There are currently three major Solar Car races. The
NASC, the Formula Sun Grand Prix, and the World Solar Challenge. For information about CalSol's performance in previous races and awards won, visit our
History page.
The North American Solar Challenge is held once every two years. In this race, over the course of a week the solar vehicles drive across the entire United States. CalSol has been participating in this race since 1993, when it was known as the SunRayce. In 2003 the
ASC ran from Chicago to Los Angeles following the famous
Route 66. Since 2005 the NASC runs from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta (Canada). The race coordinators ran into difficulty with funding, the 2007 race was cancelled, and then with little notice the race was rescheduled for 2008. CalSol was unable to complete a new car to meet the new race specifications in time for NASC 2008, but we still sent a team to observe the race. The status of the 2010 race is somewhat unknown, but if the race continues, CalSol will do its best to participate.
The Formula Sun Grand Prix is run by the same group as the NASC, Crowder College. The Formula Sun Grand Prix is a track race held in Cresson, Texas. In some years the FSGP has been used as a qualifying event for the NASC race, but it is still a race in its own right. This year's NASC is scheduled for June 1st through June 5th. CalSol is scheduled to attend (and win) this race.
The World Solar Challenge is held in Australia and is a race from Darwin to Adelaide. The next World Solar Challenge is in October 2009. CalSol has never attended the World Solar Challenge due mostly to the cost and need for the team to take several weeks off of school.
Other Races
In the past, CalSol has attended other races such as the now discontinued Suzuka Sun Rayce in Japan and the 1994 Disneyland World Clean Air Road Rally.
Race Reports
Read about the team's experiences at past races:
