TUT team triumphs in 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge
The Tshwane University of Technology entry became the first South African vehicle to complete the eight-day endurance route without being trailed.
Students from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have driven their SunChaser 4 solar vehicle to victory after completing a 2 369.2km journey from Pretoria to Paarl.
The biennial event tests local and international teams who conceptualise, design and build solar-powered vehicles to drive across the country in an eight-day endurance competition.
TUT’s vehicle competed in the Challenger Class, which is built for optimal efficiency and endurance.
The university beat Swiss, Indian and other local teams to become the first South African team to complete the route without trailing.
Practical engineering
Eleven students and several staff members from the university’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment worked on the vehicle, alongside supporting sponsors and partners. Team director Dr Christiaan Oosthuizen said the challenge allows students to demonstrate their skills outside the classroom.
“The Sasol Solar Challenge gives our students an opportunity to take what they have learned in the classroom and apply it in a real environment,” said Oosthuizen. “They are making decisions, solving problems and seeing how their engineering choices perform under changing conditions.”
Industry support
Ford Silverton Assembly Plant awarded the team the License to Innovate Award prior to the event.
Ford South Africa supported the team with vehicles, fuel and 3D printing components, helping transport students and technical crew throughout the challenge.
“For our students, this is a valuable opportunity to experience agile problem-solving, technical collaboration and advanced manufacturing in a demanding environment. They can see how an engineering problem can move from identification to design and manufacturing, and ultimately to a working solution, sometimes within a very short period,” he said.
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