The Brunel Solar Team has left for South Africa for their participation in the Sasol Solar Challenge. The team is the only Dutch team taking part in this solar race, which is scheduled from 9 to 16 September.
During the Sasol Solar Challenge, teams race a solar-powered vehicle from Johannesburg to Cape Town. This is a biennial race in which teams from all over the world participate. They drive entirely on solar energy during the eight-day race and do not consume a drop of fuel.
The Sasol Solar Challenge has an altitude difference of almost 2,000 metres. Also, the weather conditions faced by the participating teams are often variable. This brings additional challenges; the Brunel Solar Team describes the race as the ultimate test of technology in solar cars.
Setbacks
This is not the first time the Brunel Solar Team has participated in the race. In 2014 and 2016, the Dutch ran away with the win. However, the team suffered major setbacks in the following years. In 2018, for instance, the team was penalised by the organisation two days before the finish after a sick team member put his luggage in a follow car of the Japanese team Tokai and wanted to take place in this vehicle. The Japanese filed an official complaint about this, after which the team - then the Nuon Solar Team - had to abandon more than 100 kilometres to Tokai. With this, the team lost its lead position. Despite this, the team managed to win the 2018 edition.
In 2019, the team's NunaX solar car - then operating under the name Vattenfall Solar Team - burned out completely during the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. The vehicle caught fire on the final day of the race some 300 kilometres from the finish line. The driver was able to exit the vehicle in time. The 2020 Sosal Solar Challenge was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Self-built engine
This year, the team will appear at the start of the Sosal Solar Challenge for the first time with a self-built engine. This engine can deliver up to twice as much power with the same weight and is more efficient than previous engines. With it, the team hopes to take first place in the race again this year.
The team consisting of 11 students from Delft spent a year working towards the race. During this year, they have been guided by strategic coach Marc Lammers. "It is extraordinary to see how motivated these students are," says Lammers. "For a year, these students put their studies on hold to focus full-time on the race. Every team member has their own role in this. I think it's cool that I was able to guide the students again this year."
Team building and prioritisation
"I am proud that together we have managed to forge a team that has worked its ass off to appear at the start line immediately," said Lammers. In several sessions, he helped with team building and prioritisation. Lammers also assisted the team in choosing to participate with a self-developed engine. Lammers: "Hopefully that will ensure that we cross the line as winners again this year."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Photo: Brunel Solar Team / Glasnost
