A disappointing day for Rosberg X Racing
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Drama in the Atacama: Rosberg X Racing misses Copper X Prix final at the last minute
Neustadt, 25. September 2022. It was a heartbreaking end to a weekend of high hopes. Rosberg X Racing missed the final at the very last minute due to a technical issue on their ODYSSEY21, and Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Johan Kristoffersson were forced to watch the race from the sidelines. But all hopes are not lost: RXR is still leading the 2022 Extreme E Championship with a 17-point lead ahead of X44 Vida Carbon Racing.
The day in the Atacama Desert started off so well for RXR. Åhlin-Kottulinsky and Kristoffersson played it safe as they wanted to take as few risks as possible to get through to the final race. Their conservative tactics played out, and RXR finished the semifinals in P1. The team was in high spirits, eager to take home another victory and possibly, an early Championship trophy.
But things turned out quite differently. When Kristoffersson got into the race seat to drive the car to the starting line, his ODYSSEY21 wouldn’t start. An unexpected technical issue ended RXR’s podium dream prematurely at the very first South American Copper X Prix. The team was left in despair as they realised their spot in the final was gone and taken over by rival Genesys Andretti United.
However, the disappointment is only temporary. Rosberg’s squad still has a chance to bounce back, and will certainly make good use of it at the Energy X Prix in Uruguay, from 26th to 27th November 2022.
Johan Kristoffersson, RXR driver, commented: “This was certainly not the best weekend for us. We did have a great pace and were in a superb position for the finals, but the car wouldn’t start. It was not in our hands. I feel sorry for the team who have worked so hard. But we have just got to bring the good things with us to Uruguay and make the dream happen there. Congratulations to X44 on their win.”
Kimmo Liimatainen, RXR team principal, said: “It is obviously a very disappointing situation for our team, especially after all the hard work everyone had put in during this week. To see all of our efforts lost just five minutes before the final is heartbreaking. But this is motorsport. We won’t give up, and we will come back even stronger at the next race.”
ENDS.
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About Rosberg X Racing
Rosberg X Racing was founded in 2020 ahead of the inaugural season of Extreme E. Led by 2016 Formula One World Champion and sustainability entrepreneur Nico Rosberg, the team is an evolution of Team Rosberg, founded in 1994 by Nico’s father and 1982 F1 World Champion, Keke Rosberg. The team has successfully competed in various racing series, including Formula BMW, Formula 3 and the German Touring Masters Championship (DTM), claiming a total of 38 DTM victories as well as three driver and two team championship titles. RXR builds on Team Rosberg’s success as well as Nico’s post-F1 career as an entrepreneur in the field of sustainable mobility.
Based in Neustadt, Germany, RXR exists to succeed in competition as it does in driving awareness and education in fighting climate change. Inspired by Extreme E’s mission to leave a positive legacy at each of the series’ diverse race locations, the team is committed to using motorsport as a platform to serve a greater purpose in tandem with all teams and drivers.
Nico Rosberg is the team’s CEO and Founder, with Kimmo Liimatainen undertaking the role as Team Principal.
More information on RXR can be found on www.rosbergxracing.com
Rosberg X Racing
Nachtweide 35
67433 Neustadt an der Weinstraße
Germany
