The heat is on

Forty-two solar powered vehicles are well on their 3000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

Teams from 21 countries are competing, many covering 1300km already after leaving Darwin on October 8.

Seven have entered from Australia but none from New Zealand.

The first car is expected in Adelaide around October 12, although the event doesn’t officially finish until October 15.

Most of the racers are in the Challenger Class, with the Adventure Class comprising cars from previous races and those which couldn’t get into the main race. A Cruiser Class has been added to find a more family friendly solar car.

The event’s main aim is to find “the world’s most efficient electric car”.

The Tokai University team from Japan was an early leader, and has won the competition twice before.

Its closest rival is the Delft University of Technology Nuon team from the Netherlands, which won the two previous challenges and has grabbed the lead nearing Alice Springs.

The cars are making the most of temperatures around 36 degrees Celsius.

The challenge is held every second year, and this is the 14th time it’s been run across Australia, in the event’s 30th anniversary race.

“This event is all about finding real and sustainable transport solutions,” Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand managing director Andrew Moffatt says.

The company also provided special tyres to selected teams.

Visit worldsolarchallenge.org

for more information.