Hedda Hosaas will replace Emma Gilmour in McLaren’s Extreme E lineup for the season-ending Copper X Prix in Chile next week, driving alongside Tanner Foust for the team while Gilmour continues to recover from injuries she sustained at the second Island X Prix in Sardinia back in September.
The New Zealander rolled towards the end of her opening practice run at the event, sustaining a rib fracture and concussion. She was replaced at the event by championship reserve Tamara Molinaro, who went on to have a similar crash that forced McLaren to sit out of the second half of the weekend.
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“Although Emma will not compete for us in Chile, I am glad she is making good progress with her recovery,” said NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team sporting director Gary Paffett. “Throughout her time in Extreme E, Hedda has proven herself to be a strong competitor in the championship, and I am confident she can help the team achieve success to round off our second season in Extreme E.”
In joining McLaren, Hosaas becomes the first Norwegian to race for McLaren in its 60 year history. It also completes a meteoric rise up the Extreme E ranks for the 22-year-old. Like Gilmour, she began her career in the series as a reserve driver for Veloce Racing, making her debut with the British team in place of Christine Giampaoli Zonca at least year’s Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. Her performance in that brief cameo appearance earned her an immediate move to JBXE for the following round, where she has remained since.
“I’m looking forward to competing for the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team in Chile next week,” said Hosaas. “I’m sending all my best wishes to Emma for a speedy recovery and hope I can do her and the whole team proud.”
While not yet fit enough to drive, Gilmour will be on-site at the Copper X Prix in Antofagasta to offer support for the team from outside the car.
“Following my incident in Sardinia in September, I’ve had to take the difficult decision to not compete in the final round of the 2023 Extreme E season in Chile next week,” she said. “I have been making good progress with my recovery, but do not feel well enough to compete yet. I’m confident that Hedda will do a good job to help bring the team some well-deserved success.
“I’m looking forward to supporting the rest of the team on the ground and helping them to end the season on a high.”