The world’s toughest road race—on solar power alone—known as the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, begins in Darwin, Australia this Sunday. Over 40 teams are currently preparing to race in this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind competition — more than 3,000 kilometers through the harsh Australian outback. This biennial event, which runs until August 31, challenges participants to design and engineer solar-powered vehicles capable of completing the course from Darwin to Adelaide.
The competition is divided into three vehicle classes that pits students’ innovation and engineering talent against each other. The Innoptus Solar Team from Belgium has made a mark by winning the ‘challenger’ class in both 2021 and 2023, with team member Kevin van der Putte aiming for another victory this year. At the same time, Jules Teeuwen will be in attendance on behalf of the Brunel Solar Team from the Netherlands, showing off what their cutting-edge vehicle can do.
With a total weight of 70 kilograms and built completely out of carbon materials, the Brunel Solar Team’s car is exceptionally lightweight. Teeuwen elaborated on the vehicle’s features, stating,
“Our solar car is a really aerodynamic car, it’s super light, it only weighs around 70 kilograms, purely made out of carbon.”
On the flanks of the Ventoux, Teeuwen had to grapple with the realities of racing in such dire conditions. Reflecting on the discomfort felt at past editions, he stated,
“And it also doesn’t require fuel, so it only uses the energy of the sun.”
Daniel Blik, manager of Solar Team Twente from the Netherlands, echoed the importance of this event in promoting sustainable transportation. He stated,
“It’s not very comfortable, in fact, in previous editions, we measured temperatures of up to 55 degrees Celsius, and you can also lose up to five kilos of sweat after one drive of the solar car.”
It’s a remarkable event attracting the world’s best minds and engineering talent as they take on extreme conditions to showcase new development in clean technology. As competitors start out on this rugged adventure, they’ll be welcomed by a roaring audience of two dozen spectators. These enthusiastic new recruits will flap their wings about this pasty white billboard featuring the inimitable “Welcome To the Northern Territory!”
“For us, it’s very important to show that there are other modes of transport available and that actual sustainable mobility is an option.”
The event attracts significant attention as teams prepare to navigate harsh conditions while promoting eco-friendly technology. Participants will be welcomed by a crowd of about two dozen people waving their hands in front of a sign that reads “Welcome to the Northern Territory” as they embark on this challenging journey.
