A “Boring” Day is a Good Day: Steady Progress in the World Solar Challenge 2025

A “Boring” Day is a Good Day: Steady Progress in the World Solar Challenge 2025

After the adrenaline-fueled twists and turns of Day 1, we were ready for a calmer, more “boring” day on the Stuart Highway — and thankfully, that’s exactly what we got! A boring day in a solar race usually means everything is running smoothly, and that’s precisely what we aim for.

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The alarm was set for 5:30 a.m. for the entire team, a small price to pay to ensure Covestro Æthon was out of the trailer and catching the first rays of sunshine. Our morning routine, complete with tents coming down, breakfast, wrap preparation, and even a cheerful morning dance session (this time with our observer joining in!), ensured we were on schedule.

With the battery checked and additional weights verified by our observer, we hit the road precisely at 8:05 a.m., with Viktoria taking the first driving shift. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect: clear skies, bright sunshine, and only light winds — ideal conditions for maximizing our solar energy intake.

This year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, with its smaller battery capacity, heavily emphasizes efficient driving and leveraging good weather. We certainly made the most of it, clocking in 740 kilometers further south at an impressive average speed of around 90 km/h. We even saw teams reaching speeds of over 110 km/h! We passed through control stops at Tennet Creek and Barrow Creek, maintaining strong pace.

As we put more distance between ourselves and Darwin, the highway traffic thinned, and the field of solar cars began to spread out. This allowed us to extend our lead over the teams behind us throughout the morning and hold that advantage for the rest of the day. Up front, the top three — Brunel and Twente from the Netherlands, and Innoptus from Belgium — were driving their own blistering race. We’re currently about 70 kilometers behind Twente, with Team Michigan chasing us approximately 21 minutes behind.

Here’s a look at our Day 2 by the numbers:

• Distance Covered: 740 km
• Driving Time: 8 hours, 0minutes
• Average Speed: 90km/h
• Teams Overtaken: 0 (focused on maintaining position)

Our second day concluded in a strong fourth position, a testament to our consistent strategy. While a change in weather is forecast for tomorrow, with stronger winds and cloud cover, our goal remains clear: to continue closing the gap on the leading teams and set up our night stop just before Coober Pedy.

The journey is long, but our spirits are high. Best regards from the camp, and see you tomorrow for Day 3!