Swiss food producer SUN AG is entering Extreme E for the 2024 campaign with its own racing outfit – SUN Minimeal Team.
The championship’s newest entrants will be led by German Timo Scheider, who will act as Team Principal as well as race for the SUN Minimeal team, and will be partnered by Sweden’s Klara Andersson.
Sharing the championship’s commitments towards raising awareness of the climate crisis and pioneering environmental solutions to reduce emissions, SUN AG has joined Extreme E to showcase its latest food innovations from Switzerland, as well as highlight the importance of global resources in nutrition and food waste.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to welcome the SUN Minimeal Team into our series as our latest entrant. Despite being a new team in the championship, SUN Minimeal Team arrives with plenty of experience and race-winning pedigree in its line-up, so we hope they will be fighting up at the sharp end of the field when the new season begins next month in Saudi Arabia.
“Everyone pulling in the same direction is so important in Extreme E, and SUN AG is undoubtedly an organisation which is environmentally conscious and focused on sustainability, sharing the core values of our championship. I look forward to seeing how Timo and Klara fare behind the wheel and SUN Minimeal Team battling for podiums and victories in 2024, as we count down to our fourth Extreme E season.”
On joining Extreme E Wolfgang Grabher, CEO of SUN AG, said: “Especially in racing, a performance-supporting diet is extremely important. SUN Minimeal is the simplest and safest way to eat healthily and sustainably. The special thing about it is that it contains all the natural nutrients in the right amount and with a low calorie content. The meal is especially appreciated by people who have little time, travel a lot and don’t want to miss out on a healthy diet.”
“Our involvement in Extreme E will help us to globally present our innovation for healthy nutrition and our mission to reduce nutritional resources by 90 per cent and reach up to 2.1 billion households.
“I am particularly pleased to have Timo Scheider, a champion and great team player, in the team and wish him and Klara Andersson all the best for the 2024 season.”
Two-time DTM champion Scheider has been part of the championship since its inception, firstly as Championship Driver and then as a full-time racer in the series, where the German has bagged two podiums for XITE ENERGY Racing and Carl Cox Motorsport, respectively.
Alongside Scheider will be Extreme E race winner Andersson, who celebrated her initial international successes in rallycross racing. She was the first woman to stand on the podium of a World Rallycross Championship round in Montalegre, Portugal, in 2022. Like Scheider, Andersson joined the series as a Championship Driver, but progressed to a race seat with ABT CUPRA XE where the Swede took victory in Uruguay in 2022 as well as three further podium finishes.
“The long-term partnership with SUN Minimeal is extremely exciting and makes me very happy,” said Timo Scheider, SUN Minimeal Team.
“The combination is a perfect fit, because I share common goals and philosophies with SUN Minimeal and Extreme E. I have been able to engage a number of highly competent team members, which will allow me to fully concentrate on my role as a driver.
“I am very proud that we have been able to recruit Klara as a driver. She is extremely fast and also fits perfectly well to the team. I am convinced that we have put together a strong package to play a significant role in the high-class competitive environment of Extreme E.”
“I am delighted to be part of the SUN Minimeal team and would like to thank Wolfgang Grabher and Timo Scheider for their trust,” added Klara Andersson, SUN Minimeal Team.
“I got to know Timo in the World Rallycross Championship as one of the fastest and hardest working racing drivers out there. To be able now to compete alongside him in Extreme E is simply cool. I can hardly wait for the season opener in Saudi Arabia!”
Extreme E Season 4 will begin in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 17-18 February and Scheider and Andersson will be aiming for a strong debut for SUN Minimeal Team.
James Taylor, Chief Championship Officer at Extreme E, said: “It is great to have SUN Minimeal Team join the Extreme E line-up for 2024. The team will bring some fresh energy into the series, while in Timo and Klara they boast a strong driver pairing which has already scored excellent results in the championship to-date.
“Their off-road racing abilities are second to none, while having Timo step into the unique role of Team Principal and race driver is sure to be fascinating given his wealth of experience in the series and across motorsport.
“We are pleased to welcome SUN Minimeal Team into the series and look forward to their debut next month in Saudi Arabia.”
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