2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Event Regulations PDF

event regulations 24-31 august 2025 Document Control Release Version 1. Published 5 June 2024 Copyright statement The Government of South Australia supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of public sector information and endorses the use of Creative Commons Licenses by its agencies...

event regulations 24-31 august 2025 Document Control Release Version 1. Published 5 June 2024 Copyright statement The Government of South Australia supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of public sector information and endorses the use of Creative Commons Licenses by its agencies. With the exception of the Piping Shrike emblem, images, and other material or devices protected by a trademark and subject to review by the Government of South Australia at all times, the content of this document is licensed under the Creative Commons Australia Attribution 4.0 Licence. All other rights are reserved. Where specific licence terms (such as Creative Commons) are applied to this document, those licence terms shall prevail over any inconsistent provisions in this statement. The Government of South Australia has undertaken reasonable enquiries to identify material owned by third parties and secure permission for its reproduction. Permission may need to be obtained from third parties to reuse their material. When using content from this document that is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence you are required to attribute the work in the manner specified in the licence (but not in any way that suggests that the Government of South Australia endorses you or your use of the work) and the Government of South Australia requires that you use the following form of attribution. The Government of South Australia, 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Event Regulations, 7 May 2024, https://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/the-challenge/regulations 2 Contents Contents................................................................................................................................... 3 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Regulations......................................................... 7 Introduction and welcome................................................................................................... 7 1 Administration................................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Scope.......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Language.................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Time zone.................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Conduct of the Event................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Eligibility..................................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Entrant obligation....................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Event Organiser.......................................................................................................... 9 1.8 Event Management Team.......................................................................................... 9 1.9 Officials of the Event................................................................................................ 10 1.10 Jury........................................................................................................................... 10 1.11 Judges of fact........................................................................................................... 10 1.12 Schedule................................................................................................................... 10 1.13 Entering the Event.................................................................................................... 12 1.14 Entry fees.................................................................................................................. 12 1.15 Other fees................................................................................................................. 13 1.16 Refunds..................................................................................................................... 13 1.17 Cancellation of the Event......................................................................................... 14 1.18 Insurance.................................................................................................................. 14 1.19 Team members......................................................................................................... 14 1.20 Team identification................................................................................................... 15 1.21 Permits...................................................................................................................... 16 1.22 Freight....................................................................................................................... 16 1.23 Visas.......................................................................................................................... 16 3  1.24 Vehicle preparation.................................................................................................. 16 1.25 Style guide................................................................................................................ 17 1.26 Sponsorship obligations......................................................................................... 17 1.27 Media and promotional obligations........................................................................ 17 1.28 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drones)......................................................................... 18 1.29 Compulsory documentation.................................................................................... 18 1.30 Clarifying Regulations............................................................................................. 20 2 Competition Vehicle Regulations.................................................................................. 21 2.1 Classes..................................................................................................................... 21 2.2 Dimensions............................................................................................................... 21 2.3 Wheels...................................................................................................................... 21 2.4 Solar collector.......................................................................................................... 22 2.5 Energy storage......................................................................................................... 23 2.6 Cruiser recharging................................................................................................... 26 2.7 Vehicle identification and signage.......................................................................... 26 2.8 Ballast....................................................................................................................... 27 2.9 Tracker and telemetry.............................................................................................. 27 2.10 Safety........................................................................................................................ 28 2.11 Occupant cell............................................................................................................ 29 2.12 Seats......................................................................................................................... 30 2.13 Safety-belts............................................................................................................... 