Driver Sebastien Loeb has asked Extreme E automaker Spark Racing Technology to “solve” the power steering problems that cost X44 a chance in the Saudi Arabian final, according to the Frenchman.
Loeb refers to an early power steering failure, a problem that also affected Carlos Sainz Sr during the shakedown and Chip Ganassi Racing pair Sara Price and Kyle LeDuc throughout Saturday.
Loeb said he had to “fight” to stabilize the SUV and called for the problems to be fixed before the next Senegal event on May 29-30.
It may also interest you: Extreme E: Hamilton team will have technical assistance from Prodrive
“We would expect to do better in the final. But everything is played in the first corner and we had a problem of power steering. It was a hard fight to keep the car on the track all of the race. Overall, I feel a bit disappointed for this final. But for the rest, I feel happy with the weekend.”
Loeb added that right at the end, the off-roader’s steering and mechanics were perfect even though there were teams of differing opinions.
Nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb and seasoned Dakar teammate Cristina Gutiérrez finished 1 minute and 14 seconds behind the victorious Rosberg X Racing pair in the AlUla desert semifinal.
“It’s just the beginning of the series so we are just discovering some tiny little things. The main thing is that we showed that together we can be fighting for the win. This is something we didn’t really know,” said the Frenchman.
Written by | Gabriel Sayago