X44 Vida Carbon Racing won the Copper X-Prix in Chile after a post-race penalty denied McLaren of its first Extreme E victory.
The four-lap race on the 3.05km in Antofagasta ended in a dramatic fashion, with on-road winners McLaren being penalized over clipping race markers and a potential similar penalty for X44 as well, but with the flag not falling entirely, the race stewards decided otherwise.
X44, the offroad racing team owned by seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, finished second on the course behind McLaren but with Tanner Foust and Emma Gilmour (McLaren) both clipping the flag on their respective runs, McLaren was classified fifth.
“We are very happy with the result today, of course,” said X44’s Sébastien Loeb. “It was a very strong fight against some great teams but Cristina was incredible, securing the fastest lap of all the drivers in the Final.”
The decision promoted Acciona Sainz’s Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz to second and Ganassi Racing’s Kyle LeDuc and Sara Price to third initially for clipping a track marker, and then later fourth with ABT Cupra snatching the final podium spot.
“I can’t believe that we finished on the podium, I’m just so happy,” rejoiced Klara Andersson. “My whole family has been watching from Sweden and they are super happy for me, and for the whole team, so now we celebrate.”
Championship leaders Rosberg X Racing won the semi-finals on Saturday but a software glitch forced the team to miss the grid deadline for Sunday’s final, promoting Ganassi Racing who were meant to sit on the sidelines for the finals.
In the final, LeDuc and Price (Ganassi) maximized this opportunity but got a penalty for missing the waypoint flag on lap 3, dropping the team to fourth.
“Roseberg X Racing are a really strong team so for them to not be able to drive in the Final was not good for them, but hopefully it is more interesting to have more than one team fighting for the championship in Uruguay,” said race winner Crisitna Gutiérrez.
RXR’s absence from the final race combined with Mc Laren’s five-point victory in the fastest sector course means that the championship will be decided in the final round in Energy X Prix in Uruguay on 26th and 27th November.