Belgians win solar challenge with Australia taking Cruiser Class title

Belgian solar team Innoptus has won successive Bridgestone World Solar Challenge titles.

its solar car crossed the Adelaide finish line on October 27 in 34 hours, four minutes, and 41 seconds – about 48 minutes faster than their 2019 win (the biennial event was cancelled due to COVID in 2021).

Travelling about 3600km from Darwin, the Belgian’s aerodynamic Infinite with a fin for stability handled the windy conditions which affected many in the Projecta Challenger Class.

Wind was also a factor in the CSIRO Cruiser Class.

None of the Cruiser Class teams were able to complete the arduous second stage 650km run from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy by 5pm where they could recharge, so the on-road scoring component was calculated from the last completed stage.

University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney’s Sunswift 7 won the Cruiser Class – the first time an Australian car has done so.

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