The iLumen European Solar Challenge (iESC) is a unique endurance race, recognized as the only 24-hour race for solar-powered vehicles in the world, held at the famous Circuit Zolder in Belgium. This biennial event challenges participants to face harsh weather conditions and make strategic decisions throughout the night. Competitors are allowed to stop and recharge their batteries only three times, emphasizing that the race is as much about strategy as it is about speed and endurance.
With over 20 European teams competing, the 4-kilometer-long Zolder circuit, renowned for its challenging corners, is popular among racing enthusiasts. In the iESC, competitors aim to complete as many laps as possible rather than just being the first to finish a certain distance. However, the winner is determined based on various criteria such as the number of laps, the dynamic course, and the fastest lap time. This multifaceted structure of the race increases both the excitement and competitiveness. This unique event for solar-powered vehicles serves as an important platform for highlighting sustainable energy solutions, and we are highly ambitious on this platform.
Our Achievements as İTÜ ZES Solar Car in This Race
The ITU ZES Solar Car Team holds a significant place in the history of solar-powered vehicle races in Turkey. Our team has repeatedly won first place in the Formula G races initiated by TÜBİTAK, and after TÜBİTAK discontinued these races, we set our sights on international achievements. We first participated in the Bridgestone wWorld Solar Challenge in 2009 and then turned our attention to the iLumen European Solar Challenge, which is the focus of our blog.
In 2016, we made our mark on the international stage by winning the Brain Sport Award at the iLumen European Solar Challenge. In 2020, we proved our worth once again by winning the Most Challenging Team Award at the same event. However, these successes were not enough for us; we continued to develop our vehicles and prepared once again for the iLumen European Solar Challenge in 2022.
In that race, we stood out with our tire choices suitable for rainy track conditions, and our vehicle development efforts paid off. Despite starting the initial laps in 11th place, we broke our own record by completing 257 laps within 24 hours. Our vehicle spent only 46 minutes in the pit, a time that was minimized for tire and driver changes. We achieved a significant success by finishing 3rd in the race, although narrowly missing 2nd place by just 1 laps, leaving us with a bittersweet victory.
This year, as the ITU ZES Solar Car Team, we have big goals for the iLumen European Solar Challenge, which will take place on September 21-22. We are ready to repeat our previous successes and achieve even greater milestones in the race. We have completed all our preparations, optimized our vehicles to the best of our abilities, and are eager to participate in this challenging competition. Looking forward to sharing our successes with you after the race!
Comments