Now in race year, we want to take a quick look at the World Solar Challenge itself.  The WSC is a biennial race that first took place in 1987. Since then, the reach of the race has grown, and the 2011 instalment saw 37 teams compete from 20 countries – almost twice as many countries as were represented in the 2005 race. In the same period, solar cell technology and lightweight manufacturing technologies, including the use of carbon fibre, have greatly advanced. To ensure that the competition continues to present opportunities for innovation and achievement, the WSC has improved its regulations governing race vehicles.

This year there were some significant changes to the regulations governing the most competitive class of solar vehicles, the Challenger class. The primary change was a move to four wheels, an important one given the recent domination of three-wheeled designs. Not since 1996 when the Honda Dream took the top spot has a team won this class with a four-wheeled vehicle. Secondly, the regulations governing the driver’s head space and visibility have been tightened. The new quantitative restrictions bring them up to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s transport guidelines and the Australian Government National …
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