During the Final Race, Rosberg X Racing was looking for another victory that would distance them in the lead of the championship. For the first lap, the team decided to send Johan Kristoffersson in order to be fast on track and leave a good time gap for Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky to take the win in the final lap.

However, ACCIONA Sainz XE Team also played its main card: Carlos Sainz, who also competed in the opening lap, where at the start he managed to drive better to get out in front, but when everything seemed that he would lead the way from the front, his ODYSSEY 21 received an impact from the RXR Swede in the rear, generating an accident.

Related content | Extreme E 2022: Format, Drivers, Teams, Calendar, Car, News and the Most Complete Guide to the Category

Sainz’s vehicle lost steering, went sideways into the rocks and then spun several times. Fortunately, the Spaniard got out of the car under his own power but had to go to the hospital as a precaution. On the other side of the coin, however, Kristoffersson continued the race and Nico Rosberg’s team went on to take the win.

The clash between the Swede and the Spaniard generated a wave of comments on social networks regarding RXR’s victory after what happened at the start of the Final Race. Many called for a penalty against Kristoffersson, which came after a few hours: the Extreme E stewards penalized Rosberg X Racing with 30 seconds, fading the victory but remaining in third place on the podium.

Calos Sainz and Laia Sanz Disagree

Extreme E’s decision brought divided opinions, among them those directly affected. After communicating that he was fine, Carlos Sainz used his social networks to express his disagreement at the 30-second penalty imposed on Rosberg X Racing, stating that in his 40 years of racing he had never seen anything like this.

“I am really disappointed nevertheless with what happened on the track and even more so with the fact that there was only a 30-seconds penalty for who caused this big accident. In over 40 years in motorsports, this is one of the most serious actions that I have ever seen without an exemplary penalty. Thanks a lot to everyone for your messages of support,” said Sainz.

In addition, through a video of the accident, Sainz made it clear that he was ahead of Kristoffersson. “This is what happened yesterday! I think it’s very clear who was ahead!!!”, wrote ‘El Matador’ on Twitter and Instagram.

On the other hand, his teammate, Laia Sanz, was in the same line of thought as Sainz. “This afternoon, in the Island X Prix race of the Extreme E, Carlos Sainz has received a strong impact from a rival when he was leading. As a result, the car spun out and spun around…,” she said, before continuing with her point of view.

“… Fortunately, Carlos is fine! This is the most important, because the crash was terrible! But today, more than angry, I am sad because of how the situation was handled. I cannot understand that an action from another driver with these consequences, and how serious it could have been, has been punished with just 30 seconds. Thanks to the whole ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team. We were having a great race! We’ll come back stronger! Vamos Carlos!

On the other hand, Kristoffersson spoke out about what happened, thanking Sainz is fine, although stating that the cause of the accident was due to ACCIONA’s ODYSSEY 21 passing through his blind spot. “Most important is that Carlos is ok. Unfortunate racing incident with us arriving together into the merging track, he was in my blind spot so I didn’t see him. We respect the stewards opinion. Congratulations to Ganassi on their first Extreme E win.”

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Was the 30 Second Penalty from Extreme E to Johan Kristoffersson Enough? Not for Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz appeared first on Green Racing News.

The hard work of Carlos Sainz and Laia Sanz was evident from the moment they qualified to the final race, where they battled against X44 and Veloce Racing for a place in the final. In the race, they managed the risks and speed to climb from fifth to third place, and to cover themselves with glory among the three best riders.

The ACCIONA-Sainz XE Team duo’s calculated driving was always in tune to avoid any costly mistakes, such as driving too fast through the rocks and stones, causing a flat tire, something that happened to other rivals during the crossing of Greenland.

The result in the Arctic becomes even more special when it is the first podium in the 100% electric off-road category. However, after thinking with a cool head following all the excitement, Carlos Sainz and his team are aware that they must continue to work on improving for the final stage of the Championship.