32 2.14 Egress....................................................................................................................... 32 2.15 Ventilation, cooling, and hydration......................................................................... 33 2.16 Forward and sideward vision.................................................................................. 33 2.17 Rear vision................................................................................................................ 34 2.18 Steering..................................................................................................................... 34 2.19 Stability..................................................................................................................... 36 2.20 Brakes....................................................................................................................... 37 4  2.21 Tyres......................................................................................................................... 38 2.22 Driving and reversing............................................................................................... 38 2.23 Lighting..................................................................................................................... 38 2.24 Audible warning device........................................................................................... 41 2.25 Instrumentation........................................................................................................ 42 2.26 Automatic functions................................................................................................. 42 2.27 Electrical safety........................................................................................................ 42 2.28 Safe state.................................................................................................................. 44 3 The Adventure................................................................................................................. 46 3.1 Supervision............................................................................................................... 46 3.2 Safety........................................................................................................................ 46 3.3 Safety-belts............................................................................................................... 46 3.4 Helmets..................................................................................................................... 47 3.5 Safety equipment..................................................................................................... 47 3.6 Support vehicles...................................................................................................... 47 3.7 Escort vehicle signage............................................................................................. 48 3.8 Communication........................................................................................................ 48 3.9 Heavy vehicles.......................................................................................................... 49 3.10 Preparation and testing........................................................................................... 49 3.11 Team registration and scrutineering....................................................................... 50 3.12 Static scrutineering.................................................................................................. 51 3.13 Cruiser design judging............................................................................................ 52 3.14 Dynamic scrutineering............................................................................................. 52 3.15 Modifications or changes after scrutineering........................................................ 53 3.16 Briefings.................................................................................................................... 53 3.17 Observers................................................................................................................. 53 3.18 Start line and Grid.................................................................................................... 54 3.19 Energy collection and storage................................................................................ 55 5  3.20 Route......................................................................................................................... 56 3.21 Timing....................................................................................................................... 56 3.22 Tracking.................................................................................................................... 56 3.23 Competition Vehicle drivers and passengers........................................................ 57 3.24 Driving conduct........................................................................................................ 57 3.25 Stopping.................................................................................................................... 58 3.26 Obstructing other road users.................................................................................. 59 3.27 Control stops............................................................................................................ 59 3.28 Overnight stops........................................................................................................ 60 3.29 ‘No longer competing’.............................................................................................. 60 3.30 Withdrawal................................................................................................................ 61 3.31 Penalties................................................................................................................... 61 3.32 Protests and appeals............................................................................................... 62 4 Achievement and Celebration........................................................................................ 63 4.1 Event results............................................................................................................. 63 4.2 Completing the course............................................................................................. 63 4.3 Explorer class........................................................................................................... 64 4.4 Finish-line activities................................................................................................. 64 4.5 Awards...................................................................................................................... 64 4.6 Pack-down facilities................................................................................................. 65 Glossary................................................................................................................................. 66 6 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Regulations Introduction and welcome The biennial World Solar Challenge is owned by the Government of South Australia and managed by the South Australian Motor Sport Board. Since 2013, Bridgestone Corporation has been the naming rights sponsor of the event. The aim of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is to stimulate research into, and development of, energy efficient vehicle designs and technologies to support the global challenge to decarbonise mobility. