A team of engineering students from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been hard at work to finish off their design for the vehicle that would hopefully propel them to first place in this year’s Sasol Solar Challenge 2014 race – and they finally showed it off.
During a launch ceremony at the University of Johannesburg, the design of the car was paraded in front of media and interested parties, who all got a close look at what the final design will represent. While the actual car wasn’t there, a tur-to-scale replica was available for everyone to gawk at.
This year’s race takes place from 27th of September to 4th of October as various national and international teams race from Johannesburg down to Cape Town – powered only by the rays of the sun.
Warren Hurter, a former student at UJ and driver of last year’s entry into the Sasol Solar Challenge, says that the original car designed by the team had a top speed of 60kmph. This year’s car has had to be artificially limited to a maximum 140kmph – higher than the speed limit on the public roads over which the challenge takes place.
[Images – Charlie Fripp]
