- Second podium of the year for Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell to strengthen their title hopes.
- The Grand Final was especially hard-fought, with multiple contact between cars and attacking and defensive manoeuvres crucial to clinch the result.
- Having scored another 18 points, the Spanish team lies now second in the Championship and trails the leader by five points.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team clinched second place in the first round of the Hydro X Prix, the third event of the 2024 Extreme E Championship. One victory, one podium and a fourth place is the racing record of the Spanish team three races into the season, as it now lies in second place in the Championship trailing the leader by five points.
Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell did a great display of regularity and reliability in the former coal mine of Glenmukloch. Fast from the get-go, they finished second in both Qualifying sessions and then they repeated the same result in the Grand Final, meaning an extra 18 points for the Championship.
Laia Sanz took the start in the Grand Final, where she fought side by side with several cars to establish herself in second place after the first three corners. Moments later, he resisted the attack of the Andretti car, which hit her several times during the race.
Rather than giving up, Sanz fought tooth and nail to defend second place until she passed the car on to Fraser in the driver switch. The Jamaican race driver showcased a great race pace to move away from his rivals and secure a result that inspires a lot of optimism ahead of tomorrow.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team now lies in second place in the 2024 Extreme E Championship with 57 points in total, five points behind the new leader Veloce. The second round of the Hydro X Prix will take place on Sunday on the very same racetrack.
Quotes:
Laia Sanz, driver:
"It was a great day today because we had a difficult task ahead. In Q1 we were the last ones to pick our starting position, but we did good starts and we managed to clinch two second places in the Qualifying sessions, which granted us a hard-earned spot in the Grand Final. And it was in the Grand Final where we found the most pace. I am happy about my start, especially because I am normally not great at them. I didn’t get much traction at first, but I held on and I didn’t back down. Then I defended from Timmy, which was not easy since there was lots of contact, and then Fraser was able to push to the flag. I am happy about today’s work and proud of the team. Today we found ourselves in a tricky strategy, but we finished second and that’s very positive. On to tomorrow!"
Fraser McConnell, driver:
"So happy to get on the podium again, so happy for the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. Everyone worked so hard to get where we are today. It’s amazing points for the Championship fight. We found some nice pace in the Grand Final, which is super encouraging going into Sunday because there’s no reason we shouldn’t be fighting for the front again. Time to go back to the tent, do a little debrief and see where we went wrong and what we did good. Really excited to get going again. We will try to repeat the good and take away the negative. Amazing day overall, and we go into tomorrow ready to fight."
Carlos Sainz:
“The first race of the weekend in Scotland was positive. Another podium and a second place that translates into more points for the Championship. The competition this weekend is really, really tight, and this second place is a great result because even scoring points is proving to be really hard. Tomorrow we will start from scratch and we will try to improve this balance."
Joan Orús, Team Principal:
"It was a brutal fight to get on the podium of this first round of the Hydro X Prix. Laia did a great start, defending the second place with everything, also when other cars were attacking us and almost getting on top of us. She was able to give the car to Fraser, who had a fantastic pace and took us to the chequered flag in second place and another podium for the team. We are very happy. The fight for the Championship continues."
