South African Solar Challenge

South African Solar Challenge
VenuePublic roads
LocationSouth Africa
Corporate sponsorSasol
First race2008
Last race2022
Distance~2500km
Most wins (team)Nuna

The Sasol Solar Challenge is a South African endurance challenge for solar-powered vehicles, with classes for hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and biofuel-powered vehicles as well. Recognised by the International Solarcar Federation, the first challenge was run in 2008, and every two years thereafter. The event covers roughly 2,500 km, but has set loops for teams to repeat, with the potential to do 5,000 km. The current record, held by Dutch team Nuon, is 4,716 km, set in 2016 in their car Nuna. The challenge route may change from year to year. In 2022, it ran from Carnival City near Johannesburg to Cape Town over the course of 8 days. The challenge has both local South African teams from both high schools and universities participate, as well as some top-ranking international teams from Japan (Tokai), Belgium (Innoptus Solar Team previously known as Agoria) and the Netherlands (Brunel Solar Team previously known as Vattenfall/Nuon).

Route Map of "Sasol Solar Challenge 2010"
Tokai University's solar car "Tokai Challenger" running in front of the Table Mountain in Cape Town. It became a winner of "South African Solar Challenge 2010" again.
CAUTION-IMPALA! (3rd day of SASC 2008)