Extreme E has started its 2022 season by burying the problems of its first year and putting on a great show with a Desert X-Prix final that has had just about everything. In an agonizing end Johan Kristoffersson has achieved victory with the Odyssey 21 -or what was left of it- of Rosberg X Racing (RXR) and begins the defense of the title with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky in the best possible way. Double Spanish podium with the ACCIONA team of Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz second and Team X44 of Sébastien Loeb and Cristina Gutiérrez third.
Carlos Sainz managed to sign a great start that was worth it to reach the first turn in the lead of the group with ACCIONA’s Odyssey 21. Sébastien Loeb was in his wake, while Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky was third in the RXR 4×4. For its part, Tanner Foust was fourth, although his career did not last long. In his attempts to get over Mikaela, Foust hit the rear of the RXR car and suffered a spectacular rollover. With the change of drivers, it was decided to show the red flag to remove the 4×4 from McLaren XE after its rollover.
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The Extreme E race director decided to neutralize the race for several minutes until the accident area was clear of obstacles. The race resumed with Laia Sanz at the controls of ACCIONA and her pursuers starting with the same lost time they had when Carlos Sainz entered the pits. Cristina Gutiérrez left hungry and after taking over from Sébastien Loeb in the 4×4 Odyssey 21, he fell on top of Laia Sanz. Behind, Johan Kristoffersson gained ground despite having the rear of the car completely destroyed.
Despite not having any trace of the bodywork behind the passenger compartment, Johan Kristoffersson had enough pace to overtake Cristina Gutiérrez in a zone of pure acceleration. The Swede stood in the wake of Laia Sanz to launch his final attack in the last part of the route with almost impossible lines, very open and taking many risks. However, everything was going well for the reigning Extreme E champion and Johan Kristoffersson achieved with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky the first victory of the yeartracing the result he obtained in 2021 together with Molly Taylor in this test.
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