Spanish motorbike rider Laia Sanz - one of the best women in Dakar motorcycle racing and multiple-race winner - joins ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team for the all-new Extreme-E championship, together with Carlos Sainz Sr.
QEV Technologies teamed up with ACCIONA and the Spanish squad announced their drivers line-up, which will include Laia Sanz and Carlos Sainz Sr. for ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team to compete in the all-new Extreme E championship.
Carlos Sainz is one of the most known drivers in the history of rally racing: the Spaniard won the world championship in 1990 and 1992, both times with Toyota. He also won Dakar three times in 2010, 2018 and 2020, each time with different vehicles. For his achievements, he was awarded with the Princess of Asturias Sports Award in 2020. The father of the McLaren F1 driver will now compete in the brand-new electric championship Extreme-E with his own team, and will be joined by compatriot Laia Sanz as teammate.
"I am very grateful for the faith Carlos, QEV Tech and ACCIONA have shown in me. I’m tremendously motivated and excited as this is an important step for me; I’ve always had an interest in sports cars and I’m sure I’m going to learn greatly alongside Carlos. I’m a huge admirer of his and to form a team with him is like a gift; he’s the best teammate I could ask for. I hope to live up to expectations and to learn quickly to help the team out as soon as possible."
Laia Sanz is the queen of Dakar motorbike racing: she competed ten times and finished in all of them, winning the female category every single time. In 2005, Laia finished 9th and achieved the best ever result for a woman in a Dakar event. Moreover, she is a thirteen-times Trial World Champion and has won the Enduro World Championship five times.
Sanz will switch to car racing for the first time with her Extreme-E participation.
“The championship format is new in itself and it’s very interesting to see teams made up of men and women. It also includes a concept of sustainability: we have to start thinking about this. I think racing will steer increasingly in this direction.”
