Fraser McConnell impresses in convincing Extreme E victory
FRASER McConnell’s ACCIONA | SAINZ XE team clinched its maiden win of the year in Saudi Arabia’s Desert X Prix where Laia Sanz and Fraser McConnell put together a perfect performance, confirming the team’s position as a real contender for the rest of the Extreme E calendar.
After coming first and third in the qualifying heats, the grand final commenced with an exceptional start by McConnell who quickly made his way up the grid and into first place for a lead that he would not relinquish.
Sanz got behind the wheel for the final laps and defended herself from the attacks of their rivals, ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of the pack to secure the first victory of the year for the team.
After narrowly missing the 2023 title this triumph is made even more special by the fact that it confirms the team’s potential for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.
McConnell is extremely happy with the team’s performance and is satisfied with his response after making the switch to his new team, pointing to the confidence shown in him as a real motivation.
“[I am] happy for the team, happy for Laia and everybody back in Jamaica. This is a big, big win. Stepping into this team was such a huge step for me. So many other people could have had the opportunity but I was chosen by Carlos and the team to be here. They saw something in me, they believed in me, and this gave me so much confidence to dig as deep as I could,” said the Jamaican driver.
“I am living this opportunity as if it is my last, making sure I can make a name for myself and the team. Carlos has been a hero of mine growing up so racing for him is such a great feeling. It has been a very good first weekend,” he added.
The ACCIONA | SAINZ XE team is now second in the championship standings with 39 points, trailing the leader by two. Beyond the 25 points from the race victory the team also scored an additional point for winning the second qualifier.
The Extreme E Championship leaves Saudi Arabia and heads to Europe where the competition will resume on July 13 and 14.
