The Olympic Games as an Inspiration: The Top Sport Mentality of the Brunel Solar Team

In a few days, the world's largest sporting event will commence once again: the Olympic Games. While ten thousand athletes worldwide prepare to perform at the highest possible level, the Brunel Solar Team is gearing up for the Sasol Solar Challenge, an international solar race in South Africa.

The summer of the Paris Olympics has arrived. For the members of the Brunel Solar Team, the ultimate sporting challenge still lies ahead. Under the guidance of former Olympic hockey coach Marc Lammers, they are entering the final phase of preparation for the Sasol Solar Challenge in September. With their solar car, Nuna12s, they aim to compete for their fifth world title.

This year, the Brunel Solar Team is competing for its fifth title in South Africa, or the "fifth ring" in Olympic terms. As part of their preparation, the team gathered at the Papendal sports center with their coach Marc Lammers. During his tenure as a hockey coach, the Dutch women's team won silver at the Athens Olympics and gold in Beijing. The students from TU Delft draw inspiration from these top athletes and sports moments, traveling last week with Nuna to Paris, the epicenter of the 2024 Olympic Games. For the occasion, the car donned an Olympic-themed outfit in red, white, and blue, featuring an illustration of the orange lion. With the team members, Nuna navigated through the city's hustle and bustle, passing by stands, stadiums, sports fields, and iconic locations like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

"Just as the Olympic Games are a pinnacle for athletes worldwide, the race in South Africa is the ultimate challenge for the Brunel Solar Team. Both events require intensive preparation, a strong team spirit, and the ability to perform under pressure," said Marc Lammers, coach of the Brunel Solar Team. "In their preparation, the team has shown the determination and discipline seen in top athletes. They work with unmatched focus and precision towards their goals, always seeking ways to improve themselves and their technology."

"We are currently pushing ourselves and each other to the limit. It feels like top-level sport. There's little time for friends and family, which can be tough. Working with Marc is incredibly valuable; he helps us mentally and creates a high-performance team culture," said Cato Kral, team leader of the Brunel Solar Team. "We’ve been at this for eleven months now and know each other inside out. It’s wonderful to see that we have come to appreciate each other's strengths and differences. Everyone is truly thriving in their respective roles."

On August 7, the team will depart for South Africa, where the race route will be driven in reverse from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Kral explains, "The entire race takes place on public roads, requiring meticulous preparation. Everything is logged during this test run. When is the best time to overtake? At what moments are the traffic lights green? Where can we expect traffic jams? Where are the significant elevations? We need answers to all these questions before the actual race takes place."

Driving the Nuna12s is vastly different from driving a regular car. Driver Huub Kavelaars says, "As a driver, controlling the car as quickly and efficiently as possible is paramount. Nuna has the same air resistance as a side mirror of a passenger car, making it very aerodynamic. Compared to a regular car, I sit more to the side and need to understand the handling better. I also sit very low to the ground, which feels different at high speeds due to less damping and a lot of noise. I am also trained to recognize these sounds to quickly identify any issues with the car."

Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, will serve as the base for the final training weeks. During this period, several alumni students will join the team to assist with various tasks, such as photography and videography, meteorology, and operational support. This creates a true F1-like team setup, and the countdown to September 13 can begin.