Peterhansel leads Extreme E rookie test line-up for Rosberg
Fourteen-time Dakar Rally winner Stephane Peterhansel was invited by Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing team to lead the Extreme E rookie test line-up in Sardinia.
Following the Island X-Prix, round four of five for the inaugural campaign of the all-electric SUV off-road racing series, which was won by RXR duo Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor, two test days have been conducted at the Teulada NATO base.
Monday’s running on a shortened version of the course co-designed by two-time World Rally Championship-winning co-driver Tiziano Siviero was dedicated to testing the 2022 iteration of the standard Continental tyre, while Tuesday was conducted as a rookie test.
Only four of the nine teams took the opportunity to run championship newcomers, with RXR calling up Peterhansel as its male driver alongside Tamara Molinaro, the official Extreme E female reserve driver who came in to replace Abt Cupra signing Jutta Kleinschmidt.
The Veloce Racing team was slated to run its reserve driver Lance Woolridge alongside Hedda Hosas, a Norwegian rallycross regular, but they were forced to abandon their entry following the huge roll for Stephane Sarrazin in the shootout race on Sunday.
That left Lewis Hamilton’s X44 outfit, run by Prodrive, to hand an opportunity to 19-year-old Californian driver Seth Quintero, who in 2021 became the youngest-ever stage winner in the Dakar Rally.
X44 did not elect to run a female driver in the rookie test and similarly, two-time WRC champion Carlos Sainz’s Acciona Sainz squad solely accommodated Swedish Rallycross class champion Klara Andersson.
Andersson said: “Today has been for sure challenging.
“The car is an absolute beast and the course is really challenging but I’m really enjoying it. “This is a new era of motorsport and I’m really happy to be a part of and get some miles in the car and learn some things.
“Since I have only done Rallycross, to be here with Carlos Sainz is amazing to compare my times to his and learn as much as I can.
Molinaro added: “I really needed to get some mileage in the car, to spend a bit of time behind the steering wheel.
“Normally when we do the battery test on the Sunday before the event it’s just like maybe one lap or two – at the end of the day it’s not so much time in the car, so for sure this helped me building a lot more confidence.”
Motorsport.com understands that 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg, who announced his retirement from professional motorsport in 2019, was also in the frame for an Extreme E rookie outing.
Related video
Car preservation key to Abt Cupra’s first Extreme E podium
UK chancellor unveils £1m plan for Scottish XE round in budget
McLaren F1 boss plays down Baku GP upgrade package
McLaren F1 boss plays down Baku GP upgrade package McLaren F1 boss plays down Baku GP upgrade package
Alonso: We "need some help" from Red Bull to win F1 races in 2023
Alonso: We "need some help" from Red Bull to win F1 races in 2023 Alonso: We "need some help" from Red Bull to win F1 races in 2023
The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets
The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets The tangible steps Alpine has taken to meeting its humble F1 2023 targets
Dakar 2022, Stage 10: Peterhansel wins, Loeb closes on Al-Attiyah
Dakar 2022, Stage 10: Peterhansel wins, Loeb closes on Al-Attiyah Dakar 2022, Stage 10: Peterhansel wins, Loeb closes on Al-Attiyah
Peterhansel: Al-Attiyah lost Dakar 2021 due to "ego"
Peterhansel: Al-Attiyah lost Dakar 2021 due to "ego" Peterhansel: Al-Attiyah lost Dakar 2021 due to "ego"
Peterhansel "really lucky" to finish stage after double issue
Peterhansel "really lucky" to finish stage after double issue Peterhansel "really lucky" to finish stage after double issue
Defending Extreme E champion Taylor splits with Rosberg team
Defending Extreme E champion Taylor splits with Rosberg team Defending Extreme E champion Taylor splits with Rosberg team
Rosberg's team tops first-ever Extreme E qualifying shootout
Rosberg's team tops first-ever Extreme E qualifying shootout Rosberg's team tops first-ever Extreme E qualifying shootout
Taylor joins Rosberg Extreme E squad
Taylor joins Rosberg Extreme E squad Taylor joins Rosberg Extreme E squad
RNF calls for harsher MotoGP penalties after “reckless” Marquez crash
RNF calls for harsher MotoGP penalties after “reckless” Marquez crash RNF calls for harsher MotoGP penalties after “reckless” Marquez crash
Formula E calendar consistency will "create a tradition" - Sette Camara
Formula E calendar consistency will "create a tradition" - Sette Camara Formula E calendar consistency will "create a tradition" - Sette Camara
Porsche puts F1 entry on hold as McLaren idea also leads nowhere
Porsche puts F1 entry on hold as McLaren idea also leads nowhere Porsche puts F1 entry on hold as McLaren idea also leads nowhere
Mercedes knew limits of W14 F1 car concept before Bahrain
Mercedes knew limits of W14 F1 car concept before Bahrain Mercedes knew limits of W14 F1 car concept before Bahrain
Why McLaren has taken its unprecedented off-road left turn
Why McLaren has taken its unprecedented off-road left turn Why McLaren has taken its unprecedented off-road left turn
How XE's Arctic adventure gave a chilly reminder of the fixes to find
How XE's Arctic adventure gave a chilly reminder of the fixes to find How XE's Arctic adventure gave a chilly reminder of the fixes to find
Why McLaren’s surprise electric path can benefit everyone involved
Why McLaren’s surprise electric path can benefit everyone involved Why McLaren’s surprise electric path can benefit everyone involved
Why Extreme E's Senegal round hints at the series' true potential
Why Extreme E's Senegal round hints at the series' true potential Why Extreme E's Senegal round hints at the series' true potential
How Extreme E exceeded expectations to pass its first major test
How Extreme E exceeded expectations to pass its first major test How Extreme E exceeded expectations to pass its first major test
Extreme E: The team-by-team guide
Extreme E: The team-by-team guide Extreme E: The team-by-team guide
How Extreme E’s charging solution could transform motorsport
How Extreme E’s charging solution could transform motorsport How Extreme E’s charging solution could transform motorsport
How XE's star power puts Formula E under pressure
How XE's star power puts Formula E under pressure How XE's star power puts Formula E under pressure
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.