The World Solar Challenge starts in
Darwin in the Northern Territory and travels the Stuart Highway to
Port Augusta and then via Highway 1 to the finish in the City of
Adelaide in South Australia – 3000kms.
In friendly competition with others attempting the same goals, the teams depart
Darwin aiming to be the first to arrive in
Adelaide. It's all about energy management! Based on the original notion that a 1000W car would complete the journey in 50 hours, solar cars are allowed a nominal 5kW hours of stored energy, which is 10% of that theoretical figure. All other energy must come from the sun or be recovered from the kinetic energy of the vehicle.
The elite Challenger class is conducted in a single stage from
Darwin to
Adelaide. Once the teams have left
Darwin they must travel as far as they can until 5pm in the afternoon where they make
camp in the desert where-ever they happen to be. Other classes have different requirements, but all teams must be fully self-sufficient and
for all concerned it is a great adventure - many say the adventure of a lifetime.
During the journey there are 7 mandatory
check points where observers are changed and team managers may update themselves with the latest information on the weather and their own position in the field. Here teams may perform the most basic of maintenance only - checking and maintenance of tyre pressure and cleaning of
debris from the vehicle.
There are also undisclosed
check points which may be imposed by the event officials to ensure regulatory compliance.
How to Enter the 2013 World Solar Challenge
We now officially welcome your interest in participating. You may opt to submit an Expression of Interest’ which will record your interest in participating, alternatively, you may complete and submit an official entry form thereby formalising your participation by requesting an invoice and taking advantage of the early bird payment discount.
Go to our website and download the entry form.