EXTREME E | HYDRO X PRIX | RECAP
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY, SCOTLAND (July 13, 2024) - Rounds 3 and 4 of the Extreme E Series Championship are taking place this weekend in Scotland. The youngest co-drivers in the field, 19-year-old American Gray Leadbetter and 20-year-old Patrick O'Donovan from Ireland are behind the wheel of the No. 84 Electric Odessey machine for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB.
ROUND ONE
QUALIFYING HEAT FORMAT: 4 laps, 2 laps per driver.
It rained overnight at the race course so the track was very muddy. In qualifying Heat 1, O’ Donovan suffered a tire puncture on the first of his two laps sending co-driver Gray Leadbetter to the back of the pack, a lap behind upon return to the Hydro X Prix course. The duo finished fourth.
Later in the afternoon under drier conditions for qualifying Heat 2, an exciting battle between Legacy M.C. and Andretti Altawkilat took place for the third spot. A dropped flag at Waypoint 6 resulted in a 10-second time penalty for LEGACY M.C., and they fell to fourth in the results.
REDEMPTION RACE: 4 Laps, 2 laps per driver.
Leadbetter and O'Donovan started in grid position one and at the start O'Donovan edged out the McLaren team to take third. From there he clawed his way up the first hill until making a gutsy pass for first. He opened up a four-second coming into the Switch Zone for Leadbetter and she maintained the lead for the remainder of the race.
The duo won the Redemption Race which was the first for both drivers and first for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in the Extreme E Series. The team finished fifth for the day as the Grand Final saw E. ON Next Veloce Racing with the win.
QUOTING PATRICK O'DONOVAN: "We came into today not sure what to expect. After the first sessions we were lacking some pace and Gray and I pushed hard after we made some changes this afternoon. The engineers did a great job. Really thankful to Jimmie Johnson for trusting me behind the wheel and to get LEGACY MOTOR CLUB a win. I'm really excited about tomorrow's race and the goal is to make the final."
QUOTING GRAY LEADBETTER: "We made changes and Patrick said we needed to win, so when he opened up that lead for me - I just kept it out front and kept pace. Even though it was a 'redemption race' it's still a win."
ROUND TWO
QUALIFYING HEAT FORMAT: 4 laps, 2 laps per driver.
HEAT 1: Overnight rain soaked the course so once again the track was very muddy. Patrick O'Donovan took to the wheel first for the first qualifying heat and suffered a punctured left front tire due to the treacherous and rocky terrain. Visibility was a big issue as the windshield wipers were unable to clear the clay-like mud that caked in his windshield through the second lap. He brought the No. 84 Electric Odyssey into the Switch Zone for Gray Leadbetter in fourth. The crew cleared the windshield sending Leadbetter out but the rest of the field was too far ahead and the duo finished fourth of four in their heat.
HEAT 2: Leadbetter started Heat 2 when a red flag halted the first competitive lap as a rollover by the JBXE team forced all teams to the Switch Zone. Leadbetter completed her second lap and switched out with O'Donovan. Patrick quickly caught up to the field and overtook the third-place car with a finish of second. Leadbetter was penalized for speeding and the team would be forced to the redemption race.
REDEMPTION RACE: 4 Laps, 2 laps per driver.
Patrick O'Donovan jumped to the lead midway through lap one and came into the Switch Zone as the leader. Gray Leadbetter took over and was edged out by the McLaren finishing second for LEGACY M.C.
QUOTING PATRICK O'DONOVAN: "We tried. What a great experience this weekend for all of us. Thankful to everyone at Extreme E and LEGACY M.C. for a great car. It was fun."
QUOTING GRAY LEADBETTER: "We won a heat race and a redemption race—finished P2 and can't wait to get to Sardina."
Fans in the U.S.A. may tune in this evening, Sunday, July 14 at midnight ET on FOX Sports Racing's app or FOX Sports 2.
Also, follow along LEGACY M.C.'s social media accounts for behind-the-scenes coverage.
ABOUT OUR PARTNERS
ABOUT Extreme E: Extreme E is a radical off-road racing series, founded by the same team behind Formula E, which showcases electric SUVs and futuristic technologies in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments.
This five-event global voyage utilizes its sporting platform for the purpose of promoting electrification, environment, and equality. The series’ goal is to highlight the impact of climate change in some of the world’s most endangered environments, promote the adoption of electric vehicles to pave the way for a lower carbon future, and provide a world-first gender-equal motorsport platform.
The first sport to ever be built out of a social purpose, Extreme E aims to minimize environmental impact while maximizing awareness, racing in places that have already been damaged or affected by climate change or human interference and taking fans deep into the heart of the most pressing issues facing our planet’s future.
Not only that, but Extreme E is also helping the car industry to develop future-facing technology using racing as a platform for road innovation, which accelerates change ten-fold.
In 2025, Extreme E will transition into Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen off-road racing series – and will be recognized as an FIA Championship from 2025, as we continue to be a pioneer in motorsport.
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ is a professional auto racing club owned by businessman and entrepreneur Maurice "Maury" J. Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The CLUB competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series fielding the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE of John Hunter Nemechek, the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE of Erik Jones, and the No. 84 limited schedule entry for Johnson. LEGACY M.C. also competes in the Extreme E Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty "The King" serves as Club Ambassador. With a unique title signifying a nod to car clubs of past eras, LEGACY M.C. is an inclusive club for all motorsport enthusiasts to celebrate the past and future legacies of its members, while competing for wins and championships at NASCAR’s elite level. To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow LEGACY MOTOR CLUB™ on Facebook, X, Instagram and at www.LEGACYMOTORCLUB.com.