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is primarily a design competition with the philosophy to provide the parameters on which to base the design, rather than specify exactly how to build an energy efficient vehicle. Revisions for the 18th edition retain the clear distinction between Challenger and Cruiser classes: Challenger vehicles will be optimised for converting solar irradiance to speed; Cruiser vehicles will be judged on practical design aspects as well as efficiency. Significant changes from 2023 to 2025 include: shifting the date from October to August increased solar collector sizes and reduced energy storage allowances for Challenger and Cruiser vehicles Cruiser vehicles may have three wheels energy storage measured by energy rather than mass easier-to-follow Cruiser format—fixed energy allowance, two occupants, single stage, with incentives for sustainable, smart design features front and rear overhang restrictions, and new ground clearance requirements. The information contained in this document is for the purposes of conducting the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and must not be regarded as constituting definitive instructions as to how a Competition Vehicle should be constructed or operated. This document is organised as far as practical into the following sections: Administration Competition Vehicle Regulations The Adventure (Darwin and on-road protocols) Achievement and Celebration. Additional information or clarification of the intent of regulations is included in italics. The words WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE and the SUN, FLAMES, RISING IN SEMI-CIRCLE image are registered trademarks owned by the Government of South Australia. 7 1 Administration 1.1 Scope 1.1.1 These Regulations apply to the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (hereinafter called ‘the Event’), and comprise participants’ eligibility, pre-event preparation, scrutineering, testing, on-road components, and any associated activities published by the Event Organiser as being part of the event. 1.1.2 The Event will be conducted under the Regulations described in this document which, along with any amendments or further regulations issued as Regulation Bulletins, supersede regulations for any previous edition of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. 1.2 Language 1.2.1 The official language of the Event is English. All correspondence will be conducted in English. 1.2.2 Official correspondence must be conducted between the Event Organiser and the Entrant’s nominated representative (the Team Manager) as detailed by the Entrant on the Entry Form. Specific written instruction to include others in team correspondence will be accepted. 1.2.3 In these Regulations, the word ‘must’ indicates an absolute requirement, the word ‘should’ indicates a recommendation, and the word ‘may’ indicates that something is possible or permitted. 1.3 Time zone 1.3.1 The time zone for the event is Australian Central Standard Time (ACST = UTC + 9.5). 1.4 Conduct of the Event 1.4.1 The on-road component of the Event is conducted on public roads between Darwin and Adelaide, Australia – approximately 3000 km. In addition to these Regulations, and Regulation Bulletins that amend these Regulations, all activity is conducted under applicable traffic codes, civil laws, and regulations. 1.4.2 All activities undertaken by an Entrant, including activities conducted prior to the commencement of the official Event Period, are governed by statutory regulations, breaches of which may incur event penalties. 1.5 Eligibility 1.5.1 Eligible Competition Vehicles will be those that meet the design criteria described by these Regulations. Participating Competition Vehicles must not be used on any public 8  roads during the Event Period until permission has been granted by the civil authorities and the Event Organiser. Further information will be included in the Team Manager’s Guide. 1.6 Entrant obligation 1.6.1 By applying, Entrants declare that they know and understand the Terms and Conditions and Regulations of the Event and agree that participation will constitute their full acceptance to abide by and operate under the above mentioned for the duration of the Event. 1.6.2 Each Entrant must appoint an individual to act as the Team Manager. The Team Manager will be responsible for regulatory compliance, the actions of team members, and any other individuals associated with the Team. Entrants must not change their Team Manager without the approval of the Event Organiser. 1.6.3 Entrants must act fairly and in good faith in accordance with the Regulations. 1.6.4 Penalties (which may include exclusion) will be applied to any Team deemed to have departed from the spirit of the Event by deliberately acting to gain an unfair advantage over others, or by conduct that could bring the Event into disrepute. 1.7 Event Organiser 1.7.1 The Event is owned and managed by the Government of South Australia and administered by the South Australian Motor Sport Board (ABN 43 976 679 496) (‘the Event Organiser’). Head Office: Level 5, 182 Victoria Square Adelaide SA 5000 Postal Address: GPO Box 2343, Adelaide 5001 Head Office Telephone: +61 (0)8 8429 2500 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.worldsolarchallenge.org 1.8 Event Management Team 1.8.1 The Event Management Team is: Mark Warren, Chief Executive, SAMSB Naomi Misiajlo, Event Manager, Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Andrew Fotheringham, Head of Marketing & Communications Rebecca Lawson, Head of Commercial such other members the Event Organiser may appoint. 1.8.2 Scientific Faculty: Prof Peter Pudney Dr David Rand AM FTSE 9  Mr Paul Gwan Prof John Storey Dr David Snowdon Dr John Ward Mr Bart De Moitié Dr Glenn Platt Dr Fiona Leverone Dr Kirsty Veale Chris Selwood AM, Event Ambassador such other members the Event Organiser may appoint. 1.9 Officials of the Event 1.9.1 The Event will appoint officials who will be responsible for the conduct of the Event. 1.9.2 During the Event, these officials will wear white or red event shirts. 1.9.3 A full list of all appointed officials will be published in a Regulation Bulletin before the start of the Event. 1.10 Jury 1.10.1 The Event Organiser will appoint a team of independent Jurors to resolve disputes. Juror names will be published within the full list of officials noted in Regulation 1.9. 1.10.2 The team of appointed Jurors is the only authority empowered to determine the interpretation of these Regulations. 1.11 Judges of fact 1.11.1 Each official appointed by the Event Organiser is a Judge of Fact on any event-related activity. 1.11.2 Observers appointed by the Event are Judges of Fact on all event-related activities. 1.12 Schedule 1.12.1 A detailed Event Schedule including all official functions, promotional activities and public engagement activations will be distributed to teams via a Team Notice. 1.12.2 All Teams must adhere to the Event Schedule, attend official functions, media calls, promotional activities and public engagement activations with their Competition Vehicle or other team vehicles or equipment as listed or requested. 10 Tuesday 7 May 2024 Event dates & key regulatory changes announced Wednesday 5 June 2024 2025 Event Regulations published. (World Environment Day) Wednesday 5 June 2024 Applications for Entry open (World Environment Day) Volunteer Registrations open Friday 30 August 2024 Early Applications of Entry close Friday 4 October 2024 Standard Applications for Entry close Volunteer Registrations close Tuesday 22 April 2025 Official Entry list published (Earth Day) Friday 14 March 2025 Group A & B Documentation submission deadline Friday 25 April 2025 Group C Documentation submission deadline Friday 30 May 2025 Group D Documentation submission deadline Saturday 9 August 2025 Event Headquarters open in Darwin Saturday 9 August 2025 Official Event period commences Monday 11 August 2025 Team Manager & Safety Officer briefing. Team Manager & Safety Officer must be in attendance. Wednesday 13 August 2025 All Competition Vehicles must be based at Event Headquarters Monday 18 August 2025 Static Scrutineering commences. All team members are required to be in Darwin. Sunday 17 August 2025 Group E Documentation submission deadline Thursday 21 August 2025 Official Team Welcome function Friday 22 August 2025 Chief Minister’s VIP Reception (TBC) Saturday 23 August 2025 Dynamic Scrutineering commences Saturday 23 August 2025 Team briefing Saturday 23 August 2025 Media briefing Sunday 24 August 2025 Official Start in Darwin Wednesday 27 August 2025 Official Finish Line opens in Adelaide Friday 29 August 2025 Cruiser finish Sunday 31 August 2025 Award Ceremony Wednesday 3 September 2025 Pack-down area closes, official Event period closes 11 1.13 Entering the Event Applications for entry are invited from any Entrant prepared to meet the standards and obligations of the competition. 