The North American Solar Car Challenge 2005 has started and the first teams have crossed the border into Canada and will be making their way to the checkpoint stop at the University of Regina on Sunday, July 24.

The North American Solar Challenge (NASC) is the world's longest solar car race (4,000 kilometres) and the only race to cross an international border. The race started in Austin, Texas on July 17 and will end in Calgary. Currently, car number 35, Borealis III from the University of Minnesota, leads the pack.

The fastest of the solar car teams are expected to arrive at the U of R checkpoint on Sunday, July 24, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., while the other racers will arrive on Monday, July 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to check out the race action, Energy Tent, and technology displays sponsored by the U of R, Climate Change Saskatchewan and the Office of Energy Conservation. The displays will feature the most advanced fuel efficient and environmentally friendly automobiles available today, such as hybrids and alternative fuelled vehicles.

The checkpoint stop and the Energy Tent will be in Parking Lot 15, which is in the south-west area of the University campus, immediately south of University Drive South and west of the ISM Canada building on Research Drive.

Minister responsible for the Office of Energy Conservation David Forbes will be speaking on Monday, July 24 at 11 a.m. As well, SaskEnergy will be bringing 70 students from the Educating Youth in Engineering and Science (EYES) camp to the event in their natural gas buses.

Event sponsors include the U of R Faculty of Engineering, Climate Change Saskatchewan, the Office of Energy Conservation, SaskPower, SaskEnergy, the City of Regina and Kelln Solar.

The solar cars are designed, built and raced by teams of students from 20 universities in the United States and Canada. NASC cars must be powered solely by sunshine. The cars travel at highway speeds and are required to obey local speed limits, but in general, the sunnier the day, the faster and farther the cars can run.

The NASC race is sponsored by the United States Department of Energy (DOE), the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Natural Resources Canada.

More details on the hourly progress of the race, the rules, the cars, the teams and the challenge are available online at www.americansolarchallenge.org.

For more information about the U of R checkpoint stop, please contact

• Rob Jones at 585-4961 or
• David deMontigny at 585-2277.