Durham’s solar-powered car shines at European Challenge

The team, comprising 19 members with 18 of them being students, showcased their engineering prowess by completing an impressive 225 laps, equivalent to over 950 kilometres, during the gruelling 24-hour race at Belgium's Circuit Zolder.

From Australian outback to European racetrack

Fresh from their record-breaking performance as the highest-placing British team at the 2023 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia, our Solar Car team proved their versatility by adapting their solar-powered vehicle for track racing.

Competing against 17 other solar cars from top European universities, the 9th place finish in the Challenger class solidified our position as UK National Champions.

Innovative design

The team's success can be attributed to their relentless pursuit of technological advancement. Key innovations include:

• A new high-power battery pack using Li-Polymer cells, offering ultra-low internal resistance for increased power delivery and efficiency
• A twin motor configuration, providing more powerful acceleration for maintaining higher speeds on hills and corners
• Strategic upgrades to their 2019 car, optimising it for track performance with a low centre of mass and stable driving dynamics

The road to success included extensive testing at Dunsfold Aerodrome and race simulations at Mallory Park Circuit, allowing the team to fine-tune their strategy and vehicle performance.

Bright future for solar racing

As our Solar Car team celebrates their achievement, they're already looking ahead to future challenges.

With a proven track record of innovation and performance, this student-led initiative continues to pave the way for a new generation of sustainable transportation solutions.

Find out more

• Learn more about Durham University Solar Car team.
• Interested in studying at Durham? Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Our Department of Engineering is ranked fourth in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025. Visit our Engineering webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.