Why build a solar-powered race car and not compete it? The QSVT is a regular competitor in a number of rayces across North America and the world.

World Solar Challenge

Held every odd-numbered year (next event will be held in 2007), the World Solar Challenge (WSC) is considered to be the premier competition in the sport of solar vehicle racing. The competition is held in Australia with the route going from Darwin on the North coast to Adelaide on the South coast on open roads, travelling through the heart of the Outback. In 1990, Sunquest became the first ever Canadian team to complete the race and the QSVT has had excellent success ever since.

Year	Car Name	Number of Entrants	Finish	Title
1990	Sunquest	unknown	24	First ever Canadian team to complete the race
1997	Dawn Treader	unknown	11	Top North American finisher
1999	Radiance	40	2	2nd place finish, less than 15 minutes behind champion Best University team Best North American team
2001	Mirage	37	5	First place in Production Class Top Canadian team
2003	Gemini	33	4	1st place 2-seater solar vehicle Top Canadian Team Winner of Hans Tholstrup Award for the spirit of the WSC Competition
2007	Aurum	37	15	Finished 15th in Challenge Class

 

Sunrayce

Started in 1990 as the GM Sunrayce USA and held biannually since 1993 under the name Sunrayce, this competition has attracted some of the brightest minds from across North America. The course for this race changes every year travelling across the United States on open roads. With the high costs of sending a team to compete in the World Solar Challenge, many teams compete only in this race, making it an incredibly competitive race. Unlike the WSC, teams are required to abide by local speed limits making reliability crucial to a winning car. In 2000, Sunrayce was renamed to the American Solar Challenge.

Year	Car Name	Number of Entrants	Finish	Title
1993	Sunquest II	36	14
1995	Quest	38	6	Highest Canadian placing ever
1997	Dawn Treader	36	10
1999	Radiance	36	2	Second Overall Best Canadian finish

 

American Solar Challenge

Like its predecessor Sunrayce, the American Solar Challenge (ASC) is held biannually and travels across the USA with the route changing each time the event is held. This competition attracts teams from some of the top universities across North America. In 2005, the event entered Canada for the first time seeing teams travel approximately 3900km from Austin, Texas to Calgary, Alberta. The event was subsequently renamed the North American Solar Challenge

Year	Car Name	Number of Entrants	Finish	Title
2001	Mirage	30	4
2003	Gemini	30	7	First place 2-seater vehicle Won Best Array, Best Electrical System and the “To Boldly Go” Award for our innovative 2-seater design
2005	Ultraviolet	20	15	Top 2-seater vehicle
2008	Aurum	14	12	Finished 12th (106:36:20)

 

Canadian Solar Discovery Challenge

This event was held between 6 teams from London, Ontario to Montreal Quebec in 1997. The QSVT placed first in this competition with the fastest total time, making them the unofficial National Champions. The team also won an Award for Technical Innovation for the solar array.

 

Great Canadian Solar Challenge

The very first solar car race ever held in Canada, the GCSC took place on the University of Waterloo’s campus. The two cars raced around the campus’s ring road. The only entrants in the competition were QSVT and University of Waterloo. Photomoto, QSVT’s vehicle, claimed first place.