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Just seven solar cars reach Adelaide alive
Remaining 30 competitors call the tow truck
WSC The provisional* results of the World Solar Challenge show that just seven of the 37 solar cars competing drove the entire 2,998 kilometres from Darwin to Adelaide under their own steam and by Saturday's deadline.
The top three finishers Tokai University, Nuon Solar Team and the University of Michigan (pictured) - who whizzed over the finish line on Thursday - largely avoided the bad weather on the approaches to Adelaide which doubtless affected the following pack.
Ashiya University secured fourth place on Friday, beating the Netherlands' Solar Team Twente by just seven minutes. In a hot battle for six and seventh slots on Saturday, Oz competitors Sunswift UNSW Solar Team and Aurora passed the chequered flag similarly separated by a mere seven minutes.
SOCRAT Istanbul University, Solar Energy Racers of Switzerland and Taiwan's Apollo Solar Car Team made up the top ten, having come tantalising close to completing the race. They clocked up 2735, 2663 and 2650 solar kilometres, respectively.
Here are the rest of the results:
- Umicore Solar Team: 2636 solar km
- Stanford Solar Car Team: 2418
- Team Okinawa: 2408
- Nanyang Technological University: 2283
- SAITEM, Sakarya University Advanced Technologies: 2263
- MIT Solar Electric Vehcile Team: 2222
- Team Solar Philippines: 2111
- Qazvin Islamic Azad University: 1891
- University of Calgary: 1840
- CalSol: 1809
- Universidad de Chile: 1709
- Onda Solare: 1751
- Anadolu Solar Team: 1675
- University of Toronto: 1661
- Cambridge Uni Eco Racing: 1487
- Hochshule Bochum Solar Car Team: 1454
- Eclipse 7 Solarcar Team: 1415
- Principia Solar Team: 1303
- Seraaj Solar Car Team: 1269
- Midnight Sun Solar Rayce Team: 1116
- University of Tehran Solar Car Team: 826
- Solar Spirit Australia: 801
- Durham University: 552
- Solaris: 301
- UMP Solar: 229
- Uniten Solar Ranger Team: 223
- Green Maniac: 73
Judging by their position, Durham Uni (pictured) had a tough time of it, as did many other teams. Before the start they said they hoped they'd make Adelaide without having to deploy the trailer, but sadly this was not to be. ®
Bootnote
*Check the WSC website for more details on the teams and, as of sometime later this week, for the confirmed results.
We're obliged to the WSC for the nice picture above of Michigan at the ceremonial finish.