With 100 days until the start of the world’s greatest innovation and engineering challenge, The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC), the countdown is on!

Teams from Australia and around the world are racing to be ready for the start. Countless hours of design, manufacturing and testing are already behind them, and the clock is ticking faster, bringing them closer to the ultimate proving ground for their hi-tech solar electric innovations on wheels – the infamous, 3,000 kilometre ‘test track of the Aussie outback’, the Stuart Highway, between Darwin and Adelaide.

Some 15,951 km from the finish line in Adelaide, Belgian defending champions, the Innoptus Solar car team from KU Leuven University, is in Antwerp getting set to reveal their 10^th solar car. At 10.30 am today Belgian time, after a pandemic enforced wait of four years, the team will introduce what they hope will be the winner of the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and earn them this most prestigious world title for the second time.

Speaking about the upcoming reveal and the anticipation building 100 days out from the event, BWSC Event Director, Chris Selwood AM said if history repeats, we can expect the Belgians to reveal something special at their launch today.

‘In the past, we’ve seen them produce an aerodynamic, shark inspired fin, that allowed their car to harness the wind, and unique steering mechanisms. With their 17-year history of building solar cars I’m looking forward to hearing about their next innovations and seeing them firsthand at scrutineering in Darwin this October, with the rest of our illustrious field’ Chris said.  

‘With millions of dollars invested in proprietary technology generated by the BWSC, competition is fierce, and a winning reputation is priceless. Innovations designed to bring speed, stability, range, and reliability are closely guarded and it’s exciting to see such incredible technology being launched by all the teams around the world,’ Chris added.

‘Just this week we’ve seen the spectacular launch of Nuna 12, hope of the Dutch champions, Brunel Solar team, who I expect to fiercely contest the Challenge. To win they’ll have to account for their Dutch compatriots, the tenacious teams from Japan, the Swiss, Swedish, Germans, Australians, Canadians, English and so many more. And then there’s the Cruisers – a wholly unique class of solar electric vehicles pushing the boundaries of range, reliability, and performance in many cases with better results than current EVs in market. That’s why this event is so exciting, winners can come from anywhere and anything can happen,’ Mr Selwood said.