Unis to race against world’s best

FIVE of Australia’s leading universities will come together to take on the cream of the world’s solar car teams for next year’s World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide.

The Queensland University of Technology, the University of Technology Sydney, RMIT University, the University of South Australia and Curtin University will come together for the first time as the Australian Technology Network to race the 3000km across the country.

Yesterday, the group became the first official entry for the 2019 event but race director Chris Selwood said more would follow from all across the globe.

“With the announcement of the 2019 regulations, the wait is over for the teams whose industrial design students are developing their concepts in anticipation of one of the world’s greatest adventures,” he said.

“Next year’s event sees an evolution of the disruptive changes introduced (at the) last event, which teams will need to apply to their concept.

“With the event increasing its international profile year on year, we are expecting around 45 team registrations from more than 20 countries.”

Picture: AAP IMAGE Bridgestone’s Ken Oyama, student designer Matthew Millar, drive strategist Erika Belchamber and World Solar Challenge race director Chris Selwood.