Acciona Sainz came close to winning the Extreme E championship in 2023, and with that heartbreaking loss still fresh in their minds, the team was eager to start this year on a positive note and erase those memories. The Desert X Prix final on Saturday didn’t go as planned with an unfortunate slow roll in deep sand, but the team more than made up for it with a victory in Sunday’s final.
“It was a fantastic start to the season for the team,” said team boss Carlos Sainz Sr. This was Acciona Sainz’s third win in Extreme E, repeating their success from last year’s season opener. The team had a new addition this time around, Fraser McConnell, who joined during the off season, replacing Mattias Ekstrom. McConnell has already impressed his new boss.
“He had some bad luck yesterday… He did a fantastic job throughout the weekend and fit in well with the team,” said Sainz. “I was confident he would perform, and he delivered a great race and a great weekend. We just need to keep pushing and working. This is only the beginning.”
Joining a team of such high caliber and replacing a driver of equal skill, McConnell knew he had big shoes to fill but is excited about the opportunity to work with the Spanish outfit.
“Joining a team with such experienced and knowledgeable individuals, a truly professional group, and with Laia Sanz, who proved herself to be the fastest girl last year, I knew I had a significant role to play,” he said. “I prepared as much as I could and gave everything I had on the track.”
“Yesterday, maybe I pushed too hard, but if I had the chance again, I would do it. It felt amazing to come back today and end the weekend on a high note. We know we can do it. We’re not here to just participate, we’re here to win. With Red Bull coming onboard and the support of QEV, Acciona, and Sparco, I have been given the opportunity to show what I’m capable of. I’m living my dream, and I’ll come back even stronger for round three.”
McConnell has established himself as one of off-road racing’s elite, but at Acciona Sainz, he is surrounded by legendary talent in his teammates. Laia Sanz, a multiple trials champion, and Carlos Sainz, a double World Rally champion and four-time Dakar Rally winner, both inspire him to keep impressing.
“I still have a long way to go,” he emphasized. “It’s only my fifth year racing internationally, and Carlos has always been an inspiration to me. So when you get the chance to race for one of your childhood heroes, it’s almost surreal. I’ve been giving my all to ensure I live up to their expectations.”
According to the Source racer.com