The latest news of the team.
Double victory!
A sleepless night! But the results are worth it. We are European champions and European runner-up!
Let’s race!
The race start is approaching and the mood in the team is full of anticipation, but a little nervousness is also spreading. Final work is done on the solar cars and the battery is charging fully.
King of Qualifying
After a short driver briefing, we were allowed onto the racetrack for the first time. This allowed the drivers to prepare for the upcoming dynamics parkour.
Safety first!
Before the self-built solar cars are allowed on the racetrack, they undergo a technical safety check-up known as static scrutineering. Here, each team presents its technical concepts behind the solar car to the judges.
The frenzy before the race
After three months of hard work and preparations for the iLumen European Solar Challenge 2022, the time has finally come! Today our whole team traveled to Zolder, Belgium and we set up our camp.
Eat, sleep, test, repeat
Besides high temperatures and the usual stress of exams during our semester break, we have been preparing our Covestro Photon and the Covestro Sonnenwagen for the iESC in Zolder, Belgium, and the ISC in Imola, Italy in September.
For the first time: The Italian Solar Challenge
This summer, from 26th to 30th of September, we will take part in the Italian Solar Challenge for the first time. This will take place at the famous Formula 1 race track in Imola.
Paris, Berlin, Hannover – Team Sonnenwagen on Business Tour
Within the last three months, we have participated in a total of twelve different trade fairs and events. Starting with the JEC World Paris, followed by POwer2Drive, VDE Future Forum, Hannover industrial fair, etc.
iESC 2022- Here we come!
In two months, on 17th and 18th of September 2022, we will compete with the Covestro Photon at the iLumen European Solar Challenge 2022 in Zolder, Belgium. After our successful participation in 2021, where we were runners-up in Europe with the Covestro Sonnenwagen, we would like to get a place on the podium again this year for Team Sonnenwagen Aachen.
Photo shoot and Instagram takes at the Collective Incubator
The Collective Incubator is a project of RWTH Aachen University that aims to promote innovative new thinking. To this end, they support young start-up teams, through co-working spaces, prototype workshops and other infrastructures. We at Sonnenwagen are also allowed to use these premises
Regulation release 2023
Finally we can start developing our new Sonnenwagen 4! On Friday, the 22nd of April 2022 the new rules for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2023 in Australia were published.
Team Sonnenwagen Aachen presents its new management team
With this year's general meeting on 21.01. the team elected its new management for the coming season 22/23.
Day 5 - Crossing the finish line
The last race day was shaped by all of the teams going very fast. We all wanted to be the first in Agadir and thanks to yesterday’s repairs while charging at least the Covestro Photon had lots of energy to spare. After climbing the last part of the Atlas Mountains we were closely following behind the first trio. The other teams had already been overtaken in the morning and were left far behind. But it soon became apparent that they also had lots of energy left as the other teams just as were driving at the speed limit for the whole drive through the wide plateaus leading up to Agadir.
Day 4 - Setbacks
Sand. Sand everywhere. That was probably the first thought on everyone’s mind when they woke up. Last night’s sand storm had definitely left its marks and a few tents from other teams had even collapsed. Luckily, we could secured our tents and there were no lasting issues, so all of us and our things were safe – nevertheless quite sandy.
Day 3 - Through the Sahara Desert
The night before most of the team finally got some sleep and we started the day in high spirits. We were really looking forward to today’s route along the edge of the Sahara Desert and a successful race day. Starting on the fifth position five, the next team to overtake was now Top Dutch Solar Racing. After following them on their heels for half an hour we managed to overtake their convoy and were now trying to catch up to the leading trio while driving though the vast landscapes of southern Morocco.
Day 2 – The longest route
While the last two days were marked by many difficulties, today’s racing was quite smooth. All this was mainly thanks to the electrical department and some supporting people working another entire night shift in order to fix yesterday’s technical difficulties. After packing up all our camping and fixing equipment as well as a quick breakfast, the Covestro Photon left the Zagora base camp shortly after 8 a.m.
Day 1 - The race begins
October 25th, 10.a.m. Covestro Photon is ready, Lead is ready, Chase is ready, the whole convoy is ready. We made it! Working the entire night with some people not getting a single ounce of sleep we had actually managed to fix most of the damage from the crash. Parts of the structure were rebuild or reinforced and the whole suspension of the front left wheel got replaced and readjusted – all that in just one night!
An intense Qualifying
Similar to other race events, at solar car challenge the starting positions are determined through a qualifying. The qualifying is scheduled between the last scrutineering test and the start of the race. For the Solar Challenge Morocco 2021 this qualifying was held at Stade Adrar, a large football stadium in Agadir. Around this stadium is a road which was used for that matter as a small race track of 2.2 km length.
The Scrutineering
The drive to Agadir was another challenge for the team. The race convoy took a detour to practice various race procedures on a section of the race track. All other team members meanwhile brought the equipment to Agadir. After a long or short drive, everyone finally arrived at the hostel, which was completely booked out by the team, to have dinner together. After a tasty refreshment and warm tea, some went to the beach to refresh themselves in the Atlantic Ocean before going to bed.
Every single ray
The drive to Agadir was another challenge for the team. The race convoy took a detour to practice various race procedures on a section of the race track. All other team members meanwhile brought the equipment to Agadir. After a long or short drive, everyone finally arrived at the hostel, which was completely booked out by the team, to have dinner together. After a tasty refreshment and warm tea, some went to the beach to refresh themselves in the Atlantic Ocean before going to bed.