Solar Mobility

The TUT Solar Team has retained its title as the Bridgestone Ilanga Challenger Class Champions, after completing 110 laps on the 4 km long Red Star Raceway in Delmas on 4 October 2023, after a gruelling 12 hours.

A hot clear day presented favourable conditions for the solar car endurance challenge, with five groups of renewable technology engineers and enthusiasts entering the 2023 Bridgestone Ilanga Cup to test the performance and endurance levels of their inventions. Genuine JV from the HTS John Vorster High school in Pretoria, that was also competing in the Challenger Class division, came second.

Third in the same category was Mpumalanga Solar Flair. In the Cruiser Class category, UniSolar and EVNXT, as this year’s debutants, went head to head in the day-long challenge, with EVNXT taking first place.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Bridgestone manager: Motorsport and Motorcycle, Shailesh Singh, thanked all teams for taking part in the challenge, saying the endurance event is critical in developing sustainable innovation in the motoring industry, something that resonates deeply with their brand. The director of Bridgestone Ilanga Cup, Rob Walker (now how’s that for nominative determinism, thanked all participants, sponsors and partners who helped make the 2023 event a reality.