2022 Sasol Solar challenge set to start in Brakpan

The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge will start in Brakpan (Carnival City Casino), East of Johannesburg on 9 September. Solar cars will start departing the venue from 08:00 until 09:00.

From Carnival City Casino, the event will then travel roughly 100 kilometres to Sasolburg, where it will make its first control-stop and conduct a school activation programme.

“We will host a public expo for the solar car teams at Carnival City Casino on 8 September before the event moves to Sasolburg the next day. The aim for the expo is to not only demonstrate and showcase the solar cars, but to also educate the community of Brakpan and the greater Johannesburg about solar energy and the importance of clean and sustainable transportation,” said Robert Walker, Owner and Director of the Sasol Solar Challenge.

The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge will incorporate special stages, which includes half and full blind stages, where information relating to the route will be withheld until the night before teams take on the road, forcing them to strategise last minute.

The event takes place every two years, bringing together university and high school teams, and even private engineers who have manufactured fully functioning, roadworthy solar powered cars. It runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns.

The 2022 route from Johannesburg to Cape Town will include five provinces and 18 towns. New towns include Brakpan, Trompsburg, Willowmore, Kirkwood, Jeffreys Bay, Riversdale and Caledon. The event is also bringing new local and international teams including those competing for the first time in South Africa.

Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships at Sasol said: “For each Sasol Solar Challenge, the goal is to see more young people take part in the event - designing and building their own science, technology, engineering, and mathematics solutions for real-world problems.” She added that: “It’s great to have new teams joining the event, especially the new high school team, Genuine JV Solar Car Team. This shows how impactful the event is in inspiring and shaping young minds to become the next generation of STEM leaders in South Africa and worldwide.”

Spectators are welcome at all stops, and more information on the route and the teams can be found at: https://www.solarchallenge.org.za/