The Sasol Solar Challenge kicked off on Saturday morning, as the new mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, waved the solar-powered cars over the starting line at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
The futuristic solar-powered cars were built by students from all over the world, including teams from South African universities and high schools.
The convoy of more than 350 people will move across the country from Pretoria to Cape Town, where the challenge will end on 1 October at the V&A Waterfront.
The challenge takes place over eight days between Pretoria and Cape Town, covering more than 2 000km, with some teams clocking as much as 4 000km on option loops on the routes. The aim is to cover as much distance as possible, powered by the African sun.
Fourteen teams from all over the world have been undergoing tough scrutineering at the Zwartkops Raceway, in Pretoria, to determine whether they are fit to compete in this year's challenge across the country.
The solar cars typically weigh around 200kg and come up to knee height, with the distinctive solar panel arrays wrapped over the top of the vehicle. Each solar car has a single driver, and the vehicles are built for optimum aerodynamic efficiency.
The event is sponsored by Sasol as a showcase of cutting-edge science and engineering. These highly competitive teams travel through the country, inspiring young South Africans to become engineers and scientists by choosing STEM subjects.
By yesterday, in near-perfect weather, competitors had covered more than 680km on roads between Kroonstad and Bloemfontein.
"Today (Sunday), we saw for the first time how intensely competitive these teams really are. The top three teams are neck and neck - within only metres of each other's tally - on what is only the second day of the event," says Sasol Solar Challenge director Winstone Jordaan.
There were two extra cars on the road yesterday, with the University of Johannesburg and Near-East University from Northern Cyprus hitting the road for the first time. Dutch team Nuon caught a curb in the control stop area at low speeds with its car, Nuna 8s. The damage will need to be repaired tonight in order to restore aerodynamic integrity.
Today, the 11 teams travel from Bloemfontein's Maselspoort Resort via Edenburg to Gariep Dam.
Results day two
Challenger class:
1. Nuon and Tokai solar teams tied at 685.7km
2. GAMF, MegaLux: 611.9km
3. North-West University: 611.0 - record broken (NWU 2015: 560km)
4. Tshwane University of Technology: 301.9km
5. Near East University: 301.5km
6. Maragon Olympus: 190.4km
7. University of Johannesburg: 70km
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