X44 was run by Prodrive for the first two seasons of the off-road series that began in 2021 and captured the drivers’ title in 2022 with Sebastien Loeb and Cristina Gutierrez after the duo had finished runner-up the year before.
Management of the program switched to Rodin Carlin in 2023 as Gutierrez was partnered by Fraser McConnell, with the pair slipping to fourth in the standings.
But on the eve of the championship’s fourth season, which begins in Saudi Arabia on 17-18 February, it was revealed that the squad would not return.
Gutierrez had already signed for the McLaren team, partnering Mattias Ekstrom, while McConnell will take the Swede’s place at the Acciona Sainz outfit alongside Laia Sanz.
No reason for X44’s departure was given in a statement outlining its exit.
“We’ve had an incredible three seasons competing as X44, winning multiple races and even a world championship,” he said.
Cristina Gutierrez, Fraser McConnell, X44 Vida Carbon Racing, Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, Johan Kristoffersson, Rosberg X Racing
Photo by: Colin McMaster / Motorsport Images
“Thank you to our drivers Cristina, Fraser and Seb, and all our talented team-mates who worked hard to help us achieve everything we did.
“Even more than the results on track, we’re proud to have been part of a bigger conversation about how to make motorsport more sustainable, of our success in giving people from all kinds of backgrounds an opportunity to thrive in this team, and of the legacy our team owner Lewis will leave behind with the Racing for All programme.
“Although we won’t be competing ourselves in 2024, we’ll be cheering on the series from the sidelines and keeping an eye on the exciting developments at Extreme H.”
Series boss Alejandro Agag expressed thanks to seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton and X44 “for their valued contribution to Extreme E” both in competition and in “implementing off-track initiatives which focus on gender equality, diversity and inclusion.”
It becomes the second team to depart XE over the off-season after Abt Cupra, although the championship has won an entrant backed by Swiss food producer SUN AG.
Its SUN Minimeal Team will feature two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider on his driving strength alongside his role as main team, with rallycross racer Klara Andersson joining as its female driver.
Defending title-winner Rosberg
