Japanese crew wins 3,000km Australian solar race | Inquirer Sports

Japanese crew wins 3,000km Australian solar race

/ 03:53 PM October 20, 2011

ADELAIDE—Japan’s Tokai University won the 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) World Solar Challenge car race through Australia’s desert Thursday in a tight contest marred by wildfires and an explosion.

Team Tokai crossed the finish line in Adelaide on Thursday afternoon to claim back-to-back victories in the event, last held in 2009.

They narrowly beat the Netherlands’ Nuon Solar in the race from Darwin, which started on Sunday.

Article continues after this advertisement

Organizers said it was one of the closest finishes in the contest’s 11-race history since 1987, with less than 30 kilometers separating first and second place.

FEATURED STORIES

The Japanese crew had dedicated their race to the reconstruction of their tsunami-stricken nation and its energy future following the related nuclear power plant crisis.

The dramatic contest saw Team Solar Philippines sidelined with a battery explosion which caused its car to ignite.

Article continues after this advertisement

Earlier in the week wildfires swept through central Australia, forcing the entire race to a halt.

Article continues after this advertisement

The University of Michigan was on track to finish in third place, with Dutch Solar Team Twente and Japan’s Ashiya University expected to round out the top five.

The cars were allowed to store a small amount of energy, but the majority of their power had to come from the sun and the vehicle’s kinetic forces.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: car race, Sports

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.