Extreme E: Kevin Hansen Joins JBXE Racing Ahead Ocean X Prix

The Swedish driver steps in for Jenson Button, who will focus on his duties as JBXE Racing team owner.

The Formula One World Champion will be back at the wheel to partner Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky in the third round of the competition next August in Greenland.

Andretti United´s Timmy Hansen younger brother joined the series Drivers´ Program in 2019. Together, they tested the ODYSSEY 21 at Chataeu de Lastours in France.

Watch the Hansen brothers in a very Extreme E challenge!

The youngest ever FIA European Supercar Champion will compete in the Ocean X Prix – second round of the series inaugural season – which takes place at Lac Rose in Dakar, Senegal on 29-30 May, alongside teammate Åhlin-Kottulinsky.

“I’ve been so involved in the series and developing the car since the beginning, from the early testing program right to Aragon last year, so to get this opportunity now with Jenson is so nice, and I’m super excited to get to Senegal and see what I can do,” Hansen said.

“I am so happy to be joining Mikaela also. I hope together we can be strong as I believe she is one of the strongest drivers in the championship, and I have known her for a very long time.”

Despite his young age (22), the Rallycross driver has already claimed the RX Lites Cup Title (2015), a support category to the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and in 2019 he won the World RX of Abu Dhabi.

He currently competes in the FIA World Rallycross Championship Supercar category for Team Peugeot-Hansen, collecting a series of victories along the way.

Jenson Button, Founder of JBXE commented: “I´m delighted to announce that an opportunity has arisen for Kevin Hansen to compete for JBXE in Senegal. 

“I’m obviously wearing two hats with JBXE as both a driver but also team owner, and it’s the latter which means having the opportunity to put Kevin in the car for this race was one I didn’t want to pass up.” 

Adding: “Brother of course to Timmy Hansen and son to Rallycross legend, Kenneth Hansen, Kevin has a fantastic pedigree and has already achieved so much in the world of rallycross at such a young age. 

“He’s an exciting driver, and I can’t wait to see him representing JBXE in Senegal, and I look forward to being back behind the wheel in Greenland.”

Through its legacy projects, the series aims to raise awareness about the impact of global warming on marine ecosystems and communities in the Lac Rose area.

SEASON ONE  – FIRST ROUND REVIEW

The inaugural season of the Extreme E Championship began early in April, with the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. 

The event recorded an 18.7 million audience in over 180 countries.

Rosberg X Racing duo Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor triumphed at the inaugural X Prix, overcoming several issues during the weekend.

Rosberg X Racing (RXR) leads the championship standings by 35 points, followed by Lewis Hamilton´s team X44 (30), Andretti United (28), ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (26), and Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team (20).

After the first round of Extreme E’s debut season, JBXE sits in sixth place with 17 points, followed by ABT Cupra XE (13) and Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing (12).

Veloce Racing (8) stands last as the team had to withdraw from the competition in Saudi Arabia due to irreparable damage to the ODYSSEY 21 chassis. 

All nine teams use the same spec-vehicle, the all-terrain ODYSSEY 21 designed by Spark Racing Technology, powered by Williams Advanced Engineering, which produces the battery.

The electric SUV also features a niobium-reinforced steel alloy tubular frame supplied by CBMM and purpose-built tires by Continental.

In the lead up to the Ocean X Prix, watch the trailer!

Photo Credit: Extreme E Media.