The world’s hardest solar car race is back, with 34 teams from 17 countries driving 3,000km across the tough Australian outback. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge began in Darwin on Sunday and will finish in Adelaide, testing the limits of engineering, endurance, and solar technology.
Among the competitors is Western Sydney University’s red solar car, the Unlimited 6.0, which looks more like a speedboat than a sedan. It can travel at highway speeds while using no more energy than it takes to boil a kettle. Messages of encouragement are scribbled across its solar panels, including one that says, “Get this man a beer.”
The race is especially challenging this year as it is being held in winter for the first time, with teams working to keep their cars running efficiently under reduced sunlight. Electrical lead Micah Honan, returning for her second race, says solving such problems is what makes the challenge exciting: “Engineering is not just a field of study, but a mindset.”
The event was first held in 1987, has now grown into a global showcase of innovation, attracting millions of online viewers. In this, Teams must drive as far as possible each day before camping in the desert at 5 pm, facing extreme heat, long open roads, and rough terrain.
The race has three classes: Challenger, where cars are powered only by the sun and carry one driver; Cruiser, which are built to carry passengers and can recharge after 5 pm; and Explorer, which showcase new ideas and experimental technologies.
Event ambassador Chris Selwood praised the students and engineers, saying that building a solar car capable of making the journey is already an incredible achievement for those chasing “dreams of a more sustainable future.”
With teams from Germany, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Estonia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the US, and more, the race highlights how solar-powered transport could one day shape the cars of tomorrow.
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