1.13.1 Applications for entry may be made from the time these Regulations are published until midday Friday 4 October 2024 (ACST), or such other time as the Event Organiser may determine. 1.13.2 Applications for entry must be made via the official online Entry Form, available on the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge website (www.worldsolarchallenge.org). 1.13.3 Accepted applications for entry will only be considered confirmed upon payment of the application fee. 1.13.4 The number of places is limited. Applications received after the limit is reached may be placed on a reserve list. 1.13.5 The granting of a place in the Event will become void if the entry fees have not been received by the due date. 1.13.6 Entrants who do not satisfy the Chief Scrutineer that they will achieve compliance with the Regulations (through documentary submission) may fail to qualify for the Event and their place may be offered to a Entrant on the reserve list. 1.13.7 The Event Organiser reserves the right to accept or reject any application without explanation. 1.14 Entry fees 1.14.1 Entry fees include Australian Goods and Services Tax (GST) and are based on the class requested on the entry form. For example, if a Challenger team fails to qualify and is offered a place in the Explorer class, no refund of the difference is payable. 1.14.2 An application fee of $2,000 Australian Dollars (AUD) is payable upon submission of the online entry form. Payment of this fee will be via credit card as part of the online Entry Form process. An official tax receipt will be provided via email. 1.14.3 The application fee, which forms part of the total entry fee, is non-refundable. Entrants will be provided with an invoice for the remaining entry fee within one month of receipt of their completed official Entry Form and application fee. Acceptable methods for payment of entry fees will be detailed in the invoice document. 1.14.4 International banking charges are the responsibility of the Entrant. Minor adjustment (up to AUD$150) can be settled at registration in Darwin. 1.14.5 Applications submitted before 17:00 (ACST) on Friday 30 August 2024 will be considered an Early Entry and qualify for the Early Entry fee. Early Entry fees must be paid in full by Tuesday 1 October 2024. Failure to pay by due date will void the qualification for Early Entry fees and a secondary invoice will be issued for the Standard Entry fee. 12 1.14.6 The Standard Entry fee will apply to applications received after 17:00 (ACST) on Friday 30 August 2024 and before 17:00 (ACST) on Friday 4 October 2024. 1.14.7 All entry fees are payable in full by noon (ACST) Friday 13 December 2024; failure to pay by the due date will void the application. Any refund will be subject to the terms outlined under Regulation 1.16. 1.14.8 The entry fees are: Class Early Entry fee Standard Entry fee Challenger AUD$18,000 AUD$20,000 Cruiser AUD$18,000 AUD$20,000 Explorer AUD$15,000 AUD$16,500 and includes Team Entry fee Team Member Registration fee of up to twenty (20) team members Twenty (20) Awards Ceremony tickets. An entry fee of AUD$110 will be levied for each additional Team member over and above the already included twenty (20). This fee covers Team member registration and an awards ceremony ticket. 1.14.9 The Event Organiser reserves the right to accept late entries. Entry requests granted after the close of entries will attract a 10% late fee. All enquiries regarding fees or payments should be directed to the Participant Liaison Officer via email [email protected] or phone +61 (0)8 8429 2500 during business hours, 09:00–16:30, Adelaide time, Monday-Friday. 1.15 Other fees 1.15.1 A fee (estimated at AUD$130) will be payable to the relevant authority by the owner of each Competition Vehicle in respect of compulsory third-party bodily injury insurance required by operators of motor vehicles in Australia. 1.16 Refunds 1.16.1 Refund entitlement is based on date of withdrawal. 13  Before 17:00 on Withdrawal Date Refund 4 October 2024 Full refund Before 30 January 2025 75% refund Before 22 April 2025 25% refund From 22 April 2025 No refund The application fee and bank charges are not refundable. 1.17 Cancellation of the Event 1.17.1 The Event Organiser reserves the right to cancel or abandon the Event for reasons beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, sabotage, acts of war, riots, and strikes outside its organisation, communicable disease crisis and quarantine restrictions. 1.18 Insurance 1.18.1 A Regulation Bulletin will be issued in due course detailing the specific requirements for insurance cover that will be obtained by the Event Organiser and must be obtained by the Entrant. 1.18.2 The Event Organiser does not cover any claims arising from the participation of Entrants in the Event during the Event Period. Comprehensive insurance for personal effects, tools, equipment, Competition Vehicles and other vehicles is the responsibility of the entrant. Participants are advised that a personal travel insurance policy in respect of theft, loss, sickness, and accidents is highly recommended. The Australian Government has reciprocal health care agreements with some countries, covering limited subsidised health services for medical treatment. 1.19 Team members 1.19.1 Each Team must include (but is not limited to): a Team Manager a Safety Officer, responsible for the safety of the team a Battery Officer, responsible for the Competition Vehicle battery an interpreter if the Team Manager is not proficient in English at least three (3) and at most six (6) Competition Vehicle drivers at least two (2) drivers for each support vehicle (Competition Vehicle drivers should not drive support cars on the same day as driving the Competition Vehicle) at least one (1) person with a recognised first aid certificate that is current for the duration of the Event Period, and who is not the Team Manager, Safety Officer or Battery Officer 14  passengers for Cruiser teams. 1.19.2 Each team member will be required to register online and be physically present at team registration in Darwin. All team members must be in Darwin and registered by 15:00 on Friday 22 August 2025. Teams will not be allowed to proceed to Dynamic Scrutineering until all team members have been registered in Darwin. 1.19.3 A person holding the position of Team Manager, Safety Officer or Battery Officer must not hold any other of these roles. 1.19.4 A person holding the position of Team Manager, Safety Officer or Battery Officer must be seated in the front escort vehicle, Competition Vehicle or rear escort vehicle during the on-road component of the Event while the Competition Vehicle is in motion on a public road. 1.19.5 The person holding the position of Safety Officer must not be a Competition Vehicle driver. 1.19.6 Each Competition Vehicle driver must hold an appropriate motor vehicle driver's licence recognised by Australian authorities and valid for the total period of the Event. Driving licences will be inspected and verified by Australian road transport authorities as part of the scrutineering process. Acceptable driving licences must include a photograph of the holder, the class of vehicle for which the licence applies and the expiry date. If these details are not in English, either the licence must be accompanied by a certified translation, or a valid International Driving Licence is required. 