On February 18, 2024, Acciona | Sainz XE Team, led by Carlos Sainz Sr., celebrated their victory in the Saudi Arabia race. Acciona Sainz, who came close to winning the Extreme E championship in 2023, was determined to start this year on a positive note and leave behind the disappointment of last season. Despite encountering a setback in the Desert X Prix final with a slow roll in deep sand, the team made up for it by clinching a victory in the final race on Sunday.
Carlos Sainz Sr., the team boss, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “It was a fantastic start to the season for the team.” This marked Acciona Sainz’s third win in Extreme E, replicating their success from the previous season opener. The team welcomed a new addition, Fraser McConnell, who joined during the off-season, replacing Mattias Ekstrom. McConnell’s impressive performance has already garnered praise from his boss.
“He had some bad luck yesterday… He did a fantastic job throughout the weekend and integrated 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.”
McConnell, who recognized the responsibility of filling the shoes of a skilled driver and joining a team of experienced individuals, expressed his excitement about working with Acciona Sainz. He said, “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. I prepared as much as I could and gave everything I had on the track.”
Reflecting on his performance, McConnell admitted to pushing too hard on the previous day but expressed his satisfaction with ending the weekend on a positive note. He emphasized the team’s determination to win, stating, “We’re not here to just participate, we’re here to win.” McConnell also acknowledged the support of Red Bull, QEV, Acciona, and Sparco, which have provided him with the opportunity to showcase his capabilities. He concluded by expressing his determination to come back stronger in the next round.
While McConnell has established himself as an elite off-road racer, he finds himself surrounded by legendary talent in his teammates at Acciona Sainz. Laia Sanz, a multiple trials champion, and Carlos Sainz, a double World Rally champion and four-time Dakar Rally winner, serve as inspirations for McConnell to continue 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
