The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge will be in Kirkwood (Kirkwood High School) on 14 September between 10:00 and 15:00. This will be the first time the event stops in Kirkwood.

After travelling roughly 1, 500 kilometres from Johannesburg (taking stops along the route), the Sasol Solar Challenge will make its seventh control-stop in Kirkwood. The solar car teams will have an opportunity to refresh, swap drivers, do repairs, and strategise. The challenge will then move to Jeffreys Bay (Mentorskraal), which will be the finish line for day six of the eight-day event. Mentorskraal will be the start line of day seven of the Sasol Solar Challenge on 15 September. Solar cars will start departing the venue from 07:00 until 08:30.

“The 2022 Sasol Solar Challenge is bringing new, interesting and challenging features as well as new solar car teams. The community of Kirkwood and surroundings can look forward to this new adventure and to experiencing a solar challenge where cars, which are powered only by the sun, go head-to-head, the winning team being the one that racked-up the most kilometres during the eight-day long challenge,” said Robert Walker, Owner and Director of the Sasol Solar Challenge. “This is also an opportunity for the community to learn more about different energy concepts, for clean and sustainable transportation.”

The venue, Kirkwood High School will host the event’s school activation programme. The programme is a supporting initiative by the Sasol Solar Challenge title sponsor, Sasol, aimed at creating awareness, excitement and unique opportunities for school learners with a specific focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With this programme, Sasol is directly investing in the engineers, scientists and thought leaders of tomorrow.

“The school activation programme will offer an opportunity to learners and the broader community of Kirkwood to view the solar cars and engage with the solar car teams. This is a tangible engagement for learners to see the application of STEM in real life,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships at Sasol.

The Sasol Solar Challenge takes place every two years, bringing together university and high school teams, and even private engineers who have manufactured fully functioning, roadworthy solar powered cars. It runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns.

The 2022 route from Johannesburg to Cape Town will include five provinces and 18 towns. New towns include Brakpan, Trompsburg, Willowmore, Kirkwood, Jeffreys Bay, Riversdale and Caledon. The event is also bringing new local and international teams including those competing for the first time in South Africa.

Spectators are welcome at all stops, and more information on the route and the teams can be found at: https://www.solarchallenge.org.za/