1.19.7 The Event Organiser is unable to take responsibility for any person under the age of 18. An Entrant may make a request for a minor to be included in their team provided such request is accompanied by a document giving permission and acknowledging that supervision of the person concerned is the responsibility of the Team Manager, not the Event Organiser. The document must be signed by both the parent or legal guardian of the proposed participant, and the Team Manager. 1.20 Team identification 1.20.1 All Team details including Team Name, Team Manager and Competition Vehicle details will be taken from the online Entry Form. 1.20.2 In accordance with the World Solar Challenge Terms and Conditions of Entry, available on the Event website World Solar Challenge 2025, the Event recognises countries, economies and regions as per the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) nomenclature, publicly available at: Countries, economies and regions | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au). Any region not recognised as a country by DFAT will be referred to as a Region. Flags will be included on Event signage for recognised countries only and will be consistent with DFAT protocols. 1.20.3 Requests to change entry details will only be considered when submitted, by the Team Manager, by email or through the team portal. 15 1.20.4 Once an entry has been accepted, any request to change entry details will be subject to the provisions of Regulation 1.29 and the approval of the Event Organiser. 1.20.5 Each Team will be allocated a 2-digit Team number on acceptance of entry. 1.20.6 Early Entry applications may make a special request for the use of a Team number. Requested numbers must contain exactly two digits. 1.20.7 Allocation of any number is at the sole discretion of the Event Organiser. 1.21 Permits 1.21.1 Motor vehicles, including Competition Vehicles, entering Australia require a federal import permit. Strict conditions are in place for the import of motor vehicles, including Competition Vehicles, into Australia. The Event Organiser will apply for a permit to import the Competition Vehicle of each team that has met qualification requirements (including the payment of entry fees). 1.21.2 Import permit arrangements for other vehicles (including road trailers) are the responsibility of the Entrant. 1.22 Freight 1.22.1 The Entrant is responsible for all freight arrangements. 1.22.2 Freight deliveries to the Event Headquarters outside the dates of the Event’s occupation of the facility will not be accepted. Details of all freight, customs and quarantine arrangements will be provided in the Team Manager’s Guide and Freight Manual. 1.23 Visas 1.23.1 Citizens of countries other than Australia or New Zealand need a visa to enter Australia. Visas are the responsibility of the individuals concerned. Visa requirements are detailed by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Information on how the Event Organiser is permitted to support visa applications will be provided in the Team Manager’s Guide. 1.24 Vehicle preparation 1.24.1 Preparation facilities will be available at the Event Headquarters in accordance with the dates listed in the Event Schedule. The Event Organiser is responsible for all operations at the Event Headquarters. The Facilities Management of the venue is unable to assist with early arrivals, pit allocations or freight issues. Detailed arrangements will be published in the Team Manager’s Guide, Regulation Bulletins and via Team Notices. 16 1.25 Style guide 1.25.1 The correct title of the Event is the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Entrants and their sponsors must use the correct title in all references to the Event. 1.25.2 The Official Logo of the Event will be published as Regulation Bulletin. The Official Logo will be supported by a style guide that details its conditions of use. 1.25.3 Entrants, Teams and their sponsors wishing to use the Official Logo in non-commercial publicity may do so in accordance with the requirements of the style guide. 1.25.4 Entrants, Teams and their sponsors wishing to use the Official Logo in a commercial context (i.e., merchandise offered for sale) must seek the written permission of the Event Organiser. 1.26 Sponsorship obligations 1.26.1 It is a condition of participation that the Entrant acknowledges Event and category sponsors in their own publicity. Failure to do so may result in the team being delisted from Event publicity. 1.27 Media and promotional obligations A promotional schedule will form part of the Event Schedule. The promotional schedule will contain details of official media calls and other promotional activities created for the benefit of the Event, the Entrants, Teams and their sponsors. Per Regulation 1.12.2, requests to attend media calls, promotional activities, public appearances etc are obligatory for all Teams. 1.27.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 1.27.6, the Event Organiser will respect the Intellectual Property of the respective owners. Technical details of Competition Vehicles will be kept confidential until the start of Static Scrutineering and commercial in confidence requests and media embargos will be honoured. 1.27.2 Teams must notify the Event Organiser of public, or media promotional activities held for or on behalf of their attendance in the Event, not less than seven (7) days prior to the activity taking place. 1.27.3 Media travelling with or in support of any Team must comply with the Event media accreditation requirements. 1.27.4 Teams will be held accountable, through the application of event penalties, for the unacceptable actions of media representatives travelling with or in support of their Team, whether registered as such or not. Standard operational procedure of Australian police is to first remove the cause of any problem. Police have advised that, where media vehicles following a team are creating a danger for other road users, they will take the Competition Vehicle off the road. Teams are advised to reinforce this point to their country’s media in their own language. 17 1.27.5 Teams who maintain an internet presence are required to provide a link to the official Bridgestone World Solar Challenge website: www.worldsolarchallenge.org. 1.27.6 The creation and use of any sound recordings or still or moving images of the Event used for commercial gain or public performance by the entrant or their sponsors are subject to the prior written approval of the Event Organiser. 1.27.7 Non-commercial media content generated by the Team must reference the Event in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 1.25. 1.27.8 Teams and or their sponsors shall not engage in any marketing or promotional activity that will materially detract from the value and standing of the Event or its sponsors. 1.27.9 Activity by sponsors of Teams shall not imply ownership or sponsorship of the Event. 1.27.10 Teams are responsible for the activities of their sponsors. 1.28 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (Drones) 1.28.1 Remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) must not be operated without the approval of the Event Organiser. 1.28.2 RPA registration and pilot accreditation must be in accordance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations. Further information will be provided in the Team Manager’s Guide and any subsequent Team Notices or Regulation Bulletins. 