Rosberg X Racing entered the last Grand Final of the 2023 Extreme E season squaring off with ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. The latter, despite a valiant effort, saw their title hopes literally turned upside down when Laia Sanz rolled during on the final lap.
This did not mean RXR simply cruised to their second championship, however, as they were also victims in a chaotic Grand Final. Johan Kristoffersson ran wide and nearly rolled on the opening lap before suffering a tyre puncture that dropped RXR to last in the order. The team’s woes continued after the driver swap as Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky experienced more mechanical issues.
However, a wreck between McLaren and reigning champion X44 enabled Kristoffersson and Åhlin-Kottulinsky to make up some lost ground and forced the Sainz outfit, who had led from the start, to win the race if they wanted any shot of the title. This was itself a difficult challenge as Veloce Racing‘s Molly Taylor, whose team was eliminated from the championship picture by a wreck on Saturday, sought to spoil the party. Sanz spun after colliding with Taylor before the rollover. RXR stumbled across the finish line in second to claim title number two after winning the inaugural season in 2021.
“Winning the 2023 Extreme E Championship is a dream come true,” said Åhlin-Kottulinsky, who notches her maiden crown while Kristoffersson is a two-time champion. “It was neck to neck all season with ASXE, but I’m just so happy and speechless right now. We fought so hard last year and narrowly missed the win, so it was stressful when I saw that we had a puncture. But as always, we never give up. Despite the challenges, our team’s spirit never waned. This championship is a powerful reminder that with passion and perseverance, anything is achievable.”
RXR won the Grand Final on Saturday after holding off AXSE, enabling them to take the points lead by just six points. After Sunday’s events, they beat Sainz’s Sanz and Mattias Ekström by eleven.
Behind RXR and AXSE, Veloce settled for a still impressive third, a vast improvement after finishing last in the 2022 championship. X44’s title defence ended with a fourth. Carl Cox Motorsport finished tied for ninth at the bottom of the standings in their début season; the team had a strong start to the Copper X Prix weekend by winning the Saturday Redemption Race but suffered a mechanical failure during Sunday’s race.
“After an intense season, winning the Extreme E Championship for a second time is incredible,” Kristoffersson commented. “ASXE put up an impressive fight this season, and I enjoyed every minute of the battles. I want to dedicate this win to Kyle LeDuc, who sadly passed away recently and who we will miss racing against.”
