Andreas Bakkerud is set to make his full-season debut in the electric off-road category with Jenson Button’s JBXE Extreme E team. Bakkerud joined the team during the second event of the previous season, taking over from Heikki Kovalainen. He had previously served as the reserve driver for the Saudi Arabia event. Throughout most of the season, Bakkerud was partnered with Hedda Hosaas, but Tamara Molinaro stepped in for the final two rounds after Hosaas moved to McLaren. Bakkerud expressed his excitement about returning to JBXE for the upcoming season and his eagerness to race in the sand for the first time.
Joining Bakkerud in the JBXE team for the Saudi Arabia season opener is Dania Akeel. Akeel, who became the first Saudi to obtain a motorcycle racing license, has been competing in car racing since 2021. She has participated in events such as the Dakar rally, the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, and the Saudi Toyota Rally Championship’s T3 category. Akeel expressed her enthusiasm for joining Extreme E and her eagerness to learn and grow in this type of racing. She also expressed gratitude to the JBXE team for the opportunity and mentioned the privilege of working with Jenson Button.
Jenson Button, the team’s namesake, expressed his delight in having Andreas Bakkerud return to JBXE and welcomed Dania Akeel to the team for her Extreme E debut. Button believes that the team has a strong driver pairing for the upcoming season. He highlighted Bakkerud’s experience with the team as a valuable asset and acknowledged Akeel’s off-road capabilities demonstrated in other racing categories. Button is confident that the team can achieve positive results, especially in Akeel’s home event, the Desert X Prix, and is eagerly looking forward to the new season.
