The latest news of the team.
Vice European Champions
After a very exciting but also exhausting 24 hours the iLumen European Solar Challenge 2021 comes to an end – We are Vice European Champion with the Covestro Sonnenwagen!
At 1 pm on Saturday 18.9. the 24h race started with a spectacular Le Mans style start and all 14 solar cars started into the race. With the Covestro Sonnenwagen we were able to quickly settle into third place, with the Covestro Photon just behind. In the best weather, we were able to go lap by lap. Every two hours the drivers changed and were able to rest before their next stint.
It’s Race Time!
A few minutes ago, our two race cars, the Covestro Photon and the Covestro Sonnenwagen, started in the 24-hour race at Circuit Zolder. After a final night shift and enormous effort from the entire team, both cars successfully rolled out of the pits. The solar cells of the Covestro Photon are still giving us problems at the moment – but the car is running, and we are now looking at what the next 24 hours have in store for us on and off the track. Now we are looking forward to the race and hope for a successful conclusion.
Dynamic Parcours
e have achieved our first success. At the first judged part of the iLumen European Solar Challenge, the Dynamic Parcours, the teams had to prove their skill and speed of pilots and solar cars.
Acceleration, agility and driver precision are measured in different disciplines. For example, our drivers had to accelerate as fast as possible on a straight line, then drive through a cone chicane and finally come to a stop as precisely as possible on a line. The disciplines were then evaluated by the officials and added up to a total score. This score gives 20% of the total challenge points.
Green checkmarks
The race starts early in the morning at 10 a.m. and all teams set off with their solar cars for scrutineering. Right next to the race track, the cars are mechanically and electrically tested by the Challenge officials. 69 pages of regulations have to be fulfilled. For example, we must show that our drivers can get out of the car within 15 seconds. Lisa and Tobias were able to keep their cool and clearly undercut that with 11 seconds.
Back in Zolder
With the setup of the first tents on the campsite next to the race track, the iLumen European Solar Challenge 2021 has finally started. We are looking forward to an exciting race weekend with 11 other solar teams and a total of 14 solar cars. The challenge consists of several stages, which will take place in the next days. First of all, the cars will undergo technical scrutineering. Then the solar cars are allowed to test on the race track and collect the first points for the overall ranking in the dynamic parcours. Finally, we are ready for the highlight – the 24h race from Saturday to Sunday.
The 24h race
On Saturday at 1 p.m. the time had finally come: with a LeMans style start the 24-hour race at the Circuit Zolder began – and with it the most important part of the European Solar Challenge. With optimal weather conditions for solar vehicles the racing cars were sent out onto the track to cover the longest possible distance in 24 hours. After some starting problems, the Covestro solar car was able to catch up quickly and was in fifth place behind Punch 2 when the driving strategy received a frightening radio message from the driver of the car: the latter had slipped out of the difficult chicane and turned to the side.
Open Track Day and Dynamic Parcour
The last day before the start of the 24-hour race on the Circuit Zolder was demanding for all departments. After the electrical engineering and chassis departments had been working on the cars until the morning, both rolled out onto the track at nine o'clock in the morning for testing. In the following hours, the drivers had time to adjust to the track and develop a feeling for the curves, chicanes, ups and downs of the track.
Scrutineering - the official start of the ESC
The Scrutineering is done, "all green" for our both solar cars! The past night shifts and today's work have been worth it and our two solar racing vehicles have the starting permission for the 24 hour race from Saturday to Sunday. Most of the points of the European Solar Challenge's Scrutineering are the same as in the World Solar Challenge. But especially the driving at night requires some extra features. For example, the car must be equipped with headlights that are bright enough for the drivers to drive safely in the dark. After some talks and discussions with the officials of the ESC all points could be checked off and we can look forward to an exciting race!In the evening the race management opened the race weekend with a speech and after that we moved the main part of our workshop to our pitbox.
Arrival at Circuit Zolder
The European Solar Challenge is getting closer and closer! The setting up of the camp in Zolder marks the beginning of an intensive racing weekend in Belgium. On the first official day of the event the Scruiteneering - the technical inspection of all participating vehicles - will take place. Here the cars mechnical and electrical components will be checked, to ensure a smooth race and the safety of all participants.
The water fight at Zolder
On September 22, it finally started: After months of preparation, we participated for the first time in the European Solar Challenge, a 24-hour race in Zolder, Belgium. The aim is not only to cover the greatest possible distance within 24 hours, but also to score points with innovations in vehicle development, the most consistent lap times over 8 laps and the fastest lap time.
European Solar Challenge 2016
Last weekend the European Solar Challenge (ESC) took place in Zolder, Belgium A 24-hour Race for solar powered cars and we were there - close to the action. Invited by Gerrit from team Bochum we did not want to miss out on this opportunity.