More to come from SUN Minimeal Team following Saudi season opener
Despite a best finish of seventh from the first X Prix of the campaign, Scheider and Andersson are confident the team will move quickly up the order when the series returns for Rounds 3 and 4.
The Desert X Prix marked the team’s first-ever event in Extreme E, but in Scheider and Andersson they boasted a strong, experienced driver pairing – with race-winning pedigree amongst its ranks.
That was not enough, though, to secure a place in the Grand Final in SUN Minimeal Team’s maiden outing. Beset by technical issues, third and fourth from their qualifying heats ensured Scheider and Andersson would have to settle for the Redemption Race in Round 1.
Worse was to follow in the Redemption Race, with Scheider pulling over to retire his ODYSSEY 21 after the team’s reliability woes continued, ensuring the SUN Minimeal Team’s mechanics would have to work around the clock to get the car ready for Round 2.
“The whole day was jinxed,” reflected Timo Scheider, SUN Minimeal Team, after Round 1.
“We were doing well as long as the car was running smoothly. There was damage to the differential in the first qualifying session and a loss of power in the second. We also lost power steadily in the Redemption Race until I had to retire the car completely. It's a shame, because the whole team did a great job on their debut and the atmosphere in the squad was awesome!”
Klara Andersson, SUN Minimeal Team, added: “It was a tough first day. There was a problem in every session. In the Redemption Race, I sensed a lack of power right from the start and was well aware we might not make it to the finish. It was frustrating, but that's how racing can be sometimes. The positive thing is that we could match the pace of the top teams when everything ran normally.”
SUN Minimeal Team unfortunately encountered familiar difficulties in Round 2.
Despite a great early battle with Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E, third in Qualifying 1 was the best SUN Minimeal team could muster leaving Scheider and Andersson with plenty of work to do as they headed into their decisive Qualifying 2 heat.
After trading positions with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB IN ASSOCATION WITH JIMMIE JOHNSON in the early stages of their Q2 heat, SUN Minimeal Team finished just off the pace of the trio ahead of them, which ensured a spot in the Redemption Race once again.
A third-place finish, and therefore seventh overall, in the Round 2 Redemption Race concluded the team’s debut weekend in Extreme E.
Nevertheless, Scheider and Andersson will be eager to climb up the leaderboard when the championship returns for its European leg of the 2024 campaign in July.
Andersson added: “The weekend was really tough. The whole team is working with maximum effort to find out what the problem was. Everyone is disappointed, but no one is hanging their heads, no one is giving up. That makes me confident that we will solve our problems and come back all the stronger. We'll keep pushing!”
Looking back on his first weekend as Team Principal and driver for SUN Minimeal Team, Scheider said: “I think that was the most difficult race weekend ever for me in Extreme E. We replaced a lot of parts on the car to get to the root of the problem. But we're not really any smarter yet.
“As disappointing as the result in Saudi Arabia was, it was positive for me to realise that the new team is already working very well. Despite only getting one hour of sleep between rounds, everyone was fully motivated and focused again come the Sunday. I can only thank everyone for their tireless efforts!
“After the tight, and sometimes hectic, preparation period, we will take our time to work through the season opener and test extensively before really getting going in July at the next X Prix. I have no doubt that the entire team has the potential to fight for top positions in this highly competitive field.”
