Belgians ready to defend title in world’s most extreme Solar Challenge

After thirteen weeks of hard work, the Belgian Solar Team has arrived in South Africa to participate in the world’s most extreme Solar Challenge. In October 2023, they became world champions with their solar car, the Infinite, in the World Solar Challenge in Australia. Now, they’re ambitious to win the world’s most extreme challenge.

The Sasol Solar Challenge, which will take place from September 13th to 20th, is considered the most extreme solar challenge in the world. The engineering students are incredibly excited to finally have arrived in Johannesburg, where they will make the final preparations for the eight-day competition. “For the team, this is the highlight after months of hard work in Belgium,” says Arne Basteijns, spokesperson for the Innoptus Solar Team.

Significant innovations

The Innoptus Solar Team will participate in the challenge with their tenth Belgian solar car, the Infinite, which became world champion in October 2023 and has since been modified to be ready for South Africa.

To meet the increased challenge, the Louvain-based students focused on significant innovations, including the most efficient cooling system and optimized airflow behind the car’s back.

‘New challenges’

By further optimizing its streamlined shape and highly efficient electrical components, such as the battery, solar panel, and motor, the Infinite is an exceptionally performance-oriented car and the most efficient Belgian solar car ever built.

“The Infinite has already proven to be among the world’s best in October 2023, but the course in South Africa brings new challenges,” explains Basteijns. “That creates healthy stress within the team.”

Exceptional weather conditions

The Sasol Solar Challenge is a solar car race in which student teams from all over the world drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town in eight days. During these days, they travel more than 4,000 km through busy cities, exceptional weather conditions, and extreme altitude differences. This challenge is, therefore, also seen as the most extreme in the world.

It is not the first time the Belgians have participated in this challenge. In 2022, the team took part in the Sasol Solar Challenge for the first time. Although they had a strong start, they still had to make way for the strong Delft team with years of experience in this competition. This time, the Belgians will do everything they can to win.