McConnell pairs with Sanz on Acciona Sainz Extreme E team

Carlos Sainz’s Acciona Sainz team will aim to avenge its agonizing 2023 Extreme E title defeat as it returns to the category this year with a new-look team.

Team stalwart Laia Sanz will once again drive for the outfit, being joined by Fraser McConnell, with the team being backed by long-time Sanz and Sainz personal sponsor Red Bull.

McConnell joins the team following a promising first campaign for the recently-departed X44 outfit, with whom he won the first part of the Hydro X Prix in Scotland and the final Island X Prix race in Sardinia last year.

“I am so honored to be selected as the male driver for the Acciona Sainz team this year and I cannot wait to get started at the first event in Saudi Arabia on February 17 and 18,” said McConnell. “Receiving the call from Carlos asking me to join the team was such a surreal moment for me because growing up I was such a big fan and still to this day he is such an inspiration. He is also still such a fierce competitor so having that energy within the team is definitely going to help us win races and I am sure I will be able to learn many things from him.

“I am also very much looking forward to teaming up with Laia, who has been so fast the last few seasons and I can feel that we will be a very strong driver pairing and aim to win the championship together.”

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Speaking of the new driver signing, team boss Sainz said: “I would like to welcome Fraser to the team. He is a young and ambitious driver. He has the speed and the right attitude to grow even further. I think he will be a very good fit for the team and I am sure he will push to give us plenty of things to be happy about.

“Of course, I am very happy to have Laia again in the car. She is a really talented driver and she has developed a lot through these years, and she is especially eager to go for it after her great Dakar Rally and how close we were last season to winning the title.”

Sanz, who was partnered with new NEOM McLaren signing Mattias Ekstrom last year, came within a lap of taking the championship crown last season and feels they can go one better this year.

"I am really happy to continue racing for Acciona Sainz and I am really looking forward to starting working with Fraser, because I am sure he will bring a lot to us,” she said. “The team has grown a lot throughout this time and we have grown together. Last year we did a great job, even though we narrowly missed the title, and I am looking forward to continuing down this path.

“Today we feel like a family, we work really well together, always in sync, and I think it is very positive to continue to keep on improving. For me personally, I am really happy to continue in this team and I am eager to start the season. I think it is the best place to continue learning and fighting for victories.”