Nico Rosberg’s team wins first Extreme E

The inaugural Extreme E off-road electric SUV event the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia has been won by Nico Rosberg’s team ahead of Andretti United and Lewis Hamilton’s X44 entries.

The teams, which include a male and female driver swapping after the first lap, venture from the desert to the Ocean X Prix in Senegal for the second round in the five-series event on May 29 and 30.

Extreme E focuses on sustainability and climate change with each venue chosen because of climate impact – the Ocean X Prix, for instance, focussing on rising sea levels, marine ecosystem degradation and desertification.

Championship placings after the Desert X Prix are Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson (Roseberg XR) 35 points, Sebastian Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez (X44) 30, and Catie Munnings and Timmy Hansen (Andretti) 28.

They’re followed by Carlos Sainz and Laia Zanz (Sainz) 26, Christine Giampaoli Zonca (GZ) and Oliver Bennett (Hispano Suiza) 20, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky and Jenson Button (JBXE) 17, Claudia Hurtgen and Mattias Ekstrom (ABT Cupra) 13, and Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price (Ganassi) 12.

Described by Rosberg as “insane”, the racing had its share of crashes.

Hurtgen rolled her car after being involved in one during the opening qualifying session, while the Veloce team had to withdraw because of damage after Stephane Sarrazin crashed in first qualifying, team-mate Jamie Chadwick therefore unable to compete with the team expected back in a new car for the May event.

LeDuc also collided with Hurtgen in the Shootout race.