It’s not a telephone call you’re going to forget. When Carlos Sainz wants to talk, you pick up and you listen carefully. That’s just what DirtFish-backed driver Fraser McConnell did when the two-time World Rally Champion reached out to him with an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Would McConnell like to join his Acciona Sainz XE Team for the 2024 season?
The Jamaican star smiled: “Receiving the call from Carlos asking me to join the team was such a surreal moment. I am so honoured to be selected as the male driver for the team – 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 can’t wait to get started at the first event in Saudi Arabia.”
McConnell had previously partnered Cristina Gutiérrez at X44 Vida Carbon Racing
McConnell, 25, has switched from X44 Vida Carbon Racing after he claimed two wins for Lewis Hamilton’s team last season. He joins Laia Sanz at ASXE.
He added: “I’m very much looking forward to teaming up with Laia who has been so fast over the last few seasons and I can feel that we
will be a very strong driver pairing and aim to win the championship together.”
That’s certainly what the boss has in mind. Fresh from a fourth Dakar win, 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. We have an exciting season ahead and we will go for it.”
