On the fourth day of the American Solar Challenge, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team took first place. What began as a major setback turned into a surprising turnaround.

Once the team was on the road, it faced several challenges. The route was full of hills, which really put both the vehicle – Infinite Apollo – and the drivers to the test. They had to make the most of the available solar energy while maintaining speed.

Then the participants encountered various roadworks, which meant they had to remain constantly alert and regularly adjust their pace. Day 4 pushed both the team and the car to their absolute limits.

Penalties

At each stage stop, a balance was drawn up of the infringements noted by the observer, present at all times. The Belgian team received 12 miles’ worth of penalties, whilst Delft received no fewer than 40. The Innoptus Solar Team ended up starting the day as leaders, with a 2-mile lead over Delft.

A penalty is imposed if a team fails to come to a complete stop at a stop sign or exceeds the speed limit on public roads. Other traffic offenses may also be penalized. These penalties are then converted into extra miles traveled, which are added to the day’s final total.

Despite all the obstacles, the Innoptus Solar Team managed to firmly maintain their leadership position.