The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge will be in Kroonstad (Kroonstad High School) on 9 September. Solar cars will start arriving at the venue from 15:00 until 18:00.

After travelling roughly 220 kilometres from Johannesburg (taking stops along the route), the Sasol Solar Challenge will finish day two of the eight-day event at Kroonstad High School. Kroonstad will be the start line of the first-ever marathon stage, which will finish in Gariep. The marathon stage aims to challenge teams to work on their solar cars in a closed and secured area with limited workforce.

Day two of the Sasol Solar Challenge will start at Kroonstad High School on 10 September. Solar cars will start departing the venue from 07:00 until 08:30.

“When the solar car teams arrive at Kroonstad High School, the marathon stage will then commence. Only three selected individuals from each team will be allowed to work on each solar car throughout the night before we move to Winburg in the morning,” said Robert Walker, Owner and Director of the Sasol Solar Challenge. “The community of Kroonstad will have an opportunity to view the solar cars when they arrive at the venue and when they depart in the morning. All age groups are welcome at the venue to support the teams, and to learn more about how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be applied within the field of solar energy.”

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.

“We look forward to travelling with the teams to Kroonstad and engaging with the community. We also wish each team good luck as they work on a strategy to complete the marathon stage successfully,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships at Sasol. 

Spectators are welcome at all stops, and more information on the route and the teams can be found at:

https://www.solarchallenge.org.za/