Belgian solar car slips to third in World Championships Race
The KU Leuven solar car has slipped from second to third place on the third day of the World Solar Car Racing Championships in Australia, after suffering a blowout, the team announced on Tuesday.
The Belgian vehicle, Infinite Apollo, began the race in 16th place on Sunday but quickly surged into the top three, ending the second day in second position. However, a tyre blowout on day three forced the Innoptus Solar Team from KU Leuven to make an unscheduled pit stop, allowing rivals from the Dutch city of Twente to seize second place.
Challenging conditions added to the struggles. “There was a lot of cloud cover with occasional clear spells, and what we did was ‘cloud in, cloud out,’” said Pieter De Mulder, aerodynamic engineer for the Belgian team.
“That’s a strategy where we drive slower when we’re in a ‘cloud opening’ [to capture as much solar energy as possible] and drive faster when we’re in a cloud and therefore don’t get any sun.”
Almost 900km remain before the finish line in Adelaide, southern Australia. To retain their world title, the KU Leuven team must overtake two Dutch competitors. The leading three cars are currently separated by just 8 minutes.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, held every two years, covers 3,021km from Darwin to Adelaide, through the Australian outback.
#FlandersNewsService | The presentation of Infinite Apollo in Antwerp, May 2025 © BELGA PHOTO / VIDEO INE GILLIS
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