Jameel Motorsport tops Desert X Prix Race 2 Qualifying after dramatic Saudi comeback
Jameel Motorsport delivered the perfect response to Saturday’s drama by topping qualifying for Race 2 of the 2025 Desert X Prix in Qiddiya City.
The team of Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor overcame the setback of Taylor’s spectacular roll during Saturday’s first qualifying session to dominate Sunday’s proceedings. They won their opening heat, finished second in Q2, and crucially set the fastest Super Sector time to edge out Team Hansen’s Andreas Bakkerud and Catie Munnings for the top spot overall.
Heat 1: Redemption Drive for Jameel Motorsport
Taylor made a strong start in Q1 Race 1, leading through the first corner before Acciona | Sainz XE Team’s Fraser McConnell muscled his way ahead at the tightening right-hander. The Jamaican quickly built a commanding 8.6-second lead by the mid-race driver switch.
When Hansen took over the Jameel Odyssey 21, he began to reel in McConnell’s teammate Laia Sanz with a blistering final lap. At Gate 11, Hansen executed a clean pass for the lead, while Sanz’s attempt to fight back at Gate 15 backfired, allowing Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider to dive inside and snatch second.
STARD’s Patrick O’Donovan and Amanda Sorensen rounded out the order in fourth after an early overtake by Carl Cox’s Klara Andersson, who climbed to third with a strong opening lap.
Heat 2: Bakkerud Strikes as Rivals Falter
Q2 Race 2 proved chaotic as Team Hansen’s Bakkerud and Munnings took the win after late-race drama sidelined both KMS and Team EVEN.
The race began with JBX Powered by Team Monaco’s Christine GZ leading, but a superb over-under move from KMS’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky at the first corner put her in front. Contact between GZ and EVEN’s Hedda Hosås at Gate 15 allowed Munnings to sneak into third, while Hosås continued her charge to close within a second of Åhlin-Kottulinsky by the driver switch.
Disaster struck for the frontrunners soon after. Johan Kristoffersson, taking over the KMS car, lost rear drive, while EVEN’s Ole Christian Veiby suffered a total rear motor failure while challenging for the win. Bakkerud capitalised to seize the lead and secure victory for Team Hansen, with JBX finishing second. KMS and EVEN were classified third and fourth respectively.
Heat 3: KMS and EVEN Rebound Strongly
In the final qualifying heat, KMS regained form with a commanding victory. Despite early contact involving Carl Cox Motorsport’s Timo Scheider and STARD’s O’Donovan, Kristoffersson pushed into the lead by Gate 7 and built a near 10-second advantage before the switch.
Åhlin-Kottulinsky extended that gap to over 17 seconds by the finish, although post-race penalties for missed and hit gates reshuffled the lower order.
The EVEN team mirrored KMS’s recovery in the second Q2 race. Veiby fended off JBX’s Tommi Hallman through the opening jumps before pulling clear by Gate 7. After a tense three-wide exit from the switch zone involving EVEN, JBX and Jameel, Veiby and Hosås held firm to win by 4.8 seconds over Jameel, with JBX completing the top three.
McConnell’s race ended dramatically when the Acciona Sainz Odyssey tipped onto its side between Gates 7 and 8 while chasing the leaders.
Qualifying Standings
Jameel Motorsport’s consistent pace and Super Sector performance secured them P1 overall, ahead of Team Hansen, with EVEN and KMS also advancing to the Final. For Hansen and Taylor, it marked a welcome turnaround from the previous day’s setback and a clear signal that the Saudi-based outfit remains a serious contender heading into Sunday’s showdown.
