NT-born students return to Darwin for Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Two students from an Adelaide university, who grew up in Darwin, are returning to make a childhood dream come true. Read how.

Ethan Taylor at the wheel for this year's Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Picture: Supplied

When Bryn Jarvis was a student at Nightcliff Primary school, he and his classmates were shown the car that the Netherlands team would be racing later that year in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

“I would have been in Year 4 or 5,” Mr Jarvis said.

“And the Netherlands won that year.

“I remember thinking (the vehicle) looked so cool, I really liked it.”

Now the 22-year-old civil engineering student from Coconut Grove is himself a contender in this year’s edition of the 3000km solar-powered car race from Darwin to Adelaide.

Bryn (left) and Ethan (right) from Darwin helped design a solar-powered car for this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Picture: Supplied

The race, which will take place over seven days from October 22, draws students from all over the world to the Territory to compete against each other in their self-built innovative designs.

Mr Jarvis will be joined by teammate and fellow Territorian Ethan Taylor, who is a fourth-year engineering and robotics student, originally from Howard Springs.

Mr Jarvis and Mr Taylor both study at Flinders University in Adelaide, so returning to Darwin for the World Solar Challenge is a homecoming for the two.

“It’ll be so exciting to be back in Darwin to be part of something that had such a big impact on my childhood,” Mr Jarvis said.

“Being part of the team and race is a real passion project.”

Bryn Jarvis at the wheel of their innovative solar-powered vehicle. Picture: Supplied

Bryn Jarvis working on the car that can drive 1,000km without charging. Picture: Supplied

Mr Jarvis and Mr Taylor have been part of the team building the Flinders Automotive Solar Team solar-electric car they have dubbed, the FAST car.

Designed to travel up to 1000km before it needs to be charged, the futuristic vehicle incorporates innovative solar technology designed to increase the battery capacity and efficiency of the car.

The team has made the car lightweight and improved its driving performance by “decreasing rolling resistance, increasing aerodynamics and range while improving handling”.

“Hopes are high for the Flinders car,” Mr Taylor said.

“The simulation and maths show that we should finish the race, but you never know what curveballs real life will throw at the car and the team.”

Ethan (left) and Bryn (right) pushing the car designed and built by the Flinders University team. Picture: Supplied

Mr Jarvis and Mr Taylor will drive two of the five support cars to assist the driver of the FAST car during the race.

Mr Jarvis, who is more than 1.8m tall, said it would be “a bit cramped inside” for him and he was “just stoked to be a support driver”.

“Every one of us on the team has an important job to do as we guide the FAST car to finishing and, you never know, winning.”