What is Solar Racing?
Solar racing is building very efficient, road-ready EVs that run on sunlight. We focus on aero, light structures, the array, battery control, and race strategy so the car goes a long way on a small energy budget.
TL;DR
- Solar racing builds ultra efficient EVs that run on sunlight with a small battery buffer.
- BWSC is ~3,000 km from Darwin to Adelaide every two years, with Challenger and Cruiser classes.
- Race days run 8:00 to 17:00 with 30 minute control stops. Teams camp by the road at night.
- Convoy has a lead car, the solar car, and a chase car. The chase sets speeds and strategy from live data and forecasts.
- ANU Solar Racing is a student team that brings composites, array work, battery, and machining in-house.
- My role covers aero, carbon structure, CFD automation, hands-on manufacturing, and race strategy.
- Why it matters: better aero, lighter structures, and smarter controls that carry into real EVs.
ANU Solar Racing
ANU Solar Racing is a student-run team from the Australian National University. We design, build, and race a solar car end to end, from concept and CAD through composites, electronics, testing, and race operations. This is done all while studying at uni. We bring as much technical work in-house as possible, including composites, solar encapsulation, battery, and machining, and we are active in outreach.
My role on the team
Our team cycles run for about two years. I have been part of two. I joined in 2022 on the Aerodynamics team. I learned the fundamentals, started new concepts, and made updates to the current car, SC3.
Later I worked on battery cooling, helped with the solar array, and designed and manufactured a rotating wheel-fairing system. That iteration culminated in the 2023 BWSC.
In the next cycle (2024 to 2025) I moved to Structures with responsibility for a new aerodynamic shell and a carbon-fibre chassis from scratch. I led the aero design. The regulations changed from 2023, so we committed to a very different concept. I then interfaced every subsystem into the carbon structure. I worked closely across the technical team to make the structure as efficient as possible. For the first time in team history we also brought a lot of carbon work in-house. I spent two intensive periods in Sydney laying up, ply by ply, from the aero shell through to secondary bonding for bulkheads.
I also worked on hinges for driver egress and optimal charging, and transparent light covers for brake, indicator, and daytime running lights to meet regulations. On the race I was a strategist, working with the chase car to set optimal speeds and to manage difficult weather, including severe storms and strong winds.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC)
The BWSC is the flagship event. The route is roughly 3,000 km from Darwin to Adelaide across Australia, and it is held every two years. Cars complete the route over several days, harvesting energy from the sun and managing a small battery buffer. There are two main classes: Challenger for single-seat, pure efficiency, and Cruiser for multi-occupant practicality with efficiency.
Brief history
In 1982 Hans Tholstrup and Larry Perkins drove the solar car Quiet Achiever across Australia from Perth to Sydney. It showed that long-distance solar travel is possible.
In 1987 the first World Solar Challenge ran from Darwin to Adelaide. It has continued to evolve with new technology, tighter rules, and strong international fields every cycle. In 2025 the event brought with 34 teams from 18 countries.
How the BWSC runs
Each day runs on a simple rhythm: cars may drive from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. At 5:00 pm you stop where you are, pull off safely, and camp self-sufficiently by the highway. In the morning you line up again and roll at 8:00 am. That daily box defines almost every decision.
Control stops
The route has official control stops in towns and roadhouses. Every team must pull in and serve a 30 minute stop. For most of that time the car cannot be touched. These stops are where you reset, charge if the sun is good, and check everyone is coping.
Convoy on public roads
The solar car does not travel alone. There is a lead vehicle in front to scout traffic and hazards, the solar car in the middle, and a chase vehicle close behind that handles comms, telemetry and decisions. Teams also have logistics and media vehicles further back. Everything happens in live traffic, so you drive to the normal road rules and work with other road users. This includes hazrds such as cattle grids and massive road trains.
Race strategy in practice
Strategy is about turning weather, battery state, terrain and traffic into a target speeds for the car to finish in the least time possible. The chase car watches live telemetry, forecasts and road notes, then calls speeds to the driver and decides when to push, when to bank energy, and when to change drivers. At stops you point the array for the best light, tidy losses, and plan the next segment.
Nights in the bush
After 5:00 pm you camp where you stopped. The team uses the time to inspect fasteners, tyres, brakes and HV systems, log issues, and prepare for the next day. You also look after people: food, hydration, sleep, and a plan everyone understands before the morning roll-out.
Why it matters
The constraints of BWSC push extreme efficiency: less drag, less mass, and smarter controls. The lessons translate to real EVs and to lightweight engineering more broadly.
Explore related work
See my projects for aerodynamics, composites, and simulation work. For more on the event, visit the official BWSC site or the ANU Solar Racing site .