The Darwin-Adelaide Solar Car Race Is On

After qualifying events today at Darwin's Hidden Valley raceway, the World Solar Challenge — a 3000-kilometre race of speed and endurance by solar-powered vehicles from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Adelaide in South Australia — begins in the early morning of October 21.

The challenge has been to design and build a car capable of crossing the vast Australian continent from north to south using only sunlight as fuel.

This is the 20th year of the World Solar Challenge, the first solar race having taken place in 1987.

This year's World Solar Challenge race kicks off at 8am, October 21, from Darwin's State Square in front of Parliament House. There will be control stops along the way at Katherine, Dunmarra, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Cadney Homestead, Glendambo and Port Augusta before reaching Adelaide where the race ends at Victoria Square. The first solar car is expected to reach Adelaide by October 25, weather permitting.

The World Solar Challenge is a sight to see all along the race route.

• Darwin, Capital of the Northern Territory
• Alice Springs in Australia's Red Centre
• Adelaide, Capital of South Australia

Photo: Team New Zealand's solar car © The World Solar Challenge