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 on September 9 to Cape Town on September 16.
On September 14 they will travel from Kirkwood to Jeffreys Bay where they will arrive at 15:00 and end day six of the event.
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.
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.”
For more information visit the Sasol Solar Challenge website on https://www.solarchallenge.org.za/.
