In July 2026, the students of the Innoptus Solar Team (KU Leuven) will travel to the United States to participate in the American Solar Challenge. After a strong performance and third place in Australia in August 2025, the Belgian team wants to showcase Belgian innovation in America.

For the first time, the Belgians are participating in the American Solar Challenge, an eight-day race in which student teams from all over the world must cover the longest possible distance with their solar cars.

The Belgian vehicle, the Infinite Apollo, proved itself a super performer in Australia, giving the team strong confidence that first place is within reach again.

Safety regulations

The American race is not only longer but also involves heavier traffic and more elevation gain. The solar car will therefore have to be adapted to these new conditions. Regulations also differ.

As a result, their vehicle, the Infinite Apollo, requires some structural modifications. For example, a metal roll cage must be installed above the pilot’s head – a requirement of the US safety regulations.

The date and route have not yet been announced, which makes it extra challenging to assess the specific situation. What the team can do is look at historical weather information and at routes from previous editions to gain some knowledge from them.