The Advertiser
By: Stuart Martin
Steered by the Sun’s rays and a determination to win, the Dutch Nuna4Solar Team’s jubilant celebrations from the night before spilled into yesterday– and the Victoria Square fountain.
After more than 3000km and five days later, the team from the Netherlands travelled the final leg to Victoria Square after winning line honours on Thursday night, the fourth win for the Dutch.
With cheers of delight and relief, the team continued what has becomea World Solar Car Race tradition by jumping into the fountain for a much needed cool down.
‘‘It feels fantastic. Absolutely fantastic,’’ Nuna4 driver Oliver van der Meer said yesterday. ‘‘I mean we work so hard for this. Our heart, blood, sweat and tears are in that car.’’
The car completed the Darwin to Adelaide journey in 33 hours and 17 minutes for an average speed of 92.07km/h. Belgium’s Umicar team was runner up (34 hrs, 36 mins), while the first Australian solar car team,
the Aurora Challenge team – 101 – from Victoria, crossed the finish line in third place just before 10am yesterday, in 35 hours, 17 minutes.