world solar car challenge Page 15

The World Solar Challenge is Australia’s gloriously bonkers 3,000 km trek for sunlight-powered machines that go like the clappers on a diet of photons. Teams drive from Darwin to Adelaide via the Stuart Highway, proving engineering students can survive both the Outback and group assignments. There are classes for sleek single-seat racers and more practical multi-seat cruisers, with strict rules on energy use, safety, and solar array size. Average speeds can shame commuters, but efficiency is the real trophy here. The event runs biennially, drawing universities and innovators from around the globe, plus the odd fly that wants to be famous. For exact route details and rules for the current edition, consult official documentation.