1999 World Solar Challenge

The 1999 World Solar Challenge was one of a biennial series of solar-powered car races, covering about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) through the Australian Outback, from Darwin, Northern Territory to Adelaide, South Australia.

1999 World Solar Challenge
The 5th edition of the World Solar Challenge
Host CountryAustralia Australia
Dates run17-26 October 1999
StartDarwin, Australia
FinishAdelaide, Australia
Race Distance (km)2998.7
Total Distance (km)3,028
Results
WinnerAustralia Aurora Solar Car Team
2ndCanada Queens University
3rdAustralia University of Queensland

There were 40 entrants in the event, 28 of which completed the course.[1] The overall winner was Aurora 101, built by the Aurora Solar Car Team of Australia at an average speed of 72.96km/h. It is the only edition of the race to be won outright by an Australian team.[2]

Route

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The World Solar Challenge runs across approximately 3,000km from Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, to Adelaide, the capital of South Australia.

Control points are established along the route for driver changes and public viewing opportunities. In 1999, these included Katherine, Dunmarra, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Cadney Park Homestead, Glendambo, Port Augusta and Angle Vale.[3][4]

Results

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The Aurora Solar Car Team[5] from Melbourne, Australia won the event outright.[1]

Rank Team Car Country Class Time (hr:mn) Speed (km/h)
1 Aurora Aurora 101 Australia 41:06 72:96
2 Queens University Radiance Canada 41:33 72.12
3 University of Queensland SunShark Australia 41:50 71.86
4 Northern Territory University Desert Rose Australia Silver Zinc 42:14 71.00
5 Kanazawa Institute of Technology KIT Golden Eagle Japan Silver Zinc 44:33 67.31
6 Tamagawa Solar Challengers Tamagawa Super Genbow Japan Silver Zinc 45:26 66.00
7 Lake Tuggeranong College Spirit of Canberra Australia 45:31 65.86
8 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Manta GTX USA Cutout 45:34 65.81
9 University of Michigan Maize Blaze Japan 47:34 63.04
10 Osaka Sangyo University OSU Model S Australia 48:21 62.02

Separate classes were convened based on the solar cell material used by teams.[6]

Silver Zinc class

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Class[6] Overall[1] Team Car Country Time (hr:mn) Speed (km/h)
1 4 Northern Territory University Desert Rose Australia 42:14 71.00
2 5 Kanazawa Institute of Technology KIT Golden Eagle Japan 44:33 67.31
3 6 Tamagawa Solar Challengers Tamagawa Super Genbow Japan 45:26 66.00

Silicon class

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Class[6] Overall[1] Team Car Country Time (hr:mn) Speed (km/h)
1 14 SA Solar Car Consortium NED Australia 55:13 54.31
2 20 Southbank University Mad Dog III UK 59:11 50.67
3 21 Central Queensland University Capricorn Solar Flair Australia 60:27 49.61

Cutout class

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Class[6] Overall[1] Team Car Country Time (hr:mn) Speed (km/h)
1 8 MIT NED Australia 45:34 65.81
2 20 Aoyama Gakuin University AGU Aglaia Japan 58:21 51.39
3 21 University Missouri Rolla USA 63:27 47.26

Private class

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Class[6] Overall[1] Team Car Country Time (hr:mn) Speed (km/h)
1 11 Solar Motions Cascade Cruiser USA 48:21 62.02
2 15 Jona Sun Jona Sun Japan 55:45 53.79
3 17 Junkyard Junkyard Japan 56:54 53.79

Cycle challenge

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The Electricity Trust of South Australia sponsored a solar-powered cycle challenge over approximately 1,500km from Alice Springs to Adelaide.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Team List". 140.112.14.7. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  2. ^ "Honour Roll | World Solar Challenge 2023". worldsolarchallenge.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. ^ "Checkpoint Data". 2000-09-30. Archived from the original on 2000-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  4. ^ "Control Stop Information". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  5. ^ "About Us | Aurora Solar Car Team". www.aurorasolarcar.com. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  6. ^ a b c d e "1999 Results". 2001-04-04. Archived from the original on 2001-04-04. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  7. ^ "Solar cycles - a quick guide to the vehicles and the rules of the Challenge". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.