Day 3 Update: Top Gun Battle As Teams Fly Across The Border

With more than half the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge now complete and the leaders across the South Australian border just after midday it is a three-way battle for the lead. Team Brunel from The Netherlands in Nuna 13 were first into the Alice Springs at 8.11 am this morning, just 25 seconds ahead of Belgian defending champions, Innoptus, in Infinite Apollo. Both teams have had fins in play so far. Proving you don’t need a fin to fly, Team Twente, also from the
Netherlands is just minutes away in third.

 

This leadership tussle has continued all day with less than 10 minutes separating the three teams. With less than 300 kilometres to go until the Coober Pedy Control stop, Brunel looked to be slightly extending their lead, but in this race the only thing for certain is that anything can happen. Twente overtook Innoptus who were forced to stop for a tyre change. The race now on for Innoptus to regain second place.

 

German team, Sonnenwagen Aachen are maintaining in fourth position, around 50 minutes behind the lead group. They are followed by USA’s Michigan in Millenium, also maintaining their position, sitting some 30 minutes behind. In what is shaping up to be a close contest for order in the Top 10, Tokai from Japan is sitting several minutes behind Michigan, JU from Sweden 15 minutes back and Australia’s Western Sydney in Unlimited 6.0. just minutes behind in 8th position. Neumann from Hungary, Eclipse from Canada and Top Dutch, are all fighting to make it into the Top 10, around 2.5 hours from the leader.

 

In the Cruiser Class, Estonia’s Solaride checked in to Alice Springs at 1.30 pm closely followed by Hong Kong’s Sophie 8X at 1.44 pm, with Taiwan’s Apollo not far behind on the outskirts of Alice Springs. Italy’s Onda Solare is also headed for the Alice Springs, around 60 kilometres behind; around 100 km further north, Australia’s Sunswift is four minutes ahead of fellow Aussies DUST. Both are expected to reach Alice Springs before end of day, with Minnesota camping further north.

 

As clouds start to roll in and rain begins to fall, it remains to be seen who will best handle the predicted stormy weather.