The latest news of the team.
Open Track Day and Dynamic Parcour
The last day before the start of the 24-hour race on the Circuit Zolder was demanding for all departments. After the electrical engineering and chassis departments had been working on the cars until the morning, both rolled out onto the track at nine o'clock in the morning for testing. In the following hours, the drivers had time to adjust to the track and develop a feeling for the curves, chicanes, ups and downs of the track.
Scrutineering - the official start of the ESC
The Scrutineering is done, "all green" for our both solar cars! The past night shifts and today's work have been worth it and our two solar racing vehicles have the starting permission for the 24 hour race from Saturday to Sunday. Most of the points of the European Solar Challenge's Scrutineering are the same as in the World Solar Challenge. But especially the driving at night requires some extra features. For example, the car must be equipped with headlights that are bright enough for the drivers to drive safely in the dark. After some talks and discussions with the officials of the ESC all points could be checked off and we can look forward to an exciting race!In the evening the race management opened the race weekend with a speech and after that we moved the main part of our workshop to our pitbox.
Arrival at Circuit Zolder
The European Solar Challenge is getting closer and closer! The setting up of the camp in Zolder marks the beginning of an intensive racing weekend in Belgium. On the first official day of the event the Scruiteneering - the technical inspection of all participating vehicles - will take place. Here the cars mechnical and electrical components will be checked, to ensure a smooth race and the safety of all participants.
Sonnenwagen shines again
After we spent a lot of time in the workshop the last weeks to free the Covestro Sonnenwagen from the old paint and the underlying damage, it was time to help our solar car shine again.With the surface smoothed and sanded, the next step for us was to go to Hilden, near Düsseldorf.
The Sonnenwagen repair
An important part of the preparations for the European Solar Challenge 2020 is to restore the outer shell of the Covestro Sonnenwagen, which was damaged in our accident in Australia, to its original beauty.
The new regulations of the World Solar Challenge 2021
After a long wait, the new rules for the World Solar Challenge 2021 were published in mid-June. Unlike in the two previous challenges, many things have changed fundamentally this time. We would like to present the biggest changes in the regulations to you now.
The lights in the office are on again
While the relaxations of the Corona measures are being carefully extended, we have decided, in consultation with the local authorities, to reopen our office and workshop. Now, of course, we can't just go back to the status quo of three months ago, but adapt to the new circumstances.
VDE Tec Summit 2020
At the end of February, we were at the VDE Tec Summit in Berlin and displayed our Covestro Sonnenwagen. The event brings together representatives from companies, research, science and students. The topics of this year's summit were digitalization, sustainable concepts for the transportation transition, digital energy systems of the future and future technologies. Thus, we integrated well into the event and were, over the two days, a real eye-catcher.
The management board of the team
The new year started with a big change in our organization: We have elected a new board. Timon Elliger takes over the 1st chair from Markus Eckstein. Timon is studying industrial engineering in his master's degree with a focus on design and development at RWTH Aachen University and helped develop the electric motor for the Covestro Sonnenwagen. He joined the team in December 2017 and knows what it takes to get the next Sonnenwagen on the road.
Finally back home!
Five days after we reached the finish line in Darwin, the World Solar Challenge 2019 was not yet completely over for us. We had to put the Sonnenwagen safely packed into sea freight so that it could start the long journey home to Aachen. After several months at sea, it rolled back onto solid ground in Hamburg for the first time. A part of our team was eagerly waiting on site to finally receive the Sonnenwagen again.
We arrived! - Race Day 6
At about 10:30 on Friday the 18th of October the time had come: The Covestro Sonnenwagen has reached the finish line! The car and the whole team was braved all the adversities of the last week and never gave up. Despite storm winds, a sandstorm, a terrible accident and its consequences, we proved to ourselves what team spirit really means.
Nothing can stop us! - Race Day 5
After yesterday's shock, the mood in the team was again characterized by pure motivation. In the night we finished all the minor repairs again and additionally concealed a few beauty flaws so that the sonnenwagen crosses the finish line in its full splendour. In a relatively short night under a splendid starry sky we prepared ourselves for the possibly last race day and drove off again punctually at 8 A.M.
When you think you have overcome the worst ... - Race Day 4
Just as we ended the previous day in the storm, the next race day began just as stormy. After we had freed the sun car from the sand again, we started the stage to Coober Pedy relieved with the expectation to have survived the worst. But contrary to our hopes, shortly before our arrival at the checkpoint we were even worse hit. It was a consequence of unfortunate events that we could not expect and simulate in this constellation.
Cloudy with a chance of sandstorms - Race Day 3
In the morning we started punctually into the third race day towards Alice Springs. Carried by pure sunshine and clear sky we were faster than expected. With an average speed of 95 km/h we reached Alice Springs and Kulgara. So on the third day we already did more than half of the distance! After repeated mistakes of the competition at the checkpoint we could extend our lead and catch up to the top 3.
The race to catch up - Race Day 2
At 5:30 the alarm clock rang. Just in time for sunrise the breakfast was prepared for the team. While the majority of the team took care of dismantling the tents, our electrical engineers were already working on optimising the sonnenwagen for the next leg to Tennant Creek, the longest leg of the race to date. The stage extended a good 400km through the Red Desert of Australia.
The race begins - Race Day 1
After our driver Olli could secure us in the qualification an excellent starting place No. 2, we started under great conditions into the race. 35 degrees, pure sunshine, accompanied by a few sheep clouds.
At the starting line directly in front of the parliament building of the Northern Territory in the heart of Darwin Christoph took over the steering wheel of the sonnenwagen for the first stage. This extends to Katherine, the first checkpoint on the way to Adelaide.
The first meters on Australian soil
The second stop on our journey from Adelaide to Darwin to compete in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019 is Coober Pedy. In the opal capital of the world, the conditions for testing were ideal for us: seemingly endless highways with bright sunshine. But before that, we first had to overcome the approx. 800 kilometers between Nuriootpa and Coober Pedy.
The adventure goes into a new round!
Finally we are off! After more than two years of design and manufacturing work, the first part of our team has arrived in Australia. After our first participation in 2017, we are thus back again to compete with a new team and an even newer vehicle in the Outback.
Sonnenwagen: Next Generation
On Monday, July 22, 2019, the time had finally come: the "Covestro Sonnenwagen" was finally unveiled to the public after months of sweaty work in the workshop and discussions into the wee hours of the morning in the office. The ceremonial unveiling of the "Covestro Sonnenwagen" on Monday was also attended by North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Armin Laschet, who addressed motivational words to the team and guests in the evening in the auditorium of RWTH Aachen University.
From the Workshop to Mental and Cognitive Training - Communication Training with Eva Klein
To compete in the World Solar Challenge with a solar car is not only a challenge in which various simulations, constructions and calculations are important. Essential here is the team and the efficient cooperation across departmental boundaries. In order to improve communication within the team in the long term, we received professional support from Eva Klein, the relationship trainer for professional and private life.