The World Solar Challenge began on Sunday with 42 solar cars, including two from Siam Technology College (STC), crossing Australia from its tropical north to its southern shores.
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Thai cars join solar-powered race across Australia
Bangkok Post and Reuters
SYDNEY: The World Solar Challenge began on Sunday with 42 solar cars, including two from Siam Technology College (STC), crossing Australia from its tropical north to its southern shores, a gruelling 3,000 kilometre race through the outback.
The race from Darwin to Adelaide is expected to take a week for most cars, with speeds of 90-100 km/h powered only by the sun.
Race director Chris Selwood said the biennial event has attracted one of the best fields ever, with teams from more than 40 countries.
"This is the 30th anniversary of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and competitors want to be part of that. They have been drawn to the challenge of new regulations which reduced the solar array size without limiting the size of the solar car," Selwood said.
Teams come from countries including Thailand, United States, Japan, Germany, Chile, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Belgium, Sweden, Iran, South Korea, India, Hong Kong, South Africa, Poland, Turkey, Canada, Taiwan and Australia.
STC attended the event again after it made a debut two years ago. This time they are represented by two cars: one competing for the most efficient car in the race and another for the 'car for the future'.
"We are ready after our experience from the last race," said Thakrit Pankib, the STC-2 World Solar Challenge project director.
The college finished the journey two years ago, although it did not receive any reward.
"We will do our best this time so that all Thais will not get disappointed," he said on YouTube.
The fastest time was achieved by Japan's Tokai University in 2009, completing the transcontinental race in only 29 hours and 49 minutes.
