Only one Australian team finished this year’s Darwin-Adelaide World Solar Challenge

Only one Australian team completed the 2023 World Solar Challenge – with a Belgian team cruising to victory in the 3000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide, recording a time of 34 hours, four minutes, and 41 seconds.

The Western Sydney University’s Solar Racing team crossed the finish line after 2 pm on Friday 27 October 2023 with a time of 46 hours, 32 minutes, and six seconds.

They were one of three Australian teams who entered in the main ‘Challenger Class’ event, with the other two failing to complete the entire distance due to unknown malfunctions.

The Adelaide University Solar Racing team finished the challenge with a distance of 1210km before stopping while Anu Solar Racing ended their journey 322km into the event.

Named the ‘UNLIMITED 5.0’, the Western Sydney University’s Solar Racing Team’s solar car features a three-wheeled design with aluminium suspension, and a carbon fibre chassis built in-house by the student team – the vehicle is reported to have a maximum speed of 130 km/h, and the team claimed it can travel 400km "using the same amount of energy a Tesla needs to travel 26km."

“Our spirit and determination were really on show throughout the challenge and brought us home,” Team Principal Brad Nadalini said in a media statement.

“This year’s solar car, UNLIMITED 5.0, had one of the most ambitious and innovative designs – and this was reflected in our performance this year.”

The World Solar Challenge has expanded into three different classes since its inception in 1987, with another Australian team, Sunswift Racing (University of New South Wales) taking first place in the ‘Cruiser Class’ category at this year’s event.