2016

The 2016 Sasol Solar Challenge got off to a rocky start for the North-West University. After a freak accident during the time trials, the team managed to fix their solar car just in time for the start of the race on the 24th of September. Not only did the NWU surprise everyone by finishing in fourth place on the 1st of October, but was also awarded the Spirit of Africa Award, the award for Technology and Innovation, as well as the award for Team Professionalism and Safety. Furthermore, they broke the record for the longest distance ever travelled by a South African solar car, as well as the record for the longest distance travelled on one day by a South African solar car: a staggering 611.9km! Since the NWU’s first Sasol Solar Challenge in 2012, this was also the first time that the entire solar challenge was completed without having to trailer the solar car for a single kilometre.

 

Race Info

Weight of car: 184 kg

Solar panel area: 6 m2

Distance travelled: 3524.9 km

Time travelled:  72 hours

Average speed: 49 km/h

Duration of race: 7 days

Date:   24 September – 1 October

Route:  Pretoria to Cape Town via Gariep Dam and Port Elizabeth

Awards:

  • 4th overall position in class
     
  • 1st position in class (South African teams)
     
  • "Spirit of Africa” award
     
  • Award for Technology and Innovation
     
  • Award for Team Professionalism and Safety
     
  • Longest overall distance travelled (Olympia/Challenger Class)
     
  • Longest daily distance travelled (Olympia/Challenger Class)

 

 

 

Team Members

Jaco Bester
Shaun Botha
Chirestie Bouwer
Pieter Burgers
Stefan Cloete
Arno de Beer
Andre du Plessis
Itumeleng Goitirwang
Pieter Gouws
Esté Heese
Prof. Albert Helberg
Estienne Janse van Rensburg
CP Kloppers
Maryke   Laas
Lorraine Laubscher
Zander Marais
Zakumi Mtsweni
Gert Nel
Ruhan Oosthuizen
Jimmy Pressly
Louwrens Prinsloo
Phillip Prinsloo
Ruben Roux
Corneels Schabort
Roedolph Schumann
Greig Swanepoel
Henry Thomas
Ruan van Rensburg                

Olympia Class Results (Four wheels)

 

Team

Position

Time

(hours)

Distance

(kilometres)

Average speed

(km/h)

Nuon Solar Team, The Netherlands

1

72

4716.7

65.5

Tokai University, Japan

2

72

4544.2

63.1

GAMF Solar, Hungary

3

72

4033.2

56.0

North-West University, South Africa

4

72

3524.9

49.0

Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

5

72

2120.3

29.4

Near East University, Northern Cyprus

6

72

1635.1

22.7

Maragon Olympus, South Africa

7

72

1378.1

19.1

University of Johannesburg, South Africa

8

72

1337.9

18.6