Extreme E: Watch Desert X Prix semi-finals live
Extreme E’s first finals day promises plenty after two enthralling qualifying sessions yesterday suggested there will be entertainment when the cars finally go wheel-to-wheel.
The brand new motorsport series is making its debut in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, one of five extreme environments over the year chosen not only for the remarkable landscape – think the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic ice – but also for their susceptibility to the climate crisis as the series aims to raise awareness as it goes. The fully electric SUVs will go head to head here in a semi-final between the top three from qualifying (two final spots up for grabs), a second semi-final called the ‘crazy race’ between the next three from qualifying (one final spot), before a shoot out between the bottom three simply to decide their points ranking, but with Veloce already out for this weekend due to damage on their car, the shoot out may be between two cars.
The top three are Lewis Hamilton’s X44, Carlos Sainz’s Acciona Sainz and Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg XR. After them, Andretti United, Hispano Suiza and JBXE are in the crazy race. Chip Ganassi, ABT Cupra and Veloce all failed to compete in qualifying two – so they’re in the shoot out, if ABT Cupra can get their car going again after a major crash. Follow all the action below.
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How to watch
Extreme E’s semi-final, crazy race and shootout will be broadcast in the UK on their YouTube, social media and Sky Sports Action.
We got a bit ahead of ourselves there: the shootout will be alongside the final race, going out on Sky Sports Action, BBC, ITV and BT Sports from midday UK time.
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:31
I wasn’t really celebrating, I was like ‘dammit!” The team is all happy but I really wanted to make the final.
Christine Giampaoli-Zonca on her fist-pump on the way home
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:28
If you’re wondering how electric cars are being charged in the middle of nowhere, Extreme E use solar power to make hydrogen out of water (a process called electrolysis) and then use that hydrogen to power fuel cell generators, which can charge the cars wherever they need to be. Although hydrogen isn’t massively efficient as a direct fuel for cars, compared to using the electricity that would be used to make it, it’s a brilliant solution to needing to charge cleanly in remote locations. The only byproducts from a hydrogen fuel cell are clean water, which can be put back into local ecosystems.
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:27
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:23
Credit to Timmy, that was an amazing start – so fast, straight off the line. We started with a puncture in qualifying one and we thought that might be it for the weekend – so to make the final that’s like: go team!
Catie Munnings
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:22
The repair job ABT Cupra did overnight
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:21
And finally: the shootout
There should be three cars in the shootout: the final three qualifiers. No one from this session progresses to the final but all nine teams can score points in an X-Prix, so they’re fighting to pick up the most they can. Unfortunately, Veloce’s car suffered damage to the roll cage yesterday in Stephane Sarrazin’s crash, so they’re unable to compete but ABT Cupra have managed to repair their vehicle and will go head-to-head with Chip Ganassi.
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:21
Catie Munnings brings it home to make the final
It’s Andretti United who join X44 and Rosberg Extreme in the final – Hispano Suiza and JBXE will be exiting here but for the two latest entrants to Extreme E, a lot to be pleased about this weekend after getting themselves into competitive positions and with no major issues.
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:14
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:11
Andretti are in the lead away from the driver switchover and Catie Munnings looks safely and set to claim the place in the final
The start was mega, after that – that was even better than planned, I was happy being clear, going into the chicane. By the end of the lap, I heard I had a big gap so I let up a little.
Timmy Hansen
Hazel Southwell4 April 2021 08:09
