Final Solar Race Approaches: Tension Rises for the Brunel Solar Team

The day began with unfavorable weather in Springbok, about 500 kilometers north of Cape Town. Rain, heavy clouds, and fog set the tone for the sixth day of the Sasol Solar Challenge, putting the performance of the solar cars to the test. "Today's weather conditions were tough, and we had less solar input," says Cato Kral, team leader at the Brunel Solar Team. "It’s important to quickly adapt as a team. We were prepared and have been driving strategically in the past few days, so we can finish according to plan in the days ahead. Today’s stage was also quite hilly. From Springbok, which is around 1,000 meters above sea level, we descended to Lutzville, which is at 50 meters."

On the sixth day of the challenge, the Brunel Solar Team did not manage to surpass their two main competitors. The results are close, and with only two days left, every minute counts. "The final phase of the challenge has begun, and it's crucial that we keep our cool and stay focused on our own plan," says Kral. "This morning, we received one last video message from our coach, Marc Lammers. It’s a pity he couldn’t travel with us to South Africa, but he has prepared us well on how to trust each other and maintain a positive mindset. He also taught us how to handle setbacks while continuing to operate as a high-performance team, which is proving very useful now."

Tomorrow marks the start of the so-called Full Blind Stage, a stage where only the start and finish locations are known. The teams will be informed of the route and details tonight. Strategic decisions will only be made at the last minute, which will be crucial for the outcome of the penultimate day of the challenge. Coach Marc Lammers has full confidence in his team: "It’s tempting to focus on the actions of your biggest competitors, especially when you're not in the lead. But in this final phase of the race, it’s essential for the team to concentrate on what they can control. Teamwork and precise operations are the key to ensuring that no valuable minutes are lost."

The Brunel Solar Team consists of eleven motivated students from TU Delft with various technical backgrounds, ranging from aerospace engineering to computer science. For over a year, they’ve dedicated everything to working on their solar car, Nuna 12s. The team's goal is to inspire the world in the fields of sustainable mobility and innovation. With Nuna 12s, they compete against international teams in the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa in September 2024.
Brunel has been the team's main sponsor since 2022. Brunel connects top specialists to challenging projects.