Sonnenwagen takes pole to lead the 2025 field fins set to fly

Team Sonnenwagen Aachen flew the German flag proudly today as its Covestro Aethon, claimed pole position.

 

They will lead the field for tomorrow’s start of the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

 

The qualifying lap time was 1.52.51, seconds ahead of Top Dutch from The Netherlands, who posted a time of 1.56.20, with compatriots Brunel in Nuna 13, rounding out the top three with a time of 1.59.04.

 

Event Ambassador, Chris Selwood AM said the highly innovative Sonnenwagen team, has shown exceptional teamwork, hard work and attention to detail.

 

‘I expect to see them in in the mix of this hotly contested, highly competitive field, with any number of teams capable of crossing the finish first in Adelaide.

 

In what is shaping up to be the battle of the fins, a fourth team, Hungary’s John Von Neumann University today unveiled their secret weapon – the shark fin that can adjust automatically to wind conditions, to improve stability. They join defending Belgian champions, Innoptus Solar Team, who have two asymmetrical fins behind the cockpit, each with a unique profile that can be deployed based on conditions to harness winds like a sailboat. Dutch former champions, Brunel revealed a surprise second fin earlier in the week – their secret weapon, the swordfin, which can be mounted on the car to take advantage of favourable winds, increasing stability at high speed. American solar champions, Michigan Solar Team’s Millenium, also features a robotic, retractable, and rotating aerodynamic wing capable of generating forward thrust and enhancing crosswind stability.

 

However, it’s not the start of this event, but the finish line that’s the key. It is an endurance event of 3,000+ kilometres and there are some very fine solar cars lining up tomorrow. We wish all participants a safe journey as they take on the adventure this time in our Australian winter, ” Chris said.

 

Cars will begin arriving in Darwin’s State Square from 6 am tomorrow morning. The first car will be flagged off at 8 am.