Related content: Carlos Sainz Delighted to Be in Extreme E

The two-time rally champion said that finally fortune was on the side of his team, something that did not happen during the first two rounds of the calendar. “We are very happy, but we know we have to keep improving because the championship is getting tighter and tighter. The two remaining X Prix will be very tough”.

Likewise, her teammate did not have such a good time during the Artic X Prix, as the electrified vehicle presented technical problems during the free practice sessions, causing her qualifying not to be comfortable at all. But on race day, everything changed, and she was able to find the rhythm needed to drive around the Kangerlussuaq track.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: The Anonymous Hero of the Artic X Prix appeared first on Green Racing News.

Most of her career, Laia has focused on disciplines such as enduro, rally raid and trial, through which she made a space among the most relevant drivers in motorcycling.

Nevertheless, Sanz’s love for engines goes far beyond her comfort zone, and recent proof of this is that the Spanish is part of the drivers’ grid of the nascent series of 100% electric off-road SUVs, Extreme.

Read also: Agag promises changes to the Extreme E to avoid repeating mistakes from the first race

First pedals accelerated

With only 4 years old, Laia began to feel love and adrenaline for speed, and that is because at that age she stole her brother’s motorcycle (a Cota 25), although she already had experience in two-wheelers, because when she was 2, she rode a bicycle for the first time.

Laia was born in 1992 in Corbera de Llobregat (Barcelona), where she participated for the first time in a motorcycling race; and although she was last, her passion led her to become the great pilot that she is today.

In 1997, she would achieve her first victory in a men’s category with an 80cc motorcycle, which marked the beginning of a successful career with which she has achieved the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit distinction in Spain.

Honors

Laia’s curriculum summary seems to have no end. However, among the most relevant milestones of her career, it stands out that she has been Trials World Champion thirteen times and Enduro World Champion five times.

In addition, the veteran has finished the Dakar Rally 11 consecutive times, a journey that she began and repeat for 10 years (2011 until 2021).

Behind a SUV’s wheel

At the end of November 2020, Laia Sanz and Carlos Sainz confirmed their participation in Extreme E after partnering with QEV Technologies to form the ACCIONA | Sainz XE team.

In the first race held in the desert of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, the duo had an excellent performance by securing the third and second fastest times in the qualifying races.

Written by | Osward Rubio

The post Extreme E Drivers Special: Laia Sanz appeared first on Green Racing News.

She is known for her achievements in the trial and enduro disciplines, where she has been crowned world champion 13 and five times respectively. Laia, born in the Corbera de Llobregat in Barcelona, has also had a presence in the Dakar Rally, where she has obtained at least nine victories in the Dakar Rally Women’s Trophy (Motorcycles). 

Also called “The Queen of the Desert”, Sanz was born on December 11, 1985, and from a very young age, she had shown attraction to wheels and speed. At just 12 years old, she achieved her first victory in the men’s categories, with an 80-cc motorcycle in a local tournament. 

As she grew up, Laia showed her great potential in different races that were designed for boys, and gradually she became a reference to the point that at the age of 24 she already had 10 world championships, nine Europeans and four victories for teams in the Trial of Nations. 

The 2012 represented one of the most important years of her career, as she achieved a historic treble, revalidating the women’s Dakar and the world trial, as well as her first triumph in the enduro modality, a fact that never in history had achieved a man or woman. 

Now with cars! 

At 35 years old and despite continuing to achieve success every day, many might think that the end of Laia’s career is near. Nevertheless, far from it, the veteran has decided to extend her experience, but now she will do it driving from four wheels in the new off-road electric SUV competition, the Extreme E. 

With the outstanding Carlos Sainz (of whom she is a compatriot) Laia will try to demonstrate her capabilities with completely different mechanisms and by leaving her comfort zone with the Acciona Sainz XE Team. 

Read Also: World premiere of ADAC Opel e-Rally will be in May

To read more biographies on promoters of electric mobility, follow us on Instagram and Twitter as @greenracingnews.  

Drafting | Osward Rubio

The post Laia Sanz: a moto racer without limits who will drive an all-terrain off-road vehicle appeared first on Green Racing News.