Solar Team Twente: Chasing the Sun
The Journey of Solar Team Twente during the Sasol Solar Challenge
After an intense and challenging week in South Africa, Solar Team Twente proudly finished second in the Sasol Solar Challenge! We’d love to take you through our experiences over the past eight days.
Day 1: The Start
The race kicked off with high tension at the Graceland Casino grounds. At 9:02 AM, we departed as the third team and quickly overtook the Belgian Solar Team. With a lead over the Innoptus Solar Team and a large group of enthusiastic schoolchildren cheering us on, we felt incredibly motivated. We ended the day on a high note by overtaking the Brunel Solar Team and arriving first—having covered the same distance as them!
Day 2: Preparing for the Marathon Stage
The second day was all about preparation and strategy. We braced ourselves for the challenging marathon stage. After an exciting race over bumpy roads, where we passed Innoptus, we ended the day third in Zeerust. This day taught us the value of teamwork and efficiency.
Day 3: Exciting Neck-and-Neck Race
With a shared second place in the standings and 1,579.9 km on the counter, day 3 was a real spectacle. Despite a 1-minute time penalty, we reached the checkpoint ahead of schedule. The battle with Innoptus was intense, but our determination kept us in the race!
Day 4: Taking the Lead
Today was our day! Thanks to a smart strategy and an extra loop, we managed to take the lead. It felt amazing to arrive first with 2,163 km behind us. We were ready for the upcoming challenges and confident about the stages ahead.
Day 5: Minimal Margins
Day five brought thrilling moments with minimal differences among the top three teams. Despite a time penalty, we still held a strong second place, with 2,777.3 km logged. Innovation was our ace with SABINE, which helped us make optimal use of the sun.
Day 6: Cold Nights and Dense Fog
The sixth day began with frozen solar panels on the camping ground of our fellow challengers and low temperatures. Thanks to our workshop tent, RED XI was spared that fate. But our will to win was stronger! Despite the strategic challenges caused by thick fog and cloud cover, we managed to maintain second place and looked forward to the exciting “blind stage” the next day.
Day 7: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
During the ‘blind stage’, we raced with a stunning view of the mountains. We kept one loop ahead of Innoptus and reached the finish in Riebeek-Kasteel. Despite a time penalty awaiting us for arriving after 5:00 PM, our focus and determination never wavered, and the spirit was high at camp that evening.
Day 8: The Finish in Cape Town
The final day was a true test of our endurance and team spirit. We finished second, just behind Innoptus Solar Team and ahead of Brunel Solar Team. Crossing the finish line in Cape Town felt like a victory. We are grateful for the support of our friends, families, and partners who stood by us throughout these eight days.
Our goal as Team ’24 was to fully harness the innovative potential of a project like Solar Team Twente. By using an existing car, we had the space—and the challenge—to focus on optimizations that in other editions often got sidelined due to time pressure. The sharkskin, the optimization of SABINE, the finely tuned motor controller and motor, and our improved strategic model—all contributed to this incredible adventure and result.
This journey not only brought us closer as a team, but also taught us what we can achieve through perseverance and teamwork. We’re already looking forward to the next challenge. Thank you to everyone who supported us! Together we are stronger! 🌟🚗💪
For more information please visit the Solar Team Twente website.
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