Solar run challenge huge success
After travelling more than 1 300kms from Johannesburg, taking stops along the route, the 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge arrived in Graaff-Reinet on Monday 12 September.
The Sasol Solar Challenge (previously known as the South African Solar
Challenge) strives to be the ultimate test of technology and innovation, bringing together university and high school engineering teams and even private engineers from around the world who have manufactured fully functioning, roadworthy solar powered cars.
The Sasol Solar Challenge takes place every two years and is currently in its fourteenth year.
The teams challenge each other to cover as much distance as possible as they drive from Gauteng to the Western Cape in the 8-day long event, demonstrating and showcasing their design, manufacturing, and strategy skills. The challenge runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns. Day four of the event finished at the Botanical Sport Grounds in Graaff-Reinet with solar cars arriving from around 16:00 until 18:00.
On 13 September day five started at the DR Church in Church Street and ended at the Botanical Sport Grounds and on 14 September the challenge moved on to the next town.
“The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge brings new, interesting and challenging features, as well as new local and international teams, including those competing in South Africa for the first time. It includes special half and full blind stages where information relating to the route are withheld until the night before teams take on the road, forcing them to strategize last minute,” says Robert Walker, owner and director of the Sasol Solar Challenge.
Celebrating women
The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge is proud to introduce the women behind the wheels of the solar cars competing in this year’s event. The three women represent returning and first-time participating teams. In addition to operating the cutting-edge technologies, they also contributed with their engineering skills to the designing and building of the solar cars. Monica van der Walt is doing a master’s degree in Solid State Physics at the University of the Free State. She became involved in the solar car project in 2021 and was excited to be selected as one of the drivers to represent not only the solar car team, but all the women in her field.
The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge is the team’s first-ever solar challenge, meaning that this will be Monica’s first time driving a solar car. Zanele Maqache is a Lecturer at the Central University of Technology’s Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.
The team started competing in the Sasol Solar Challenge in 2018. This will be Zanele’s first time participating as a driver. She was selected as a driver because she met all the technical and physical requirements as per the Sasol Solar Challenge regulations. Preparing for the challenge, Zanele has been working mainly on her physical endurance and fitness. She is also training on a ‘digital twin’ of the car, mimicking different terrains and driving conditions.
Demi van Kampen is currently doing a master’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering (a field of product design) at Delft University in the Netherlands. Following multiple tests to select the best drivers to represent the team, Demi and two other drivers were chosen.
Amongst other qualities, Demi was selected because of her ability to stay calm during stressful or unexpected situations and to follow orders. These two skills are good to have during an endurance challenge. Brunel Solar Team is a seven-time global solar challenge champion and also the former champion of the 2014, 2016 and 2018 Sasol Solar Challenges. The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge is Demi’s first-ever solar challenge.
Day 4: 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge - Gariep
Dam to Graaff-Reinet
With 560,4km, Brunel Solar Team took the win on the fourth day of the Sasol Solar Challenge. Agoria Solar Team took 2nd place with 508,8km and TUT Solar Team 3rd with 422,2km.
Leaderboard
Brunel Solar Team 560,4 km (Delft University, The Netherlands)
Agoria Solar Team 508,8 km (University of Leuven, Belgium)
TUT Solar Team 422,2 km (Tshwane
University of Technology, South Africa)
Day 5: 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge – Graaff-Reinet.
Brunel Solar Team took another win on the fifth day. The win between the top teams was determined by the time they crossed the finish line in Graaf-Reinet due to covering the same distance in the blind stage. Brunel Solar Team crossed the finish line at 16:58:36 and Agoria Solar Team at 16:58:39. NWU Solar Car moved up and took 3rd place.