Championship.”

Tanner Foust, McLaren XE: “I know why they call it extreme now. That was insane. I haven't gone that fast in testing, haven’t been able to carry that speed before and things change fast at that speed so there was a lot going on. It was a relief to get in the sand and a relief to get the car back in one piece so I’m looking forward to putting in some more laps.”

Catie Munnings, Genesys Andretti United Extreme E: “It’s amazing to be back and see the racing family once again. It is a nice atmosphere with Extreme E and the Championship has got miles to grow. I was nervous as I haven’t driven since Dorset, and haven't driven on sand in a year, but I think it was an incredible lap today.”

Racing begins tomorrow with Qualifying, followed by the Finals on Sunday which will be shown in more than 200 countries by 85 broadcasters. A full list of broadcasters can be found here.