Illinois State’s Solar Car Team finished fifth at the American Solar Challenge Formula Sun Grand Prix. The team competed at the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, July 8.
With only one member of the team having competed in the race before, Illinois State’s team fared well against the other 17 universities who also participated. Narrowly missing fourth place by just two laps, Illinois State’s car completed a total of 172 laps, 62 on the second day and 64 on the third.
Sixth-place competitor Georgia Tech finished the race with 89 laps, slightly above half of Illinois State’s record. The overall winner was the University of California at Berkeley with 228 laps.
Next year the Challenge will be a cross-country race through the Rocky Mountains from Nebraska to Oregon.
For more information or to get involved, visit the Solar Car website.
