For the first time this year, the 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge will be visiting Jeffreys Bay at Mentorskraal, on September 14, and depart on September 15, as part of their eight-day endurance challenge through five provinces and 18 towns.
The solar cars will travel from Johannesburg tomorrow, September 9, to Cape Town on September 16.
During the 2018 Sasol Solar Challenge, teams travelled from Gqeberha to Kareedouw for the day’s loop of the Sasol Solar Challenge, before the overnight stop in Sedgefield.
Fortunately, on September 14, they will travel from Kirkwood to Jeffreys Bay, where they will end day six of the event at 15:00.
They will then continue their journey on September 15 from 07:00, which will be the start line for day seven of the event.
Owner and director of the Sasol Solar Challenge, Robert Walker, said, “After a long day of action-packed endurance, day six of the eight-day long event will wrap-up in Jeffreys Bay. The event will start day seven of the event at the same location the next morning.
“The community of Jeffreys Bay will have an opportunity to come out and view the solar cars and engage with the teams at the finish and start line in Jeffreys Bay.”
The Sasol Solar Challenge takes place every two years, bringing together university and high school teams, and even private engineers who have manufactured fully functioning, roadworthy cars powered only by the sun.
It runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns.
The event will also bring new local and international teams, including those competing for the first time in South Africa and in a solar challenge.
This year there will be a total of nine teams – seven South African entrants and two international teams.
The winner of the endurance challenge will be the team which accumulates the most kilometres throughout the eight days.
The Sasol Solar Challenge provides an opportunity for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) enthusiasts and communities along the route, to come together and interact with STEM projects that tackle real-world problems.
Jeffreys Bay’s representative, Estie du Toit, said, “The Sasol Solar Challenge will expose the community of Jeffreys Bay to alternative sources of energy, which might soon be accessible to us. It will also expose young people to STEM education in real-world to give them the opportunity to be part of the solution for a global crisis, which is climate change.”
Nozipho Mbatha, senior manager for group brand and sponsorships at Sasol, said, “Hands-on learning in STEM education is essential to spark learners’ interest. Meanwhile, we believe that communities play an influential role in promoting the desire for learners to pursue STEM education and gain relevant intelligence.
“Therefore, it’s always great to have diverse members of the communities along the route come out and interact with the solar cars and the teams.”
Spectators are welcome to view the vehicles at Mentorskraal from 15:00 to 18:00 on September 14.
For more information visit the Sasol Solar Challenge website on https://www.solarchallenge.org.za/.
– ISSUED BY SASOL SOLAR CHALLENGE
