Extreme E driver Emma Gilmour will take the start in semi-final 2 at the Uruguay Energy X Prix after fellow NEOM McLaren Extreme E driver Tanner Foust finished third in their qualifying heat this morning.
In whats proved to be a dramatic two days of racing, Gilmour and Foust have overcome a practice rollover yesterday and were the benefactor of a penalty for ABT CUPRA XE which promoted them to third post-race and results in automatic qualification for the semis.
It was a tricky start for Gilmour on Saturday as she took to the dirt in Uruguay, sliding off track in a high-speed section. As the car came to a stop it “dug in”, the car rolling.
Thankfully the damage was only cosmetic and the duo were able to proceed in this morning’s qualifying sessions.
A clean run in the timed session saw the Kiwi put the McLaren in sixth place heading into two qualifying heats. Other competitors were not so lucky, two further cars caught out by the conditions and suffering rolls of their own.
Foust took the wheel for the qualifying race, also running clean and avoiding the carnage around which saw championship leaders Rosberg X Racing fail to finish after being rear-ended by the ABT CUPRA XE team.
This resulted in a 30 second post-race penalty for the outfit and promoted Foust to third and securing automatic qualification.
All is not lost for those who missed out on semi-final qualification, which includes series contenders Rosberg X Racing and X44 Vida Carbon Racing, the “Crazy Race” awaiting which will provide the winner with automatic qualification to the final.
For Gilmour, who takes the wheel in the semi, the equation is simple: Finish in the top two of three cars to make the final.
The semi-finals begin at 2am tomorrow with the final following at 5am. All racing is shown live on TVNZ Duke.
