ASXE keen to bounce back after title heartache
With closest rivals Rosberg X Racing (RXR) on the back foot, ASXE's Laia Sanz had to pass Veloce Racing's Molly Taylor to take a first Extreme E title.
However, in a gut-wrenching twist for the Spanish outfit, a mechanical failure and subsequent roll forced the team out of contention, handing the championship to Nico Rosberg's outfit. Here's how Sanz and team-mate Mattias Ekström were forced to settle for best of the rest at the 2023 finale in Chile.
ASXE went into the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix riding on the crest of an almost impeccable year. With eight rounds behind them this season, including two victories, the Spanish outfit had it all to play for to take their first Extreme E Championship crown at the Chile season finale.
Despite heading to South America as the series leaders, a 0.35s-deficit to nearest rivals RXR in the Round 9 Grand Final meant the team entered Finals Day as the underdog as they conceded their place at the top of standings.
With a six-point deficit, Sanz and Ekström got to work, narrowing the gap to five after taking a triumphant win in their Heat during first Qualifying session. The points gap was maintained after Qualifying 2, meaning the 2023 title race went down to the wire.
The Spanish team needed to secure victory in the Grand Final or clinch second place, while hoping their German rival, would finish fourth or lower.
In one of the most remarkable and dramatic races in Extreme E history, a flawless launch from Ekström propelled his ASXE ODYSSEY 21 into a crucial lead. As the Swede attempted to break away from the chasing pack, a near-roll and puncture for RXR's Johan Kristoffersson seemed to drop Nico Rosberg's outfit out of the reckoning, thus handing ASXE a major advantage in the championship race.
The pendulum continued to swing back and forth, however. Ekström could not break free of Veloce Racing's Kevin Hansen, while back in fifth Kristoffersson limped back to the Switch Zone to repair the puncture and his fix his damaged car.
Ekström held position as the leaders entered the Switch Zone at the half-way point, but as the teams exited following the driver change Sanz had lost the lead to Veloce Racing's Taylor. As Sanz chased her Australian counterpart, worse news was to follow for ASXE.
As a result of contact between X44 Vida Carbon Racing and the NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team further back, RXR had leapt up to third despite their severely damaged ODYSSEY 21.
That meant Sanz had to pass Taylor for the win, otherwise a chance at taking ASXE's first title would disappear. A resolute defence from the Veloce Racing driver ensured Sanz could not get by as they entered the final tour.
As Sanz tried everything to regain first place, upon landing after a jump, the car's rear left rack rod broke amid suspension compression. Despite Sanz's valiant attempts to continue after an initial spin, this mechanical failure, followed by a nasty roll as Sanz attempted to resume, forced ASXE out of the running and the championship picture. Thankfully the valiant Sanz emerged from her car unscathed.
It was a cruel way for the team's championship to end, with Sanz and Ekström having to settle for second in the standings behind RXR, who added the 2023 title to their 2021 honours.
Laia Sanz, ASXE, said: "It is tough to lose a championship like this. I tried everything, but it was not enough. I lost the position at the exit of the switch zone and from then on, I knew I had to push to get the win because the second place was not enough to be champions. If RXR finished third or better, like it ultimately did, the second was too short. I felt something strange in the car and something broke, and then I rolled over as I tried to return to the track. I am sorry for the entire team."
Mattias Ekström, ASXE, said: "When you are so close to being champion, it always hurts. When you lead and you almost have it in your bag, in the end, it doesn’t matter why you didn’t get it. We have to congratulate Rosberg X Racing. They were slightly better than us and they made fewer mistakes, which is important in such a tight championship.
"I have had fun in my return to Extreme E with the ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team. Thanks to all the team members for all their hard work. Now it’s time to go back home and celebrate Christmas."
Although undoubtedly deflated, ASXE can take great comfort from their most competitive Extreme E campaign to date. The team were runners-up after claiming two wins and four further visits to the podium. ASXE also took the crown in the overall 2023 Continental Traction Challenge by clinching the most super sectors - three in total - across the ten-event calendar.
Carlos Sainz, ASXE, said: "It was not the end of the Championship that we were hoping for, but I am really proud of the team and what Mattias and Laia have done throughout the season. To suffer such a disappointment, first, we must get to the last race with a shot at winning. In hindsight, we likely lost the Championship in Sardinia when an electrical cable inexplicably broke and left us outside of the Grand Final. Motorsports sometimes play bad tricks on you, like in the final race, when we had everything to win. In the end, you can’t relax until you cross the chequered flag.
"In any case, I am really proud of the team and our drivers, and I also want to thank ACCIONA, Banco Santander and Asterra for all the support they have brought us this season as our sponsors."
Joan Orús, Team Principal of ASXE, added: "I am proud of the team. All of the ten races were incredibly intense, and we fought for the Championship up until the last lap of the last event. We showed that we are a winning team and that we had the pace. As a team, we knew how to clinch race wins and fight until the end, and play with luck, which is also a part of life.
"We almost made it, but I am really proud of the team and our drivers."
