Winds swirl around leaders as they reach Coober Pedy

Wednesday 19 October, 2011
1pm Darwin Time – unofficial positions

A northerly wind is buffeting the leaders of the Veolia World Solar Challenge in a race that now spans from the tail end just south of Tennant Creek to the front runners in Coober Pedy.

Team Tokai from Japan reached the Coober Pedy control point at 11.40 am followed by Nuon from the Netherlands in 2^nd place who arrived at 12.16 pm stretching their lead over third placed team Michigan who had to stop at the roadside to make repairs and reached Cooper Pedy at 1.02 pm. It is estimated they are approximately 80 kilometres behind Nuon. Team Tokai now is approximately 63 kilometres south of Cooper Pedy.

Australia’s Aurora is approximately 245 kilometres from Cooper Pedy having moved back into 4^th place ahead of Ashiya from Japan 5^th and Twente from the Netherlands in 6^th place. The tussle continues between these three. University of NSW is in 7^th place, with Umicore from Belgium in 8^th place, Istanbul University in 9^th place is just north of the South Australian border and making up the top ten are the high school students from Team Okinawa.

The Philippines team has decided to continue the race despite the battery problems encountered by SIKAT II in Tennant Creek yesterday. Their solar car was not damaged and they are optimistic that they can make repairs and reach Adelaide.

The stage is set for an exciting finish which could come down to the wire. The first teams are expected in Adelaide tomorrow at the finish of timing near the corner of St Kilda Road and Port Wakefield Road in Angel Vale and then at the Ceremonial Finish and celebrations at Victoria Square.

From Thursday October 20 until Sunday 23 Victoria Square will have plenty of atmosphere – the solar cars will be on display and Adelaide’s first GreenZone Drive giving people a rare opportunity to test drive the newest “green” cars such as Audi, BMW Renault, Honda and Toyota. There’ll also be entertainment, Science Outside the Square activities, and great food from 100 Mile Food Philosophy Café.