24 Hours of Non Stop Racing
Day and night nonstop The iLumen European Solar Challenge is the world only 24 hour endurance race for solar powered vehicles We race to complete as many laps as possible within 24 hours with a strict limit of only two grid charging sessions allowed throughout the entire race Our success relies heavily on our battery management aerodynamic efficiency and continuous strategy adjustments through the night
Le Mans Start
True to endurance racing tradition the iESC kicks off with an iconic Le Mans style start where our drivers sprint across the track jump into their cars and join the race simultaneously Entering multiple solar cars allows us as Team Sonnenwagen Aachen to compete across different classes requiring precise pit crew management seamless driver rotations and dual car strategy execution
Circuit Zolder in Belgium is a legendary 4010 meter former Formula 1 track featuring challenging chicanes elevation changes and tight curves The volatile Belgian September weather adds another layer of complexity ranging from intense sun to sudden rainfall testing the limits of both our drivers and our solar cars
The Racetrack
Scoring and Evaluation
Victory is not decided by track distance alone Our overall ranking combines total laps completed during the 24 hour race with dynamic track tests for agility and acceleration We are also scored on our fastest lap speed as well as an expert technical presentation of our engineering and safety concepts
Our Track Record
Circuit Zolder is a crucial proving ground for our solar technology Our past results at the iESC include
2024 2nd and 3rd place
2022 European Champions
2021 Vice Champions