Follow the Top Dutch Solar Racing team
From August 24 to 31 this year, the student team Top Dutch Solar Racing will participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia. This page will keep you up to date on the latest developments during and around the race.
21 August | Final test before the start
The team has already been in Australia for almost two months preparing for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. A lot has happened in that time.
First milestones
The arrival of the flight case containing the solar car was an important moment. The car has now been officially certified for use on public roads, both in South Australia around Adelaide and in the Northern Territory up to Darwin. The first kilometres have also been completed during the so-called “trip up”: a dress rehearsal in which the race conditions are simulated as closely as possible. This gave the team members a taste of driving and camping in the vast Australian outback.
Rigorous inspections
Alongside testing and driving, the team also had to demonstrate to the organisers that the car is completely safe and complies with all technical regulations. During this scrutineering process, the car is examined in detail — from electronics to mechanics. It is a time-consuming and demanding procedure, but essential for participation.
Strategy from Groningen
In addition to the technical preparations, strategy plays a crucial role. Two UG students are taking the lead here: Timo Jolman, a bachelor’s student in Artificial Intelligence, and Lorenzo Zambelli, a master’s student in (Applied) Mathematics. Together with their team, they analyse how much solar energy is collected, how much can be used, and how fast the car can drive without overburdening the battery. Using their own weather station, they closely track cloud cover and forecast conditions.
From the “Chase” — a support car following directly behind the solar car — the strategy team calculates in real time the optimal speed and the expected end point of the day. In this way, they literally set the pace and the course for the Green Falcon.
The final stretch
Preparations were not without setbacks: the flight case was delayed, and the shipping container with camping gear will only arrive after the challenge. This meant a great deal of improvisation, but the logistics team continually found creative solutions to keep the project moving forward. All those efforts are now paying off as the solar car drives across Australian roads with spectacular landscapes as its backdrop.
At present, the team is working towards the next crucial step: the dynamic scrutineering at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin. This is a test session in which the driver must demonstrate various manoeuvres with the car — such as a figure of eight, a slalom, and also a hot lap. The result of this hot lap determines Top Dutch Solar Racing’s starting position in the race.
During testing, the car has already achieved a new top speed, well above 100 km/h. The exact figure remains a secret for now, since the competition is watching closely. On Saturday, the official hot lap will take place, and on Sunday the real challenge begins: a race of more than 3,000 kilometres right across Australia, powered entirely by the sun.
About Top Dutch Solar Racing
Top Dutch Solar Racing is a multidisciplinary solar racing team from the Northern Netherlands. Established in 2017, the team welcomes a new group of students from the University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Alfa College, and Noorderpoort to take on the challenge of building a solar car every two years. They race in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) in Australia with their self-made car. In addition to building a solar car, the team also takes care of everything related to their communication, sponsorship, and logistics for the trip.
Top Dutch Solar Racing is competing this edition with the Green Falcon, a completely new car adapted to this year’s regulations and latest developments. The team has decided that the Green Falcon would deliver the best results with a catamaran design.
About the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
Every two years, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and spans over 3,000 kilometres across the Australian outback. It starts in Darwin and runs along the Stuart Highway through Alice Springs to Adelaide. Only solar-powered cars take part in the race and they compete in two different classes. Top Dutch Solar Racing competes in the class that is focused on speed, the Formula 1 of solar racing.
More information
| Last modified: | 21 August 2025 2.07 p.m. |
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