Andreas Bakkerud skal kjøre Extreme E sammen med Hedda Hosås i teamet til Jenson Button. Les mer i denne pressemeldingen på engelsk.
Norwegian rallycross star Andreas Bakkerud will race for Jenson Button’s JBXE team at the upcoming Hydro X Prix in Scotland.
Bakkerud will partner Hedda Hosås at the next round of Extreme E Season 3 (13-14 May), completing an all-Norwegian line-up for the outfit, as well as the remainder of the 2023 campaign. The off-road ace replaces Heikki Kovalainen at JBXE, who drove for the team at the season opener in NEOM, Saudi Arabia, in March.
The Hydro X Prix marks Bakkerud’s racing debut in the series, but he is no stranger to Extreme E having signed as a Championship Driver ahead of the Season 3 opener alongside Tamara Molinaro. Bakkerud also previously experienced the ODYSSEY 21 during pre-season testing at Chateau de Lastours, France, in 2020.
Andreas Bakkerud, JBXE, said: «I’m super excited to be announced as a competing driver for JBXE. From testing the car in France in the beginning to stepping in as the Championship Driver in Saudi Arabia learning all about the car and the Championship, it’s fantastic to continue being a part of this journey.
“I love what Extreme E is all about, especially their environmental initiatives, how it champions their actions against climate change, and in general, the whole race for the planet ethos, which is also something we in Norway are huge advocates of.”
|
The 31-year-old has had a long and successful career as a rallycross driver, with his first titles coming in 2011 and 2012 when he clinched back-to-back Super1600 (now Euro RX3) crowns. The Norwegian went on to win seven times along the way. In 2014, Bakkerud stepped up to the World Championship stage and, two years later, following a switch to Hoonigan Racing Division, achieved three wins resulting in third place in the overall standings. |
The Norwegian matched that championship finish in 2018, delivering six podium finishes, before he fought fellow Extreme E star Timmy Hansen for the World Rallycross title in 2019, with the pair’s duel going right the way down to the wire. After colliding in a dramatic finale in Cape Town, they ended up tied on points but Bakkerud was beaten to the championship by Hansen on countback.
Bakkerud returned to Euro RX in 2021 and lifted his third European Championship trophy. He also took on Nitro Rallycross in 2021, securing a podium in his inaugural campaign with third place. Building on this performance in 2022, he achieved three podiums and a maiden victory within the first five races for Group E in the Nitro Rallycross calendar.
Jenson Button, Team Owner of JBXE, said: «I am thrilled and honoured to welcome Andreas Bakkerud to JBXE for the next round of the season in Scotland. Andreas’ off-road racing pedigree speaks for itself, and his experience will be invaluable in our new all Norwegian partnership alongside Hedda in the team as we look to kickstart our 2023 campaign.
“We’re hopeful of a positive showing at our home event at the Hydro X Prix and I am excited to see how our new line-up fares out on track.”
Bakkerud added: “Being back in the Extreme E paddock, I look forward to racing with such a great group of drivers, many who I’ve raced against before, I even drove for Mattias! I have never been to Scotland before so I’m excited to visit a new place – I’ve heard it’s an extreme track! I can’t wait to get stuck in and immerse myself in the local culture, definitely some of their local snacks!
“It is my first time racing with a Norwegian so I am looking forward to teaming up with Hedda. I’m hoping we can cultivate a great working relationship and help each other both improve and succeed. For sure, it will take some time to get used to things, but I hope I can steer JBXE in the right direction.”
You can find out how Bakkerud fares in his Extreme E debut alongside Hosås at the Hydro X Prix next month.