The Brunel Solar Team maintains its lead in the Australian Solar World Championship after three days. Today, Nuna 13 crossed the border from the Northern Territory to South Australia, officially marking the halfway point of the 3,000-kilometer race. Despite a tense start, which included technical issues during the static charging process and a heavy cloud cover, the team managed to maintain its lead.

Once on the road, Nuna 13 proved to be in top form and the race began with rival Innoptus Solar Team hot on its heels. On the way to Alice Springs, a thrilling tactical duel developed, with both teams cleverly handling heavy traffic. “We knew the traffic at Alice Springs would be heavy, so we had planned the best driving strategy beforehand,” says Kees Broek, a driver for the Brunel Solar Team. “During the drive, I changed lanes a few times to maintain the pace. At a traffic light, we were alongside Innoptus Solar Team, but because we deliberately chose the left lane, we were able to accelerate a little faster at the green light and take the tight corner. As a result, we came into the control stop first.”

Strong control stops

After the first stop, Nuna was able to further extend its lead. With meticulously executed control stops, which allowed the team to gain time on the competition, their position was consolidated. “The secret to a good control stop is a lot of practice,” says Elias Wawoe, pre-scout with the Brunel Solar Team. “We have clear protocols, and the entire team follows them down to the second. The driver gets out, then the panel has to be positioned at the right angle to the sun, and then the team presses the ‘time button’ as quickly as possible. From that moment on, the mandatory thirty minutes for static charging begin. It’s at these moments that you realize how important preparation and teamwork are.”

Changeable weather

The canopy fin, intended to provide extra propulsion, was deployed several times throughout the day. As the race moves further south, the changing climate becomes noticeable. A thick cloud cover and cooler temperatures made the race even more challenging. Wawoe: “In cloudy conditions, we constantly have to balance speed and energy consumption. Less sun means less energy income, so we adjust our pace accordingly. It’s a constant balancing act and a forward-looking approach.”

Because the Innoptus Solar Team was stopped due to a tire change, Solar Team Twente moved up to second place. With two more days of racing expected to go, the top teams remain close behind.

About the Brunel Solar Team

The Brunel Solar Team is a team of Delft students who build a solar car every two years to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge: the world championship solar racing event in Australia. Since its founding in 1999, the team has competed eleven times, seven of which have been world champions. Combining innovation, sustainability, and teamwork, the team’s mission is to contribute to a future of clean mobility with its solar cars.

https://worldsolarchallenge.org

Images credit: Hans-Peter van Velthoven and Jorrit Lousberg