British squad enjoys another podium in Round One of the Desert X Prix

E.ON Veloce Racing took third place in the opening round of 2024, as Extreme E launched its campaign in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the first time. Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, the London-based squad claimed its first podium of Season 4, following on from back-to-back podiums in last year's Desert X Prix.

Drivers Molly Taylor and Kevin Hansen picked up where they left off at the Season 3 finale in Chile. The pair displayed race winning pace and secured a flying start to their second campaign with E.ON Veloce Racing, taking second in the championship standings having set the quickest combined time in the Continental Traction Challenge.

The first racing action of the day saw Hansen get the best launch off the line, taking the lead into the opening corner ahead of NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team’s Mattias Ekström. Hansen built upon his strong start, expanding his advantage to seven seconds. This gave Taylor a solid foundation to maintain first place and secure the team's first championship point of the season.

A confident run by Taylor in Qualifying 2 kept ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team's Fraser McConnell and LEGACY M.C.'s Travis Pastrana within reach as the ODYSSEY 21s entered the Switch Zone. Following the driver change Hansen set off to hunt down second place and, flat out over the dunes, the Swede soon secured E.ON Veloce Racing's spot in the Grand Final with an overtake on LEGACY M.C.'s Gray Leadbetter.

In the Grand Final it was Hansen's turn to take to the start line, and the Swede slotted into third behind Rosberg X Racing's Johan Kristoffersson and NEOM McLaren's Ekström as the group battled against the deepening ruts in the course. Both Hansen and Taylor came close to the overtake, with the latter keeping ASXE's McConnell at bay, but the duo kept a clean run to take third place.

Celebrations ensued as E.ON Veloce Racing secured yet another podium finish at a Desert X Prix, having taken a maiden win in Round 1 of last year in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Kicking off the 2024 campaign with a podium marks a dream start for the team, and the British squad will be pushing for another dominant performance in Round 2 tomorrow.

Molly Taylor, E.ON Veloce Racing driver, said: “We have all worked so hard in the build-up to this season, and we were feeling good going into this weekend. Kevin and I were really hitting our stride in Qualifying, but it just wasn't coming together for us in the Final.

"The whole set-up within the team continues to be exactly what we both need to take X Prix wins, and we know that if we can just bring the pieces together tomorrow then we'll be on top of the podium."

Kevin Hansen, E.ON Veloce Racing driver, said: “Another podium at a Desert X Prix! This race seems to always prove special for us as a team, and it feels great to kick off Season 4 with a podium. We were unlucky not to finish higher in the Final, but we should be proud of the pace we showed out there. Taking a Heat win and setting the quickest time in the Traction Challenge puts us second in the standings, and we'll be looking to jump to the top tomorrow."

Daniel Bailey, CEO of E.ON Veloce Racing, added: “I am so proud of everyone at E.ON Veloce Racing and this result is testament to all the work that we have put in during the off-season. We continue to make strides in this championship, and to open Season 4 with a podium marks our intent for the campaign ahead.

"While we didn't take to the top-step today, we showed that we have the pace to compete at the front of this year's grid and we know we have the ingredients in place to secure our maiden Extreme E title. Our next step: winning Round 2 of the Desert X Prix tomorrow!"

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