- A great display of collective effort allowed Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz to shine on track as they returned to action after last Thursday’s accident.
- ASXE Team will race in Semi-Final 1 aiming for a spot in the Final of the Island X Prix II.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team has qualified for the first semi-final of the Island X Prix II after winning its heat in Qualifying 2.
Even though this victory doesn’t translate into Championship points, it does indeed allow the team to avoid the dangerous Crazy Race. It also serves as a morale boost after the heavy accident in the Final of the Island X Prix I.
That crash prompted a chassis change and last night mechanics stayed at the track until dawn to ensure that the Odyssey 21 was ready for the challenge.
The speed that Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz showed today in the Qualifying sessions is the greatest testament to the hard work of the entire team.
In Qualifying 1, a small technical issue during the driver change compromised the ASXE Team, which had to settle with the eighth fastest time overall.
But things changed in Qualifying 2, where the team was able to take home the victory after a blistering start from Carlos in the first lap and great race management from Laia in the second one.
The aggregate of these two results was 13 Qualifying points, which put the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team fourth in the standings at the end of the day.
Therefore, tomorrow the team will race against Rosberg X Racing and Hummer EV Chip Ganassi Racing in Semi-Final 1. The two first cars to cross the finish line will qualify for the Final, where the victory of the Island X Prix II will be at stake.
Quotes:
Carlos Sainz, driver:
"A hard day, just as last night. The mechanics worked on the car all night long to have it ready for today. I really thank them for their effort. Qualifying 1 was tricky. A rubber of the door went loose during the driver change and it intertwined around my legs, so we lost seven or eight seconds there. The five-car race in Qualifying 2 went much better and we took home the victory to make up for all our effort. Laia and I are really pleased with the victory, but also because we can give it to our mechanics".
Laia Sanz, driver:
"Besides the super start that Carlos did in Qualifying 2, today we have to talk about the incredible effort that the team personnel did last night to ensure that the car was well and ready for today. Qualifying 2 was a good reward, so it goes to them. We have an important day ahead tomorrow. We have to carry the good momentum that we have had the entire week here in Sardinia".
Joan Orús, Team Principal:
"Today is a day to recognize the fantastic job of our mechanics. We had to change the chassis after last Thursday’s accident and last night they worked in the car until very late hours to have it ready for today. They barely slept last night, but their effort was ultimately worth it because we won our heat in Qualifying 2. Now we face the rest of the X Prix with more motivation than ever to bring home a remarkable result".
