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Pit stops in this section:
Achievements
For Press Use
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The UNSW Solar Racing Team (SRT) was formed in 1995. Since the team’s inception it has
participated in a number of events including:
- 1996 WSC – Sunswift finished 9th out of 46 entries. This was the University’s
first entry in a solar car event amongst the prestigious and competitive entries from Honda Motors
Corporation, the Swiss entry from Biel, and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
- 1999 NRMA Transcontinental Record Attempt – with the car NRMA Sunswift II completed
4,012km in ten days despite five days of bad weather. Even though the record of 8½ days was not
broken, the attempt was still regarded to be a success with $2.4 million worth of publicity
generated.
- 1999 CitiPower SunRace – three days after completing the Perth-Sydney record attempt
the team entered this event. NRMA Sunswift II obtained third place in a highly competitive field
of five entries, proving the car’s reliability and the team’s dedication after five
continuous weeks on the road.
- NRMA Sunswift II participated in a trade exhibition in Taipei, on request from the Federal
Government.
- 1999 WSC – NRMA Sunswift II finished a respectable 18th out of 48 international entries.
World Solar Challenge 1999
- 2000 Whirlpool SunRace – Placing second until the penultimate day of the race, the car
was forced off the road by another motorist sustaining significant race-ending damage. Despite the
accident the driver was unharmed and the team’s spirits were high as they reflected on what
had been achieved over the previous five days.
WhirlPool SunRace 2000
- Topcell – the UNSW SRT embarked on an ambitious project to manufacture its own solar
cells to build a new array. This was a world first for any solar car team. The SRT also developed
a new cell encapsulation method which allowed the team to construct curved panels – another
world first.
Topcell Project
- 2001 WSC – UNSW Sunswift II placed 11th out of an international field of 40
vehicles. The team overcame electrical problems on the first day to make up a lot of ground and
take this placing.
World Solar Challenge 2001
- 2002 AGO SunRace – after eight days of close racing the team finished 2nd in a field of
four world class solar cars. The team was also awarded the inaugural SunRace Enterprise Award for
technical innovation for the Topcell project.
AGO SunRace 2002
- 2003 SunRace – during a race characterised by poor weather conditions,
UNSW Sunswift II again finished as the 2nd placed solar car.
SunRace 2003
- 2003 World Solar Challenge – a decision was made to withdraw from the 2003 World Solar
Challenge, after the 4WD towing UNSW Sunswift II was involved in an accident on route to
Darwin.
World Solar Challenge 2003
- 2005 World Solar Challenge – UNSW Sunswift III crossed the
line 1st in production class and 9th overall out of 20 international
entries, taking just 5 days to complete the challenge. Production
class allows only commercial "off the shelf" solar cells and batteries
to be used. Our success in production class demonstrates the UNSW
SRT's continuing ability to challenge teams with significantly greater
budgets than our own.
Hidden Valley race track, Darwin (WSC 2005)
- 2007 Transcontinental Record Attempt – Jaycar Sunswift III broke
the world record for a solar car journey from Perth to Sydney. The
team finished the journey in 5.5 days, breaking the previous record by
3 days.
Finish Line, Sydney (2007)
For further information about the team and the vehicles mentioned
above please click here.
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To download the official Jaycar Sunswift III photograph for use in print publications,
please click
here.
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