Blog

26 Oct 2007: Day six of the 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge - Avivasolarcar takes third (challenge class) and sixth overall

In the final leg from Lake Hart to Adelaide, it would be true to say that the normally conservative, strategic-thinking, steady-as-she-goes Avivasolarcar team fanged it, travelling 500 km to cross the finish line at 2.30 pm. The weather conditions were ideal - still and sunny and we had power to burn, beginning and ending day six with 154 volts in the battery.

Under the confident handling of drivers Lisia Sturm (2.5 hours, Lake Hart to Port Augusta) and Andrew Marriott (3.5 hours, Port Augusta to Adelaide), the Avivasolarcar reached a top speed of 110 km/h and averaged 88 km/h, the fastest speed it achieved during the six-day race. Significantly, it was the first time the Southern Aurora team has finished on the Friday.

This morning, we came into contact with our first set of traffic lights in many miles (at Port Augusta), roadworks (down to 25 km/h and sharing a single lane of traffic), a roadtrain driver who could only be described as suicidal, fuel tankers and heavy traffic congestion into Adelaide. As if men and machines weren't bad enough, there was the wildlife to contend with. Just a few kilometres from Lake Hart, a pair of emus calmly crossed the road in front of our media van (which naturally paused to allow them to pass). In the final leg (between Port Augusta and Angle Vale, where official finish times are recorded), we had a tangle with an independent media van (not our own), which obstructed our progress into Adelaide, slowing us from 110 km/h to 70 km/h, to the great frustration and annoyance of the team.

Lead driver Andrew Marriott took the Avivasolarcar into Adelaide, where we were welcomed into Adelaide's Victoria Square by Event Manager Chris Selwood and a throng of people. Team members cheered and hugged one another and most of them finished up in the cool waters of the central fountain, one mobile phone the only casualty.

The media interviews came in thick and fast - team manager Steve Martinich gave radio interviews to SA FM News, SBS National News and to ABC Regional Radio's Derek Guille program. Meanwhile, drivers Andrew Marriott and Lisia Sturm pitched in giving a telephone interview to the 'Portland Observer' newspaper (expected to be syndicated in its sister publication, the 'Hamilton Spectator'). Student team members Brendan Hollis and Tim Crooks gave a telephone interview to the 'Warrnambool Standard' daily newspaper.

We are delighted to finish the 2007 Panasonic World Solar Challenge, and to finish so safely and strongly. We are immensely proud of our vehicle and team, and are already talking about the 2009 World Solar Challenge. Bring it on!

Meanwhile, it's over and out for now, let the celebrations begin.

Keep on truckin',
The Avivasolarcar team