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 Country |  Australia |
| Dates run | 17-26 October 1999 |
| Start | Darwin, Australia |
| Finish | Adelaide, Australia |
| Race Distance (km) | 2998.7 |
| Total Distance (km) | 3,028 |
| Results | |
| Winner | Aurora Solar Car Team |
| 2nd |  Queens University |
| 3rd | 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
editThe 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
editThe 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
editThe Electricity Trust of South Australia sponsored a solar-powered cycle challenge over approximately 1,500km from Alice Springs to Adelaide.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Team List". 140.112.14.7. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Honour Roll | World Solar Challenge 2023". worldsolarchallenge.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Checkpoint Data". 2000-09-30. Archived from the original on 2000-09-30. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Control Stop Information". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "About Us | Aurora Solar Car Team". www.aurorasolarcar.com. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b c d e "1999 Results". 2001-04-04. Archived from the original on 2001-04-04. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Solar cycles - a quick guide to the vehicles and the rules of the Challenge". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2023-10-28.