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☀️ Oceania · Australia

Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

BUILD a solar-powered car and drive it across Australia.

Team entryCrew
22–29 Aug 2027Next date
None listedNext deadline / key date
Every two years, in August (odd years)Usual timing
Darwin to Adelaide, AustraliaWhere
01 · How to take part

Your way in

Enter a team (usually universities and schools) in the Challenger, Cruiser or other classes, or volunteer as event crew along the route.

Team entry

Build a solar car and enter

Teams (usually universities and schools) build a solar-powered car under the 2027 regulations and apply for entry in the Challenger, Cruiser or other classes.

Crew

Volunteer on the event crew

Volunteers help run the event along the route; register through the official volunteer page.

You build or use
BUILD a solar-powered car and drive it across Australia
Participation
Build-compete (application); Crew (volunteer)
Entry and deadlines
2027 applications for entry are open (official page); teams must follow the 2027 regulations
Where
Darwin to Adelaide (about 3,000 km), Australia
02 · Dates

Dates and deadlines, Jan 2026 to Dec 2027

Usual timing: Every two years, in August (odd years). Dates are only shown where a source publishes them; everything else is marked TBC.

  • 22–29 Aug 2027Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2027Official: 22-29 Aug 2027 (start 22 Aug in Darwin; finish line opens 26 Aug; awards 29 Aug). · sourceTeam entry

See it on the calendar →

03 · Skills you'll need

Skills you'll need

What to learn and practise before you go. Each resource is marked Official or Community-accepted and names its publisher. Difficulty and prep time are our estimate.

Core skill

Solar electric vehicle design to the event regulations

Also useful:

  • Team management, logistics and support-convoy planning
  • Driving and race strategy over about 3,000 km of outback road
Difficulty our estimateSkilled team
Prep time our estimateone to two years of team design and build

Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures.

Refresher

  1. Read the 2027 regulations and the team manager's guide before you apply.
  2. Classes include Challenger (pure efficiency endurance) and Cruiser (practical solar cars).
  3. Applications for entry for 2027 are open on the official site.
  4. Volunteers help run the event along the route.

Practise before you go

  • Start with a regional solar or electric-vehicle challenge.
  • Build and test subsystems (array, battery, motor) well ahead of the event.
  • Plan the convoy and outback logistics with the team.

Safety notes

  • Outback heat and remote roads: follow the event's safety rules.
  • High-voltage battery systems: trained team members only.

Resources

Officialofficial regulations

Event Regulations (2027)

The rules every 2027 car must meet.

Publisher: Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (organiser)

Officialofficial application page

Event Applications

How to apply for entry in 2027.

Publisher: Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (organiser)

Officialofficial page

Event Classes

What each class is for.

Publisher: Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (organiser)

Officialofficial page

Volunteers

How to volunteer at the event.

Publisher: Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (organiser)

All skills guides

04 · Check before you go

What we could and couldn't confirm

Before you book

  • Held every two years: no 2026 edition. 2027 applications for entry are open.
  • Costs are not listed on Nomad. Check them, and the latest dates, on the official site.
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