The American Solar Challenge is on again this year, with scrutineering beginning on 1 July. Here is a list of the 21 teams (14 Challenger/SOV cars and 7 Cruiser/MOV cars) from 2 countries registered for the race. Regular attendees Missouri S&T, Northwestern, SIUE, Sunstang, and Waterloo are not registered, nor are WSC stalwarts Michigan, Blue Sky, or Stanford. The Blue Sky team from Toronto (with their new car Borealis) has very sadly pulled out. Teams are sorted in team number order and, as always, you can click the social media links, and click images to zoom. You can also check out the official ASC social media at
(click on the icons).
Teams this year are 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 17, 22, 26, 32, 35, 49, 55, 65, 87, 99, 101, 785, 786, and 828. Of these, 11 teams are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). A total of 19 teams have qualified for the track race so far (UT and Mich St have not qualified yet). All teams intending to join the road race (ASC) have also qualified for that.
3
Kentucky

Symmetric challenger (Gato del Sol VI) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They have qualified for the track race (position 5) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Kentucky came 14th at FSGP 14; came 10th at FSGP 15; came 12th at ASC 16; came 7th at FSGP 17; came 3rd at FSGP 19; and came 2nd at ASC 21.
4
MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team

Asymmetric challenger (Nimbus) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They have qualified for the track race (position 3) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, MIT came 23rd at WSC 15; came 12th at FSGP 14; came 5th at ASC 18; and won ASC 21.
5
University of Florida (Solar Gators)

Monohull challenger (new car: Sunrider) – they seem to have had some trouble. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 18).
Previously, Florida came equal 15th at FSGP 17; came 10th at FSGP 18; and came 8th at FSGP 19.
6
UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle Team (CalSol)

Symmetric challenger (Excalibur) – they raced in Australia as number 66: read about their Australian adventures here. They have qualified for the track race (position 8) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, CalSol participated in the WSC 19 Cruiser class; came 15th at FSGP 14; came 7th at FSGP 15; came 9th at ASC 16; won FSGP 17; came 6th at ASC 18; came 2nd in the FSGP 19 Cruiser class; and came 6th at ASC 21.
8
UT Austin

Monohull challenger (new car: Lone Star ) – they seem to have had some trouble. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have not yet qualified for the track race.
Previously, UT came 9th at ASC 14; came 6th at FSGP 15; and came 9th at FSGP 17.
9
PrISUm (Iowa State University)

Two-seat cruiser (Eliana) – they ran a friendly Midwest Solar Challenge in May. They have qualified for the track race (position 7) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, PrISUm participated in the WSC 17 Cruiser class; came 3rd at ASC 14; won FSGP 15; came 7th at ASC 16; came 5th in the FSGP 18 Cruiser class; and came 3rd in the FSGP 21 Cruiser class.
13
Michigan State

Two-seat cruiser (Aurora) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have not yet qualified for the track race.
Previously, Mich St came equal 15th at FSGP 17.
17
Illinois State

Symmetric challenger (Mercury 6) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 13).
Previously, Illinois St came equal 16th at FSGP 14; came 3rd at FSGP 15; came 11th at ASC 16; came 5th at FSGP 17; came 12th at FSGP 18; came 7th at FSGP 19; came 7th at ASC 21; and came 13th at Abu Dhabi 15.
22
Illini (University of Illinois)

Monohull challenger (Brizo) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They have qualified for the track race (position 1) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Illini participated in the WSC 17 Adventure class; came 7th at ASC 18; came 4th at FSGP 19; and came 4th at ASC 21. Their team number (22) is a tradition since 1995.
26
University of British Columbia

Monohull challenger (new car: Daybreak) – they have made good progress with their new car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 16).
32
Principia Solar Car Team

Asymmetric challenger (Ra XI) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They have qualified for the track race (position 12) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Principia came 17th at WSC 15; participated at WSC 17; came 5th at ASC 14; came 5th at FSGP 15; came 5th at ASC 16; came 13th at FSGP 17; came 2nd at FSGP 19; came 3rd at ASC 21; and came 6th at Abu Dhabi 15.
35
University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project

Four-seat cruiser (Freya) – they are America’s Cruiser class pioneers. With their impressive record, they are probably the Cruiser class favourites. They ran a friendly Midwest Solar Challenge in May. They have qualified for the track race (position 2) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Minnesota came 4th in the WSC 13 Cruiser class; came 5th in the WSC 15 Cruiser class; participated in the WSC 17 Cruiser class; came 5th in the WSC 19 Cruiser class; came 2nd at ASC 14; came equal 10th at ASC 16; came equal 2nd in the ASC 18 Cruiser class; and came 2nd in the ASC 21 Cruiser class. Their team number (35) is derived from the Interstate 35 highway.
49
Georgia Tech

Monohull challenger (Endurance) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 6).
Previously, Ga Tech came 13th at FSGP 15; came 17th at FSGP 16; came 6th at FSGP 17; came 8th at ASC 18; came 9th at FSGP 19; and came 5th at ASC 21. Their team number (49) is taken from STS-49, the maiden flight of the space shuttle Endeavour (which was the name of their first car).
55
Esteban (Poly Montreal)

Two-seat cruiser (Esteban 10) – they have transitioned to the Cruiser (MOV) class. They have qualified for the track race (position 4) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Esteban came 4th at ASC 14; came 2nd at FSGP 15; came equal 10th at ASC 16; came 3rd at FSGP 17; came 4th at ASC 18; and won FSGP 19. Their team number (55) is the year that Western Electric began to sell licenses for silicon PV technology.
65
University of Calgary

Two-seat cruiser (Schulich Elysia) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 11).
Previously, Calgary came 8th in the WSC 13 Cruiser class; came 9th at FSGP 15; and won the FSGP 19 Cruiser class.
87
University of Virginia

Monohull challenger (new car: Rivanna 2) – they are finally fielding a car, I am glad to say. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 17).
99
North Carolina State University (SolarPack)

Two-seat cruiser (SPX) – this team will race their modified commercial ICE vehicle. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 15).
Previously, NCSU came 4th in the FSGP 21 Cruiser class.
101
Éclipse – Véhicule solaire de l’ÉTS

Asymmetric challenger (Éclipse 10) – they raced in Australia in 2019 as number 92, finishing 2nd among North American teams. They have qualified for the track race (position 14) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, Eclipse came 18th at WSC 13; came 9th at WSC 19; came 10th at ASC 14; came 8th at ASC 16; came 4th at FSGP 17; and came 3rd at ASC 18.
785
KU Solar Car

Monohull challenger (new car: Astra) – their monohull design is 1.3 m wide. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 19). Their team number (785) is the telephone area code for northern Kansas.
786
Western Michigan (Sunseeker)

Asymmetric challenger (Aethon) – I understand that they are racing their existing car. They are only intending to attend the track race (FSGP). They have qualified for the track race (position 9).
Previously, W Mich came 7th at ASC 14; came 14th at FSGP 17; came 9th at ASC 18; came 5th at FSGP 19; and came 8th at FSGP 21. Their team number (786) is the sequence of digits for S-U-N on old phones (but last year they raced as 30).
828
Appalachian State University (Sunergy)

Two-seat cruiser (ROSE) – this team has a fantastic, well-tested car. They have qualified for the track race (position 10) and for the road race (ASC).
Previously, AppState came 6th at ASC 16; came 2nd at FSGP 17; came equal 2nd in the ASC 18 Cruiser class; and won the ASC 21 Cruiser class. Their team number (828) is the telephone area code for western North Carolina.
This page last updated 09:07 on 8 July 2022 AEST.