Solar Car Team competes in world’s longest solar race

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/avery_small.jpg” caption=”McMaster University student Avery Yuen, left, talks about his team’s car to Paul Blizzard of Queen’s University. Click here for FULL SIZE.Photo by Stefano Paltera/North American Solar Challenge”]For the first time, McMaster's Solar Car Team is competing in the world's longest solar race – the North American Solar Challenge.

The McMaster Solar Car Team and five other Canadian university teams (Queen's University, the University of Calgary, the University of Waterloo and Red River College) are among more than 30 teams competing to design, build and race the fastest solar-powered cars in North America in a 4,023-kilometre race. The race began in Austin, Texas, on July 17, with competitors starting off on U.S. Highway 75, and end in Calgary, Alberta, on July 27, on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1).

All entries in NASC 2005 must follow strict guidelines for their construction as well as for their operation during the race. All cars must be powered only by the sun and follow all local speed limits, and all entries are put through an extensive series of tests before they are allowed to begin the race. The cars are also closely monitored during the course of the 10-day race to ensure the safety of all competitors.

The team passed all scrutineering tests for its car Phoenix, as well as setting a record for egress at 2.7 seconds. Phoenix has also qualified for NASC 2005 after 44 laps at the Texas World Speedway, with a fastest last time of 4 minutes, 36 seconds.

Updates on the team's progress is available on the McMaster Solar Car Team website at http://www.solarcar.mcmaster.ca/index.php