UK Solar Car Team

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 17, 2008) − Unfavorable weather conditions aren’t stopping the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team as "Gato del Sol III" continues its northward trek toward Calgary, Alberta.

Team spokesman Matt Hatfield reports this morning that the car is traveling apace toward Sioux Falls, S.D., after the team spent Wednesday night "in the middle of nowhere near Decatur, Neb."

"We’re still battling clouds and bad weather. It’s been raining and cloudy with very little sun" through most of the race that began Sunday in Plano, Texas, Hatfield said.

More information about the race and Gato del Sol III’s progress is available at the team’s blog here and at the North American Solar Challenge’s Web site.

This is the only solar car in Kentucky, Gato Del Sol III. It runs exclusively on solar energy and will be competing against other prestigious engineering universities in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge.

The challenge consists of a 2,400 mile race beginning in Texas and ending in Canada during the month of July. The team is currently making their way through Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Tour de France bikers have passed the halfway point in their month-long trek across France's beautiful, but sometimes treacherous, land, combating mountainous terrain and endurance challenges. Harsh sunlight and scorching temperatures might act as another blow to a cyclist's performance, but for those competing in other races-- such as the North American Solar Challenge-- the sun helps them to win.

The 2008 NASC pits college students from across North America against each other to design the best solar car to travel from Texas to Canada in 10 days. The kick-off was Sunday in Plano, Texas, and will end 2,400 miles later in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 22. The race is scheduled similarly to the Tour de France with stages and checkpoints. Competitors will travel mainly on U.S. Highway 75 and Canadian Highway 1. Schools from all over the United States and Canada-- 24 to be exact-- created their own solar cars to compete this year.

University of Michigan's Continuum is currently winning with about a 35 minute lead on Principia College's car.

Yeah, I know this video is anti-climatic at best, but it was the best "drive-by" footage we have so far. Just so I can prove to everyone that the car is doing its thing.

After two days of qualitying, UK has been assigned a starting position of 5th. The team begins their journey for Calgary on July 13th at 9:00pm. For pictures of the race from the perspective of the teams participating, visit the NASC blog at http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2008/blog/