1.29 Compulsory documentation 1.29.1 Each Team must submit documentation using online forms. All submissions must be made by the dates stated in the Event Schedule. The purpose of the documentation is to help Teams identify potential compliance issues before the Competition Vehicle is shipped to the Event. Group A Team information Team promotional information Publication-quality information and photographs of the Team and Competition Vehicle. Group B Mechanical Specification Electrical System Specification Solar Collector Specification Energy Storage System Specification. 18  Group C Energy Storage System Incident Plan Team Safety Plan Group D Logistics schedule Travel, arrival, and accommodation information Group E Roadworthiness Certificate A signed Roadworthiness Certificate must be submitted before a Team may apply for a permit for on-road testing. Scrutineering The following documentation must be presented at Static Scrutineering: Final technical documentation that describes the Competition Vehicle as built and highlights any changes since earlier submissions. Two printed A4 copies of a diagram of the Competition Vehicle in top view, with the front of the Competition Vehicle depicted at the top of the diagram, and clearly showing how emergency isolation is to be activated. The original signed Roadworthiness Certificate. A simplified block diagram, printed on A4 paper, showing where the main functional blocks (PV array, energy storage packs, main fuses, electronics modules, etc.) are located within the Competition Vehicle and the basic connections between them. An electrical diagram showing how safe state is implemented. This diagram must show the main High Voltage energy storage system, the safe state pushbuttons and the energy storage system and PV contactors, plus the connections between them through any intervening components. The example Solar Wombat electrical diagram, available on the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge team portal, indicates the level of detail required. 1.29.2 If the Team Manager wants to vary the documentation after the submission deadline, the Team Manager must make the request to the Event Organiser in writing setting out the proposed variations. If the Event Organiser accepts the Team Manager’s request, the varied document will supersede all previous versions. The Competition Vehicle presented at scrutineering must be exactly as described in the latest version that has been accepted by the Event Organiser. Failure to disclose any changes may result in exclusion from the Event. The Event Organiser will not be responsible for failure to broadcast or publish any document for publicity because of variations proposed by the Team Manager. 19 1.30 Clarifying Regulations 1.30.1 Team Managers must address any questions about the Regulations or the Event to [email protected] 1.30.2 If you ask for clarification of a Regulation and our answer restricts what you are allowed do then we will publish the question and answer, without identifying which Team asked the question, so that every Team has the same information. If our answer does not restrict what you are allowed to do, then we will answer your question without publishing the question or the answer. 20 2 Competition Vehicle Regulations 2.1 Classes 2.1.1 The Event will have three classes of Competition Vehicle: Challenger class is for single-seat Competition Vehicles optimised for converting solar irradiance to speed. Cruiser class is for Competition Vehicles with two or more seats that will be judged on practical design features as well as efficiency. Explorer class is for Competition Vehicles designed to participate in previous Events but not eligible for Challenger or Cruiser class, or other Competition Vehicles approved by the Event Organiser. Explorer class is non-competitive. 2.1.2 Challenger vehicles must be powered by solar irradiance collected by the Competition Vehicle. The only external energy input that may be used is the energy in the energy storage system at the start of the Event. 2.1.3 Cruiser vehicles must be designed to be powered by renewable energy. It is accepted that energy from regenerative braking, road gradients and wind incident on the Competition Vehicle while driving may also be used. Active aerodynamic features are permitted but must not reduce the stability of the vehicle. Cruiser Competition Vehicles must be designed to be powered by renewable energy but may be recharged from non-renewable sources if renewable sources are not available. 2.2 Dimensions 2.2.1 When driving in a straight line, the Competition Vehicle must fit inside a right rectangular prism 5800 mm long, 2300 mm wide and 1650 mm high, with the tyre contact points on the base of the prism. Standard 20’ shipping containers have 5880 mm internal length and 2350 mm internal width. 2.2.2 Cruiser vehicles must have a cargo compartment that can accommodate two items of luggage, each 560 mm × 360 mm × 230 mm. The cargo space must be separated from the Competition Vehicle mechanical or electrical systems. 2.3 Wheels 2.3.1 Competition Vehicles must be supported by at least three wheels while driving. 2.3.2 The longitudinal distance between the frontmost part of the Competition Vehicle and the frontmost tyre contact point must be less than 60% of the wheelbase. 2.3.3 The longitudinal distance between the rearmost tyre contact point and the rearmost part of the Competition Vehicle must be less than 60% of the wheelbase. 21 2.3.4 The fully laden Competition Vehicle must be able to drive over a road apex formed by a 1:15 incline followed by a 1:15 decline without any part of the vehicle other than the tyres touching the road. The length of the road apex will be greater than the wheelbase of the Competition Vehicle. 2.3.5 The fully laden Competition Vehicle must be able to drive over a speed hump with the dimensions shown in the following diagram without any part of the vehicle, other than the tyres, touching the speed hump. 2.3.6 The fully laden Competition Vehicle must have an approach angle of at least 10° and a departure angle of at least 10°. The Competition Vehicle must comply with all regulations in Section 2.3 whenever it is being driven. 2.4 Solar collector 2.4.1 Competition Vehicles may incorporate a solar collector that converts solar irradiation into energy that can be used to propel the vehicle. The most common type of solar collector for Competition Vehicles uses photovoltaic cells. Teams wishing to use other types of solar collector must send details of their proposed solar collector to the Event Organiser for approval. 2.4.2 A Challenger vehicle must not have more than 6.000 m2 of solar collector area. Solar collector area includes: the directly exposed front surface area of all photovoltaic cells the directly exposed rear surface area of all bifacial photovoltaic cells the directly exposed surface area of energy conversion devices other than photovoltaic cells the directly exposed area of all surfaces that transmit, refract or reflect light onto devices that convert solar irradiation into energy that can be used to propel the vehicle. A surface is directly exposed if light can travel in a straight line from any part of the sky, ground or road to the surface. The solar collector area limit applies to all possible configurations of the solar collector, while driving and while solar charging. Photovoltaic cell area includes active material, busbars, fingers, and connection pads. 22  If a bifacial photovoltaic array is tilted for solar charging so that the front and rear surfaces are both directly exposed then the front and rear surface areas are both counted. It is accepted that light reflection from parts of the Competition Vehicle such as the canopy is unavoidable. Example area calculation: The area of a SunPower cell with a width of 125 mm and a diagonal diameter of 166 mm is less than 0.0155063 m2, and so 386 cells will have a total area less than 6.000 m2. 2.4.3 The solar collector area for Cruiser vehicles is unrestricted, but the solar collector must be within the allowable dimensions of the Competition Vehicle. 