UNSW Sunswift 7 overcomes bushfire smoke to win World Solar Challenge

Sunswift, the UNSW Solar Racing Team that in 2018 broke a record for vehicle efficiency driving from Perth to Sydney, and which currently holds FIA and Guinness World Records for its solar-powered vehicles, has once again made headlines, winning the “cruiser class” of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

The event has been running for over 30 years with the goal of innovating a car that can travel 3,000 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide using solar power only. The teams, which usually comprise tertiary and secondary students from around the world, and leave Darwin with a nominal 5kW of stored energy and drive until 5pm each day where they make camp.

Competing in the CSIRO Cruiser Class field, the Sunswift team took an early points lead with four passengers (including driver). However, strong winds and smoky conditions from bush fires caused havoc across the field from day 2 onwards, meaning that none of the 10 teams were able to meet the second-stage deadline.

Race organisers subsequently announced that the final results would be based on the points standings from the stage 1 checkpoint of Tennant Creek, where Sunswift was well ahead of its rivals.

So much so, in fact, that Sunswift was the only team to make the Tennant Creek time target, carrying four people with an energy efficiency performance estimated at twice that of a current Tesla.

The remaining teams from the United States, Estonia, Taiwan, China, and a second Australian, team all received time penalties for failing to make Tennant Creek in stage 1.

In the end, Sunswift finished top of the rankings with a total score of 91.1 points, well ahead of the University of Minnesota in second place with 22.4 points, and Team Solaride from Estonia finishing third with 14.7.

This marks the first time that an Australian car has won the Cruiser Class category in the World Solar Challenge since it was first introduced back in 2015.

“This is called a Challenge for a reason – and it is obviously not an easy race,” said Richard Hopkins, professor of practice and Sunswift Racing team principal.

“When you are competing against the best in the world you have to go right to the edge of what is possible. And when you are at the very margins then something uncontrollable like the wind can play a big part.

“But overall, what we achieved is a massive success. We were the fastest car in the pre-race time-trial, we were ahead on the road, we were ahead on points, and we travelled further than any other team.”