The Electrek American Solar Challenge is a spectacular showcase for student-led engineering and innovation, with over 30 teams across North America competing in the gruelling eight-day race.

After an incredible competition that tested technology and endurance, the University of Michigan’s solar car team clinched first place this year.

The University of Michigan Innovate Their Way to Victory

The University of Michigan’s student-run solar car team clinched first place by covering 2,095.5 miles (3,372 km) at an average speed of 37.51 mph (60.3 km/h) over eight days.

This victory was not only about speed but also resilience and engineering excellence. Thousands of hours of elbow grease went into bringing this project to life since it was launched in 2020.

Despite a difficult start that saw a bad roll damage their engine, the Michigan team bounced back. They showed determination to repair the vehicle and complete the race.

Their winning vehicle, Astrum, is a marvel of solar engineering. Its design features a three-wheel carbon fibre monohull, a 20kg lithium-ion battery and a 2kW motor sourced from Japan’s Mitsuba.

The car is equipped with a 4m² solar array using advanced Maxeon Sunpower Gen 3 and Gen 7 solar cells, which are integral to its performance.

Astrum to Compete at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Michigan’s Astrum will take to the race track next year in the prestigious 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia.

Australia has one of the most exciting race tracks, which runs from Darwin to Adelaide, and competitors are already looking forward to showcasing their new and improved designs.

Next year’s edition of the biennial race runs from August 24-31 and features a few tweaks that could affect team strategies. In a recent interview, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge ambassador Chris Selwood highlighted the new regulation changes and what they mean for competitors.

The race is set to take place at the end of the Australian winter, which translates to reduced solar irradiation. Teams will face a lower solar angle with less daylight and must manage their energy better.

The new regulations also involve increased energy collection capacity but reduced storage limits. For the Challenger Class, the allowed on-board stored energy is capped at 11 MJ, while the solar cell area ranges from 4m² to 6m².

These updates to the rules will make races even more complicated and push teams to innovate further in energy efficiency and vehicle design.

The Betting Industry Takes Notice

With solar racing gaining momentum 39 years after the debut of the first-ever challenge, the betting industry has started noticing the phenomenon.

This interest aligns with broader trends of increasing engagement in niche and technologically advanced sports events. The 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is expected to attract major attention from Australian bookmakers.

Betting sites will be offering odds on the competition, marking a growing shift towards operators broadening their horizons into niche sports events.

The last Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2023 sparked a flurry of wagering activity as punters latched onto an event which offers plenty of excitement.

Belgian Solar Team Innoptus claimed first place with their vehicle the Infinite. Described as the narrowest Belgian solar vehicle, it features a state-of-the-art battery pack, wind-fin technology and an ultra-efficient motor, all produced in-house.

The Infinite won the title with a time of 34 hours, four minutes and 41 seconds, claiming successive Bridgestone trophies. Betting experts would not put it past them to claim a third title on the spin, but they face intense competition.

Team Twente from the Netherlands followed closely in second place, finishing only 20 minutes behind Infinite last year.

Despite starting production from scratch in 2022, the team worked through the concept and design phase in time for the competition and still delivered a terrific performance.

They will bring a new vehicle for the 2025 edition, but expect them to be one of the favourites.

The University of Michigan overcame technical setbacks to finish fourth last year but will be looking to build on their recent victory and push into a podium spot in Australia.