Back-to-back second places for the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team this weekend in Scotland’s Hydro X Prix, where the squad showed a solid and constant performance. Two podiums that strengthen the team’s second place in the Extreme E Championship, now trailing the current leader Veloce Racing by 9 points and 11 points ahead of the current champion Rosberg X Racing.
Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell fought for the win once again and ultimately missed the top step of the podium by just 0.65 seconds after a great comeback drive. In the end, they had to settle for second place which still confirms them as one of the leading teams in the 2024 Extreme E Championship.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team made it to the Grand Final after coming second in the first Qualifying and clinching a race win in the second one, which translated into an extra point for the Championship. In the Grand Final, the Spanish race team faced the other three teams of the Top 4 of the Championship.
Laia Sanz was the one behind the wheel at the start. Just like on Saturday, the Spanish driver defended the inside line, strengthening herself in second place. After the driver change, Fraser McConnell made eight seconds back and even tried to attack for the win in the final corners, but in the end he had to settle with the second place.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team lies in second place in the 2024 Extreme E Championship, trailing Veloce Racing by 9 points after a Hydro X Prix where the team scored 18 points with its second place, plus an extra point for their victory in Qualifying and two more points for dominating the Continental Traction Challenge. The next round in the calendar is Sardinia’s Island X Prix, which will take place on the 14th and the 15th of September.
Quotes:
Laia Sanz, driver:
“I think we can’t complain. Although we have been second twice this weekend, the truth is that the Championship is super tight this season and even qualifying for the Grand Final is already very difficult. I think we have to be happy and proud of our work. You are left with a bittersweet feeling when you are so close to winning, but I think this will give us some extra motivation for the next round to keep working hard and fighting for the Championship”.
Fraser McConnell, driver:
“Incredible weekend. Back-to-back second places and even the Continental Traction Challenge in today’s Grand Final. For sure it would have been nice to go one step further, and I think that if there had been just an extra corner we would have had a better chance at attacking for the win, but consistency is key in this championship and we showed as ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team that we can do it. The pace was there, but it’s just that not every weekend can be yours. We need to fight another day and we look forward to the next challenges.”
Carlos Sainz:
“The second race of the Hydro X Prix was also very positive, with another second-place finish. It is a pity that Veloce took the win once again because this means they now have an edge on us in the standings, but the Championship is very long and a podium is always welcomed. Congratulations to the entire team and to Laia and Fraser in particular for two solid races this weekend. Now, let’s prepare for the next one. We are in a good position to fight for the Championship until the end.”
Joan Orús, Team Principal:
“After back-to-back second places, the balance of the weekend has to be positive. There is not much to improve. The Championship is getting tighter and we remain in second place behind a leader, Veloce, who has had a perfect weekend. We will come back in Sardinia with even more hunger, because if we want to take the title we have to win races. The good thing is that consistency is very important and we are really strong on that front because our last three results are a race win and two second places. If we continue like this, I am sure we will have our shot at the Championship.”
