Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge route changes

The route for the Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge was changed on Sunday.

Organisers said the move was made to challenge the competitors, who will embark on the three-day race next week.

The qualifying stage will begin on January 15, with the actual race taking place the following three days.

The Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge is the first International Solarcar Federation-sanctioned event to be held in the Middle East. Organisers declined to say why the route was changed.

Fifteen university teams from around the world, including the UAE’s Petroleum Institute, will travel approximately 1,100 kilometres through Abu Dhabi emirate.

Students will have to plan for city and desert road driving on the same day, a big challenge in a competition where smooth and economical driving are keys to success.

Each day of the challenge will take the teams to a new destination in Abu Dhabi, encompassing the landscapes the emirate has to offer.

Residents will have an opportunity to see the cars in action at specially arranged checkpoints along the route. The exact locations will be announced soon.

Dan Eberle, race director and head of the technical team behind the Solar Challenge, was instrumental in deciding the route.

“The Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge is so unique in regards to the route,” Mr Eberle said. “There are challenges which aren’t found in other events: swirling sands, a combination of city and desert, and unpredictable solar access due to the time of year.”

Mr Erberle has been involved in organising solar challenges across the world, including the World Solar Challenge in Australia and the American Solar Challenge in the US, and said the Abu Dhabi Solar Challenge is likely to be extremely testing for the teams.

“There are many challenges that the students will face, including forecasting solar availability and preparing a multi-day strategy based on that availability. What the sun might do tomorrow impacts how fast a team can go today,” he said.