ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team (ASXE) head to the Extreme E Season 3 finale in Chile leading a five-way championship fight, after two victories across the 2023 campaign.
At the Island X Prix in Sardinia a win in Round 7 extended their championship advantage, but difficulties in Round 8 reduced their points lead going into the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix in December.
A win and a ninth-place finish typifies how across a weekend a team can enjoy huge highs and suffer disappointing lows in Extreme E, as ASXE did in the recent Island X Prix, co-organised and coordinated by the Automobile Club d’Italia and Regione Sardegna.
The pendulum swung dramatically for ASXE on the Italian island. A narrow three-point advantage over nearest challengers Rosberg X Racing (RXR) is what the Spanish outfit will take to South America for Rounds 9 and 10 of 2023. Veloce Racing are also in the mix, albeit 21 points behind ASXE, with No. 99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing and X44 Vida Carbon Racing an outside bet to steal the championship crown.
Nevertheless, ASXE head to Chile at the head of the standings.
The key to their Round 7 Grand Final victory, after demonstrating strong pace throughout their Qualifying Heats at Sardinia’s Capo Teulada, was the start.
Swede Mattias Ekström moved up from fourth to first at the opening turn, with a brave move around the outside of the rest of the ODYSSEY 21s in the field, to snatch the lead. Ekström was able to hand over team-mate Laia Sanz in Switch Zone, and the Spaniard consolidated that advantage on her run to seal the team’s second win of the season.
It was also a momentous day for ASXE’s Carlos Sainz Snr. whose son, Carlos Sainz Jnr., took pole position for that weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix in Formula One earlier that afternoon – 30 minutes in fact before Sanz crossed the line in first place, to seal a double celebration for ASXE. Sainz Jnr. would take victory in Singapore the following day.
In Round 8, as ASXE looked to affirm their championship advantage heading into the finale in Chile. They won the opening Qualifying Heat in dramatic fashion, pipping RXR’s Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulsinky on the finish line to steal the win by 0.061 seconds – the closest margin in Extreme E history to date.
A technical issue in Qualifying 2 meant that the team would have to settle for a spot in the Redemption Race. Having finished second on both occasions last time out in Sardinia to go with their Round 7 victory, this marked the first time the team would be off the podium in Italy in 2023.
Worse was to follow, as further woes ensured Ekström and Sanz could only finish in ninth overall. Their strong performance in Round 7, though, ensured the team would head to Chile as the frontrunners in the bid for the Extreme E 2023 title.
Laia Sanz, ASXE, said: “Round 7 was a perfect day, one of the best we have enjoyed so far in Extreme E. Mattias [Ekström] made a massive start in the Final. Both of us did well in the Qualifying Heats. What happened in Round 8 was a shame. The things that happened were just beyond our control, but the takeaway is that we have even more motivation for Chile – it must serve as a reminder that we can win the Championship this year.”
Mattias Ekström, ASXE, added: “I think the Saturday in Sardinia was a great day. We had a good set-up, good strategy, and two good Qualifying Heats. I think the key to the race win was the first corner at the start. I made a move around the outside and went from P4 to P1 and, after this, I had a clean windscreen and beautiful, enjoyable few laps. I enjoyed it a lot.
“In Round 8, we went from being the stars to the ‘losers’ of the day. We had started the day with a victory in Qualifying 1 thanks to Laia’s good driving, but then we suffered a technical failure in the second Heat.
“Then, in the Redemption Race, one wiper broke down. Going from first to last is quite an experience, but we are still leading the Championship by three points, and everything is up for grabs in Chile.”
Carlos Sainz Snr., ASXE, said: “I am really happy with the race win we had in Round 7, and the team did an incredible job. It was a great start from Mattias in the Final, even though we were not in the best starting position. He moved up to first place and Laia finished the work. I was delighted for them and the entire team. They all made me a happy man.
“In Round 8, everything that could go wrong went wrong, with two unlucky issues that were beyond our control. Overall, this has compromised the otherwise fantastic weekend in Sardinia, but we won’t give up. There is still the final double-header to go, and we will go for it.”
The crowning of the 2023 champions will be live across ITV and STV in the UK, while outside of the UK please visit here for broadcaster details.
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