Bethonie WaringThe X44 team of Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez topped qualifying after the Rosberg X Racing team was handed a penalty for speeding in the Switch Zone.
Molly Taylor and Johan Kristoffersson were quickest in the first qualifying session, then went more than four seconds quicker than Loeb and Gutierrez in Qualifying 2. However, it was found the car had been speeding in the Switch Zone, a pit-lane style stretch where the driver swap takes place.
The penalty dropped them down to fourth in Qualifying 2, though they placed third in the combined list.
A team’s total time from Qualifying 1 and 2 determined the overall order at the end of the session. X44 were quickest with a 21m55.998s lap.
The Acciona Sainz XE team were bumped up to second, ahead of Rosberg X Racing. All three teams will go through to the semi-final, where the top two finishers will go through to the final.
It was a much smoother run for Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings, who finished fourth overall ahead of the Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team of Oliver Bennett and Christine Giampoli Zonca, and JBXE’s Jenson Button and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky.
The three teams go through to tomorrow’s Crazy Race, where the winner will go through to the final.
Problems plagued the remaining three teams. Chip Ganassi Racing were unable to start their run as they faced a technical issue. Rolls for Abt and Veloce in Qualifying 1 ruled them out of the session, with Veloce opting to withdraw from the remainder of the weekend.
Image courtesy of Extreme E.
Andrea Perilli