Motorsport Roundup: Rosberg X Racing Clinches Extreme E Title, Porsche’s New 2023 LMDh Challenger Teased, And A New FIA President Elected

As was the case the week before, we had yet another season finale where the title fight went down to the wire at the Extreme E Jurassic X-Prix. It was also a historical week for Indian motorsports with a maiden podium finish at the Rotax-Max Grand Finals. Aside from that, there were important announcements ranging from a new FIA president being elected and Porsche giving its first glimpse of their 2023 LMDh challenger.  

Here’s everything that happened in the world of motorsport over the last seven days:

Extreme E 

The inaugural Extreme E season couldn’t have concluded in a more intense fashion than at the Jurassic X-Prix. When the X44 crew of Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez took their first win of the season, they were tied at 155 points with the Rosberg X Racing pair of Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor who finished fourth in that race. But it was Rosberg X Racing taking the crown due to scoring three more wins this season. The JBXE pair of Kevin Hansen and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky took third overall in the championship. 

Indian motorsport

 

Indian karting history was made at the Rotax-Max Grand Finals with India scoring its first ever podium finish. Kyle Kumaran, who took the Seniormax title in the 2021 Meco FMSCI National Rotax Karting Championship, was nominated to represent the country in the Grand Finals, competing in the DD2 category. The Indian driver drove a hard fought final race, finishing in second place to not only be the highest placed Indian driver in the Rotax-Max Grand Finals, but also mark India’s first ever podium finish in the event.

INRC

The 2021 Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) season came to a close with TVS Racing taking title honors in all the classes at the sixth round of the season in Nashik, Maharashtra. In the Group A 450cc category it was Abdul Wahid Tanveer clinching the title, with Samuel Jacob winning the Group B 260cc class for the second time in a row. Aishwariya Pissay took her fifth consective title in the Ladies class, with Karthik N coming out on top in the Scooters class. 

FIA 

This week also saw the start of a new era for the FIA, as Mohammed Ben Sulayem was elected as the president of the FIA. He replaces Jean Todt who has been at the helm for the last 12 years, defeating Graham Stoker with 61.6 percent of the vote. Sulayem has had a long career as a rally driver, winning the FIA Middle East Rally Championship 14 times. He was also an instrumental figure in bringing  the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. His appointment marks the first time a non-European has been elected as FIA president. 

WEC 

There's still time for Porsche to return to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2023, but the carmaker has gone ahead and given its first teaser of their LMDh protype. Porsche has also announced their first pair of drivers in the form of ex-F1 racer, Felipe Nasr and Dane Cameron.