The University of Queensland Solar Racing Team has begun gearing up for its next challenge - the Sydney to Melbourne CitiPower Sunrace in January next year.
Team Project Manager Darren Bell said the team had already raised over $100,000 this year and was confident of producing a highly competitive entry for the 1700-kilometre Sunrace.
"Many previous sponsors have already recommitted to supporting our vehicle SunShark," Mr Bell said.
"The University, its alumni and UniQuest have been outstanding in supporting the team."
"The continuing support of the Queensland Division of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, Hillier Engineering, Silicon Graphics, RACQ, Energex and Queensland Rubber and the addition of Capral Aluminium have also helped provide a firm foundation for our assault on Sunrace."
Mr Bell said this support had enabled the team to begin a number of projects to advance SunShark to the next level of excellence, including construction of a new motor to be housed inside SunShark's rear wheel.
"It will allow SunShark to put more power to the bitumen than before," Mr Bell said.
The team had also started building a new top shell to house a new solar array.
"We are working to a new design which will offer us much better structural properties, yet also allow us to save weight," he said.
"The design will improve the top shell's rigidity and provide a more stable base for the new solar cells, increasing their durability and preventing the cells from cracking.
"It will also allow us to replace solar cells easily. We should be able to upgrade our array to increase our efficiency quite easily using this new format. These new cells, along with the other planned modifications will help us in the Sunrace and the next World Solar Challenge in 1999."
For further information contact Mr Bell (telephone (07) 3365 3771).
Email: uqsrt@pc.elec.uq.edu.au