2.4.4 Materials with high environmental toxicity, including GaAs, CdTe and CuInSe2, must not be used for solar energy conversion. 2.4.5 All devices used for solar charging must be carried in the Competition Vehicle. This includes stands, supports, and cables. During solar charging, Competition Vehicles must not be tilted on jacks or stands that were not carried in the vehicle even if you are pretending to change a wheel. 2.5 Energy storage 2.5.1 A Competition Vehicle may store energy. The most common type of energy storage for Competition Vehicles is a rechargeable electrochemical battery. Teams wanting to use energy storage technologies other than rechargeable electrochemical batteries must send details of their proposed energy storage system to the Event Organiser for approval. 2.5.2 Energy storage capacity must be no more than: 11 MJ for Challenger vehicles 55 MJ for Cruiser vehicles. The energy storage capacity of electrochemical cells will be based on specifications endorsed by the cell manufacturer. The energy storage capacity for other forms of energy storage will be determined by the Chief Energy Scientist, and will be based on energy that can be delivered from the ‘tank’. The remaining regulations in this section are based on electrochemical energy storage. The Event Organiser will require that alternative energy storage systems meet equivalent levels of safety based on the organiser’s assessment of the proposal submitted by the Team. 2.5.3 Specifications from third party suppliers or found on the internet might not match those endorsed by manufacturers. If the Event Organiser receives conflicting or unclear specifications of electrochemical cell energy for a cell model, the Chief Energy Scientist will determine the nominal cell energy for cells of that model. 2.5.4 The energy storage system must be contained within at most two packs. Energy storage packs must be rigid, self-contained boxes that cannot be opened or disassembled without using tools and can be removed from the Competition Vehicle intact. 23 2.5.5 Electrochemical cells must not, at any time, be operated outside of the operating ranges for voltage, current and temperature specified by the manufacturer. Teams must provide manufacturer’s specifications that include: minimum operating cell voltage maximum operating cell voltage maximum discharge current maximum charge current maximum temperature while discharging minimum temperature while charging maximum temperature while charging. 2.5.6 The Competition Vehicle must automatically prevent electrochemical cells from being operated outside the operating ranges for voltage, current and temperature specified by the manufacturer. Teams must provide endorsement by their certifying engineer that an adequate and effective automatic battery management system has been designed and implemented so that fault conditions will be managed safely. 2.5.7 Batteries used only to power a real-time clock when the Competition Vehicle is turned off; or retain data when the Competition Vehicle is turned off; or power wireless tyre pressure monitors are not considered to be part of the energy storage system, provided that the total energy capacity does not exceed 10 kJ. 2.5.8 Batteries or cells inside devices such as handheld radios, cameras, mobile telephones, or wristwatches that are carried by the driver or passengers are not considered to be part of the energy storage system if they are not electrically connected to the Competition Vehicle, its instrumentation or control systems. 2.5.9 If a commercial-off-the-shelf phone or tablet containing a battery is used as a driver display, it must be powered from the Competition Vehicle’s electrical system. The electrical connection must be done in such a way that power cannot flow from the device back into the Competition Vehicle. The blocking diode or other system used to achieve this must be mounted within 200 mm of the device. The device must not be charged from an external power source during the Event. The device’s battery capacity will be counted as part of the energy storage capacity. The device will not be considered to be an energy storage pack. It is recognised that failure of the blocking device could result in 5 V being present throughout the Competition Vehicle even in safe state. This is acceptable as long as: a) the team can demonstrate that such a failure is highly improbable and b) that in the event of such a failure, no combination of additional failures can prevent the Competition Vehicle from entering safe state. 24 2.5.10 Capacitors are not considered to be part of the energy storage system if their total energy storage capacity is less than 36 kJ. Such capacitors must be automatically discharged to less than 60 V within five seconds of the Competition Vehicle being placed in safe state (see Regulation 2.28). 2.5.11 Energy storage packs must be mounted in the Competition Vehicle so that they will be restrained in a 20 g acceleration in any direction. 2.5.12 The Competition Vehicle must be designed so that no liquids or gases from energy storage packs can enter the occupant space. 2.5.13 Energy storage packs must be constructed so that each pack can be sealed using tamper-evident plastic seals, like 3 × 100 mm plastic cable ties. With seals fitted, it must not be possible to remove any cell without breaking the seal. Seals will be provided by, and fitted by, the Event Organiser at Scrutineering. 2.5.14 Energy storage packs for Challenger vehicles must have a means of being sealed so that no electrical connection can be made to the energy storage packs. The seals will be tamper-evident plastic seals, like 3 × 100 mm plastic cable ties. Seals will be provided by Observers. This regulation allows teams to have the energy storage system impounded inside the Competition Vehicle. Examples of acceptable sealing mechanisms include: disconnecting each energy storage pack from the rest of the Competition Vehicle and sealing a cover over each pack that prevents access to all electrical connectors and to the inside of the pack removing the energy storage packs from the Competition Vehicle and sealing them in a box provided by the team. 2.5.15 Energy storage packs must be in ‘safe state’ while being removed from the Competition Vehicle and while being reinstalled into the Competition Vehicle. 2.5.16 Energy storage packs must be designed and constructed so that scrutineers can verify the cell models being used and the number of cells of each model. 2.5.17 Any external charging system that is used to recharge an electrical energy storage system must meet the following requirements: the charger must be used with a residual current device the charger must be either permanently connected to the energy storage system, or connect to the energy storage system using an appropriate connector the output of the charger must be electrically isolated from any ac input charging must stop automatically when the energy storage system is full or if a fault occurs. This regulation applies to all charging done in Australia, including in the pits at Event Headquarters. 25 2.6 Cruiser recharging 2.6.1 Cruiser vehicles may be recharged from an external energy source overnight, during the time intervals between when the team stops driving each day and when it starts driving the next day. 2.6.2 Each Cruiser Team is responsible for providing the equipment required to recharge their Competition Vehicle. Teams requiring electricity to recharge could hire a room or powered camp site if they have stopped in a town or at a roadhouse, or else recharge using an energy source supplied by the team. 2.6.3 Battery swapping (or the equivalent for other types of energy storage) is not permitted. 2.7 Vehicle identification and signage 2.7.1 The Competition Vehicle must have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) permanently attached to a substantial part of the vehicle chassis or frame. Teams may apply for a VIN in their own country or else generate a ‘surrogate’ VIN with the format. 