Solar Team Twente takes a new direction: from solar car across the Australian outback to sustainable rally racing

The move to rally racing is intended to create that space. Unlike solar car racing, which focuses on maximum efficiency on asphalt, rally racing demands performance under extreme conditions: sand dunes, rocky terrain and large temperature differences. This requires new solutions in energy management, cooling, materials and data analysis.

According to Solar Team Twente, these challenges align more closely with current issues in sustainable mobility and electrification. Rally-raid events involve daily stages covering hundreds of kilometres across demanding terrain. The Twente-based team aims to become the first student team to develop a fully solar-powered rally car, demonstrating that even extreme motorsport can become more sustainable.

“We remain Solar Team Twente: the sun will still be our energy source,” says Blik. “But rally racing allows us to show that sustainable technology works beyond ideal conditions. That increases the impact.” Internal evaluations and discussions with partners and students also indicated that rally technology enables stronger collaboration with industry. Components are less niche than in solar cars, meaning innovations can more easily translate into applications in industry and mobility.

The shift also provides a renewed boost to student participation. Solar Team Twente has long served as a breeding ground for technical talent. Alumni go on to work at international high-tech companies and start-ups, partly thanks to their experience managing complex engineering projects under significant time pressure.

With this transition, the team expects to create more room for innovative experimentation. Examples include more powerful electric drivetrains, sustainable materials, AI-driven telemetry and energy management under heavy load. “Students want to build technology that has visible impact,” says Blik. “With rally racing, we can push boundaries again — not only technically, but also in how we collaborate with partners and showcase sustainable innovation.”

The Rally du Maroc is the team’s first major target. The event takes place annually in October and attracts factory and private teams from around the world. It consists of multiple stages through desert terrain and reaches millions of viewers globally through international television broadcasts.

Solar Team Twente plans to use the first years to gain experience and further develop the rally car. Initially, the focus will be on successfully completing stages powered by solar energy. In the longer term, the team aims to compete at a high level in the overall standings. “We’ve shown that you can reach the world’s top tier with solar cars,” says Blik. “Now we want to show once again what Twente stands for: the courage to innovate.”