JU Solar Team has started the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2025

Today marked the official start of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge as JU Solar Team crossed the starting line in Darwin with the 19th position.

The honor of driving the solar car out of Darwin went to Nils Persson, who completed the first leg to Emerald Springs. There, the team made a quick five-minute stop for a driver change. This was not an official control stop, but a necessary swap before the first checkpoint in Katherine – a long stretch of 316 kilometers.

From Emerald Springs, Kevin Lundström took over and drove the car to the first control stop in Katherine. Each control stop lasts 30 minutes, giving teams the opportunity to change drivers, eat, and rest, while officials check that the solar cars comply with competition regulations. Teams must also arrive within the designated time frame – Katherine was open between 11:00 and 17:00.

After Katherine, Ellie Brismar handled the final stint of the day, driving to Dunmarra Wayside Inn, the last control stop for the day. JU Solar Team arrived before the 17:00 cut-off and secured a 10th place position for tomorrow.

As evening came, the team had time to charge the solar panels before dark, shared dinner together, and set up camp for the night. Tomorrow, the journey continues – with Tennant Creek as the next checkpoint on the 3,000-kilometer adventure from Darwin to Adelaide.