Piquet Jr. to focus on Formula E championship race and skip X Games in Austin

Published May 03, 2016

Nelson Piquet jr. from Bazil drives his car during a non-qualifying practice session at the Formula E Berlin ePrix auto race, in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, May 23, 2015. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) (The Associated Press)

Nelson Piquet Jr. will skip the X Games to compete in Formula E, where he's a championship contender in the new fully electric racing series.

Andreas Bakkerud will replace Piquet in the SH Racing Ford Fiesta at next weekend's X Games in Austin, Texas.

Piquet is leading the Formula E standings but is in a four-way battle with three races left. He'll compete June 6 in Moscow instead of participating in the X Games, where he won a bronze medal last year.

SH Rallycross team owner James Sullivan says Piquet was given his release for X Games because the team wants to support him in his quest to win the inaugural Formula E championship.

Bakkerud is an experienced RallyCross driver who is third in the FIA World RallyCross Championship Super Car category.

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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/piquet-jr-to-focus-on-formula-e-championship-race-and-skip-x-games-in-austin