The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge begins tomorrow
With test laps and pole position secured – 39 teams are set to race on Sunday, heading off from Darwin for the longest solar-powered car race through the Australian desert.
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Pole position for the hottest and longest solar-powered car race through Australia has been crowned and the coveted position has gone to German team Sonnenwagen from Aachen.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge begins Sunday and 39 teams from around the world will set off from Darwin’s State Square and traverse the desert, driving 3000km over seven days to the finish line in Adelaide.
Teams on Saturday raced each other at Hidden Valley competing for the best lap time of the racetrack and securing the best starting position for tomorrow, when the first car is flagged off at 8am.
Although the race favourites were the teams from the Netherlands and Brussels – both teams having arrived in Darwin a month early to test their vehicles and drivers against the Top End heat – the German team was the dark horse of the day.
Their car clocked an impressive speed of 88.4km/h, followed by the Belgian team Innoptus at 87.7km/h with the Dutch team coming in a close third at 86.3km/h.
The Australian team from UniNSW won their category for the fastest in the CSIRO Cruiser Class, posting a time of 78.4km/h.
Event director Chris Selwood said it was clear Team Sonnenwagen had been diligent in its preparation, demonstrating exceptional teamwork and attention to detail.
Team member Lina Schwering, who has participated in the event for four years, said winning pole position for the fastest lap time was an incredible feeling.
“We’ve been working so, so hard to get this car on the track and out into the outback,” she said.
“It’s great to get that first little reward.
“It’s been so lovely to be here, it’s a little bit hot for us – we’re European so we’re not really used to that.
“Other than that it’s been really incredible, we got time to explore the city, see some crocodiles.
“The people have been so lovely, so welcoming.”
In terms of a race strategy and advice to other teams, Ms Schwering said, “just follow the plan”.
“It’s 3000km, it’s a long way, a lot can happen.
“We’ve done a lot of algorithms, we have software, which is able to tell us specifically at what speed we should be driving, it takes into account the weather, the current state of the car and we just adhere to that.
“Of course unexpected things can happen – that’s part of the fun.”
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Originally published as The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge begins tomorrow
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