Fraser McConnell led the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team to a resounding victory in Round 2 of the Extreme E Championship, claiming their first win of the year at the Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
The team’s flawless performance, orchestrated by McConnell and teammate Laia Sanz, solidified their position as serious contenders for the remainder of the season.
The team’s success began with strong showings in the Qualifying heats, where they secured first and third positions. In the Grand Final, McConnell seized an early lead with a superb start, maintaining his position at the front throughout the race. Sanz then took over the wheel for the final laps, skilfully defending against rival attacks and ultimately crossing the finish line in first place.
For McConnell, this victory holds special significance, especially after narrowly missing out on the 2023 title. He expressed his happiness with the team’s performance, highlighting the belief and confidence instilled in him by the team management.
ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team now sits second in the Championship standings
“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,” McConnell said. “They saw something in me, they believed in me, and this gave me so much confidence to dig as deep as I could.”
With the victory, the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team now sits second in the Championship standings with 39 points, trailing the leader by just two points. In addition to the 25 points earned for the race victory, the team also secured an extra point for winning Qualifying 2.
Looking ahead, the Extreme E Championship moves to Europe for the next round of competition on July 13 and 14, where McConnell and the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team aim to build on their recent success and continue their pursuit of the championship title.
