The latest news of the team.
We arrived! - Race Day 6
At about 10:30 on Friday the 18th of October the time had come: The Covestro Sonnenwagen has reached the finish line! The car and the whole team was braved all the adversities of the last week and never gave up. Despite storm winds, a sandstorm, a terrible accident and its consequences, we proved to ourselves what team spirit really means.
Nothing can stop us! - Race Day 5
After yesterday's shock, the mood in the team was again characterized by pure motivation. In the night we finished all the minor repairs again and additionally concealed a few beauty flaws so that the sonnenwagen crosses the finish line in its full splendour. In a relatively short night under a splendid starry sky we prepared ourselves for the possibly last race day and drove off again punctually at 8 A.M.
When you think you have overcome the worst ... - Race Day 4
Just as we ended the previous day in the storm, the next race day began just as stormy. After we had freed the sun car from the sand again, we started the stage to Coober Pedy relieved with the expectation to have survived the worst. But contrary to our hopes, shortly before our arrival at the checkpoint we were even worse hit. It was a consequence of unfortunate events that we could not expect and simulate in this constellation.
Cloudy with a chance of sandstorms - Race Day 3
In the morning we started punctually into the third race day towards Alice Springs. Carried by pure sunshine and clear sky we were faster than expected. With an average speed of 95 km/h we reached Alice Springs and Kulgara. So on the third day we already did more than half of the distance! After repeated mistakes of the competition at the checkpoint we could extend our lead and catch up to the top 3.
The race to catch up - Race Day 2
At 5:30 the alarm clock rang. Just in time for sunrise the breakfast was prepared for the team. While the majority of the team took care of dismantling the tents, our electrical engineers were already working on optimising the sonnenwagen for the next leg to Tennant Creek, the longest leg of the race to date. The stage extended a good 400km through the Red Desert of Australia.
The race begins - Race Day 1
After our driver Olli could secure us in the qualification an excellent starting place No. 2, we started under great conditions into the race. 35 degrees, pure sunshine, accompanied by a few sheep clouds.
At the starting line directly in front of the parliament building of the Northern Territory in the heart of Darwin Christoph took over the steering wheel of the sonnenwagen for the first stage. This extends to Katherine, the first checkpoint on the way to Adelaide.
The first meters on Australian soil
The second stop on our journey from Adelaide to Darwin to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 is Coober Pedy. In the opal capital of the world, the conditions for testing were ideal for us: seemingly endless highways with bright sunshine. But before that, we first had to overcome the approx. 800 kilometers between Nuriootpa and Coober Pedy.
The adventure goes into a new round!
Finally we are off! After more than two years of design and manufacturing work, the first part of our team has arrived in Australia. After our first participation in 2017, we are thus back again to compete with a new team and an even newer vehicle in the Outback.
Sonnenwagen: Next Generation
On Monday, July 22, 2019, the time had finally come: the "Covestro Sonnenwagen" was finally unveiled to the public after months of sweaty work in the workshop and discussions into the wee hours of the morning in the office. The ceremonial unveiling of the "Covestro Sonnenwagen" on Monday was also attended by North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Armin Laschet, who addressed motivational words to the team and guests in the evening in the auditorium of RWTH Aachen University.
From the Workshop to Mental and Cognitive Training - Communication Training with Eva Klein
To compete in the World Solar Challenge with a solar car is not only a challenge in which various simulations, constructions and calculations are important. Essential here is the team and the efficient cooperation across departmental boundaries. In order to improve communication within the team in the long term, we received professional support from Eva Klein, the relationship trainer for professional and private life.