13 Oct Week Five Update: Final Testing

The outback is a harsh environment with chip-sealed roads that destroy tires and wheel alignment, road trains that kick up rocks and dust, and gravel turn-outs that cause body damage. After several days of testing and the mock race, it was time for some repairs. The team went north to Alice Springs, where we worked for a few days to restore Arctan to its original condition. Thank you to Andrew Sutton and the team at Sutton Volkswagen, Alice Springs for generously donating workshop space!

The team doing repairs at Sutton Volkswagen. Photo Credits Max Praglin

Once repairs were completed, the team went back to South Australia for final testing to ensure Arctan was still performing at a high level. After driving several hundred kilometers, the team concluded that Arctan was ready for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge! We spent the night in ‘the bush’, where we were able to let down and enjoy the beautiful sunset and night sky.

Arctan passing an Australian military convoy during the final day of testing. Photo Credits Kelsey Josund

The team relaxing after the final day of testing. The Milky Way is in the background. Photo credits Emily Henriksson

The next morning, with Arctan in the trailer, the convoy traveled North. We stopped at Devil’s Marbles for the night; the precarious rock formations are an incredible sight, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Devil’s Marbles, a famous rock formation along the Stuart Highway. Photo credits Alex Lubkin

The last day of driving brought the team through a wide range of climates, from the arid desert to the humid ocean climate of Darwin. After arriving in Darwin, we had an awesome family-style dinner. Stay posted for our week in Darwin, with vehicle scrutineering, track testing, and race preparations!

Arctan and the team at our Darwin house. Photo credits Alex Lubkin and Anna Olson