run fun

Run Fun - BY Daniel TREMA

As the head of WIN WIN, a company whose activities were devoted exclusively to Formula 3 and Formula 2, RUN FUN provided an opportunity to explore other technical and commercial ventures.

In 2018, the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles was taking its first tentative steps towards electrifying its cars.
RUN FUN’s first attempt that year was carried out in collaboration with Renault’s technical centre, using a Zoe loaned by the Guyancourt centre. Two friends, both recently retired Renault design engineers, redesigned the Zoe’s suspension to gain around 100 millimetres of ground clearance. Renault provided the charging facilities. The performance was respectable, but in a category that limited performance to that of a standard passenger car.

In 2019, Renault insisted that RUN FUN enter the Zoé again. This time it won its SUV category. But still in a state of complete ignorance.

With COVID-19 forcing the issue, a head-to-head with 4x4s became the obvious choice. The retrofit was born as one of RUN FUN’s objectives. However, the major issues encountered in previous events had highlighted the importance of logistics. Never mind that; Daniel TREMA, in contact with Jérôme BOUSQUET, the boss of XAP, proposed converting a semi-trailer into a mobile charging station capable of charging 20 cars simultaneously at 22 volts. No sooner said than done, XAP set about the project.

2023

The ‘Nomade’ made a successful debut on Moroccan tracks, with a 500 kWh battery and two 22 kW charging points.

XAP once again stepped up to the plate to design a retrofitted 4×4 vehicle. The Toyota RAV4 was chosen for its simplicity, weight, gearbox and widespread availability.

A rapid-response vehicle was also required. A fire engine from the south seemed ideal. Yet another challenge for the engineers at XAP.

2024

RUN FUN was collecting its vehicles for the 2024 Rally in the 4×4 category, but outside the official classification to allow for a degree of flexibility with regard to the regulations.

There were numerous problems with the cars due to poorly calibrated specifications. However, one car finished 56th despite penalties incurred because the single refuelling point for electric cars forced them to take detours.

As for the support teams and fire service, improvements are on the horizon, but the electricity suppliers were well organised.

2025

The year of truth. Revised specifications, a little more time for testing, and two cars entered in the race, plus one set aside for press testing.

Success was within reach. Only one car made it to the finish line; the other was forced to retire due to the front suspension being torn off. This was not down to any fault of our own, but rather a failure to fully appreciate the stresses placed on the mechanics.

The second car finished 26th after a remarkable comeback. Caution was the order of the day; reaching the finish line was paramount.

Perhaps not quite a podium-winning car yet, but a car with ‘incredible torque, agile, lightweight and forgiving of all mistakes’ – a comment that sums up a rally which validates a proven, eco-friendly technical solution featuring French engineering. The competition can continue; it is entering a new era.

RUN FUN: Key Dates