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A solar car on the road in the Australian Outback

Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Dúshlán Gréine Domhanda Bridgestone

Darwin to Adelaide, Australia · August 2027

All races
Bridgestone World Solar Challenge logo

History of the race

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge began in 1987, when the Danish-born adventurer Hans Tholstrup set out to prove that a car could cross Australia on sunlight alone. Teams have raced the 3,000 km Stuart Highway from Darwin to Adelaide ever since.

What started as a handful of experimental cars is now the world’s premier solar race, with university and industry teams from every continent. Cars run from 8am to 5pm each day, camp in the Outback wherever they stop, and must pass through control stops along the way.

Official race site (opens in a new tab)
Map of the route from Darwin to Adelaide
Competiting
37Teams
Darwin to Adelaide
3,000km
Of the world solar challenge
40years
Play the film: Engineering the World’s Fastest Solar Race Cars (opens in a new tab)

Engineering the World’s Fastest Solar Race Cars

Seeker

A documentary on the engineering behind the world’s fastest solar race cars, and the teams who build and race them. With more than 56 million views, it is one of the best introductions to what solar car racing asks of a team.

Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Who has won it

The first car to Adelaide in the top class, race by race.

YearTeamCountry
2025Brunel Solar TeamNuna 13Netherlands
2023Innoptus Solar TeamInfiniteBelgium
2019Agoria Solar TeamBluePointBelgium
2017Nuon Solar TeamNuna 9Netherlands
2015Nuon Solar TeamNuna 8Netherlands
2013Nuon Solar TeamNuna 7Netherlands
2011Tokai UniversityTokai ChallengerJapan
2009Tokai UniversityTokai ChallengerJapan
2007Nuon Solar TeamNuna 4Netherlands
2005Nuon Solar TeamNuna 3Netherlands
2003Nuon Solar TeamNuna 2Netherlands
2001Nuon Solar TeamNunaNetherlands
1999Aurora Vehicle AssociationAurora 101Australia
1996HondaHonda DreamJapan
1993HondaHonda DreamJapan
1990Biel School of EngineeringSpirit of BielSwitzerland
1987General MotorsSunraycerUnited States

A new challenge

At Zolder we raced for 24 hours around a 4 km circuit and covered 639 km. In Australia the road never loops back: 3,000 km of open highway, Darwin to Adelaide, across a continent.

Zolder 2026Darwin to Adelaide 2027
Distance639kmIn our 24 hours3,000kmOn one road, Darwin to Adelaide
Stops9stopsCharging stops, 20 minutes each9stopsCompulsory control stops down the Stuart Highway, 30 minutes each
Racing hours24hRound the clock, through one night9hA day, 8am to 5pm, for the best part of a week
From DCU820km13,530km
At nightThe pits and our garageCamp in the Outback wherever 5pm finds us
WeatherChanging Belgian weatherDesert heat, crosswinds and dust
Help on handThe pit lane, every lapOur own convoy of support cars, on an open highway shared with road trains

The long way to the start

Before a single kilometre of racing, the car crosses the world. It is packed into a shipping container in Dublin, goes by sea through Rotterdam to Adelaide, then north by road to the start line in Darwin.

  1. DublinPacked into a container at DCU
  2. RotterdamOnto a container ship
  3. AdelaideAshore in South Australia
  4. DarwinOut at the start line

Become a part of our journey

Whether you're a student, mentor, or sponsor, there's a place for you in DCU Solar Racing.

Adopt a solar cellContact the team