Top Gun Tuesday

After months of closely guarded secrets, Toyota Challenger Class teams revealed their
million-dollar aerodynamic masterpieces – chassis’ chock full of high-end tech and next level innovation. In
this fiercely contested top tier of the competition, minutes and seconds can make the difference.

 

Tuesday’s showdown follows the successful clearance of the first solar electric car to make it through 2025
scrutineering, with that honour going to Eclipse ETS from Canada with Eclipse 12, with all nine
stations showing the green light.

 

Belgian defending champions, Innoptus Solar Team’s ‘Infinite Apollo’, have doubled down on their single fin
design that helped them sail to victory in 2023, offering up a dual-fin aerodynamic system of two
asymmetrical fins behind the cockpit. Each has a unique profile and can be deployed based on wind
conditions. Raising the bar further, the team have also developed an adaptive ride height system, ‘the
bounce’ powered by a hydraulic mechanism, to adjust its chassis’ height in real time based on speed and
road conditions. Will it be enough to power them across the finish line for the ultimate hat trick?

 

The flying Dutch teams are hoping to deny them the chance. Living up to their flying moniker, former
champions, Brunel, who’ve taken home the Championship Cup more than any other team, had a revelation
of their own, after launching the world’s first fin to be deployed on a catamaran last month, they
introduced, a second larger fin they call ‘ the sword’ which they hope will slay this year’s contestants. Their
compatriots, Solar Team Twente, are back with RED Discover, kitted out with an evolved latex system which
optimises the aerodynamic performance, and Top Dutch with Green Falcon, their team’s their first
catamaran design also featuring a ride height system to aid aerodynamics.

 

The static scrutineering process is a rigorous testing procedure to ensure the solar vehicles are ‘fit’ for the
Challenge and comply with 2025 regulations. BWSC Event Ambassador, Chris Selwood AM, said the
technology being revealed this year was ‘next level’.