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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.

Michigan celebrate in Adelaide. Pic: World Solar Challenge

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:

  1. Umicore Solar Team: 2636 solar km
  2. Stanford Solar Car Team: 2418
  3. Team Okinawa: 2408
  4. Nanyang Technological University: 2283
  5. SAITEM, Sakarya University Advanced Technologies: 2263
  6. MIT Solar Electric Vehcile Team: 2222
  7. Team Solar Philippines: 2111
  8. Qazvin Islamic Azad University: 1891
  9. University of Calgary: 1840
  10. CalSol: 1809
  11. Universidad de Chile: 1709
  12. Onda Solare: 1751
  13. Anadolu Solar Team: 1675
  14. University of Toronto: 1661
  15. Cambridge Uni Eco Racing: 1487
  16. Hochshule Bochum Solar Car Team: 1454
  17. Eclipse 7 Solarcar Team: 1415
  18. Principia Solar Team: 1303
  19. Seraaj Solar Car Team: 1269
  20. Midnight Sun Solar Rayce Team: 1116
  21. University of Tehran Solar Car Team: 826
  22. Solar Spirit Australia: 801
  23. Durham University: 552
  24. Solaris: 301
  25. UMP Solar: 229
  26. Uniten Solar Ranger Team: 223
  27. Green Maniac: 73

Durham Uni and their car in Darwin

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.

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