6ZZysssssssssssss where y indicates the year of manufacture (N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025) and sssssssssssss is 13 characters using digits 0–9 and uppercase letters A–Z but not the letters I, O or Q, that includes a manufacturer code and a vehicle serial number, e.g., 6ZZSW0MBATS0LAR01. 2.7.2 The Competition Vehicle must have a space at least 220 mm wide and at least 110 mm high for mounting a rear vehicle registration plate. Whenever the Competition Vehicle is being driven: the registration plate must be mounted in a vertical plane with its longest edge horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of travel the letters must be upright the registration plate must be within 50 mm of the rearmost part of the Competition Vehicle no part of the Competition Vehicle may be in the region rearward of the registration plate in the range 15° up, 0° down, 45° left and 45° right from all parts of the registration plate. 2.7.3 You must not modify the registration plate. You must not enlarge the holes in the registration plate. You must not use the existing holes for rear vision. 2.7.4 Competition Vehicles must incorporate Event signage in unbroken rectangular spaces 200 mm high and 500 mm wide on both the left and the right sides of the vehicle. Artwork will be available from the Event Team Portal. ‘Unbroken’ means that the signage space must not overlap panel gaps or visible joints. 26  Stickers will be provided to teams requiring the signage. Incorrect use of artwork will result in a sticker of the correct size and with the correct artwork being applied. 2.7.5 Teams must display their 2-digit team number on the left and the right sides of the Competition Vehicle, in digits that are more than 150 mm high and that are clearly visible against their background. 2.7.6 Event signage and Team numbers must be completely visible from 3 m perpendicular to the side of the Competition Vehicle and at a viewing height of 1.8 m above the ground. 2.7.7 Competition Vehicles must have an unbroken front signage area on the vehicle body, forward of the windscreen. The front signage area must contain: the name of the Competition Vehicle, or the name of the Team, or the number of the Competition Vehicle, readable at 3 m perpendicular to the centre of the name a 150 × 150 mm square Event logo. The entire front signage area must be visible in top view and in front elevation view and must not overlap with the solar collector. Artwork or a sticker for the Event logo will be provided by the Event Organiser. 2.7.8 The national flag of the country of entry (as confirmed by the Event Organiser in line with Regulation 1.20.2) must be displayed on the Competition Vehicle, adjacent to the windscreen. Minimum height is 40 mm. The flag must not be broken. Flags will be included on Event and vehicle signage for recognised countries only, as per DFAT protocols. 2.8 Ballast 2.8.1 Each Challenger and Cruiser vehicle occupant will be assigned ballast so that the combined mass of the occupant and their ballast is at least 80 kg. Explorer class Team occupants need not carry ballast and will not be weighed. Occupants will have their ballast checked by the Team’s Observer outside the Competition Vehicle. All ballast must be removed from the Competition Vehicle at control stops. 2.8.2 Ballast will be supplied by the Event Organiser. The approximate density of the ballast material is 5 kg per litre. Ballast provided by teams will not be accepted. 2.8.3 Each occupant of Challenger and Cruiser vehicles must secure their ballast inside the Competition Vehicle within 300 mm of their hip point. 2.9 Tracker and telemetry 2.9.1 The Competition Vehicle must have provision to carry a self-contained tracker provided by the Event Organiser. The tracker box will be 120 mm long, 120 mm wide and 70 mm high. The tracker will be self-powered. It will not require any electrical connection from the Competition Vehicle. The mass of the tracker will not exceed 27  2 kg. It will emit radio frequency energy with no more power than emitted by a mobile phone. The unit will be given to the Team for installation during Scrutineering. 2.9.2 When the tracker box is installed in the Competition Vehicle, it must be possible to construct a right circular cone with its axis perpendicular to the top face of the box and an apex angle of 120°, and with the cone touching each edge of the top face of the box, so that no ray from the apex and within the cone passes through the ground or through any part of the Competition Vehicle that is not radio transparent at frequencies between 300 and 3000 MHz. The tracker box may be tilted within the Competition Vehicle. Fibreglass and aramid composites, vinyl stickers, paint, clear acrylic and clear polycarbonate are radio transparent if they do not include metal or carbon. Solar cells, carbon fibre composites and metal are not considered radio transparent. 2.9.3 The tracker unit must be returned to the Event Organiser at the end of the Event. 2.9.4 Cruiser teams must upload telemetry data at each control stop and in Adelaide. Challenger teams may choose to upload telemetry data at each control stop and in Adelaide. 2.9.5 The telemetry data must include the following measurements taken at 10-second intervals while driving and while charging: distance travelled longitude and latitude (if available) cumulative energy generated from the solar collector cumulative energy from the battery (increases when energy is taken from the battery, decreases when the battery is charged) UTC time. Details of data formats will be made available to registered teams. 2.9.6 Tracker and telemetry data will be published by the Event Organiser. 2.10 Safety 2.10.1 Teams are responsible for the safety and roadworthiness of their Competition Vehicles. Compliance with the Regulations and passing Scrutineering does not mean that a Competition Vehicle is safe, roadworthy, and fit for purpose. 2.10.2 Each Team must engage a professionally qualified certifying engineer to certify that the Competition Vehicle is designed and constructed using sound engineering practice, 28  maintains stability while driving during testing, and is roadworthy and fit for being driven from Darwin to Adelaide on public roads. The certifying engineer must be qualified to report on the roadworthiness of vehicles for operation on public roads. They may consult with other engineers. In Australia, a certifying engineer must have a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical or automotive engineering, five years of postgraduate experience working in the automotive industry, and professional indemnity and public liability insurance. Other jurisdictions will have similar requirements. 2.10.3 Any changes made after certification to items described in the roadworthiness certificate must be re-approved by the Team’s certifying engineer. 2.10.4 All parts of the Competition Vehicle must be fixed so that they cannot detach while driving. Latched parts such as doors, canopies and top shells must be secured with two- stage latches where the first stage engages easily and is sufficient to hold the part if the second stage is not engaged properly. 2.11 Occupant cell 2.11.1 Competition Vehicle occupants must be enclosed in an occupant cell designed to protect them from injury. 2.11.2 Vehicle components within the occupant cell must be designed to minimise the risk of injury or entrapment in a crash. 2.11.3 Teams must provide documentation that specifies which parts of their Competition Vehicle constitute the occupant cell. 2.11.4 When occupants are seated normally, with safety-belts and helmets on, they must be completely inside the convex hull of the occupant cell. 2.11.5 There must be a gap of at least 50 mm between every point on every occupant’s helmet and the convex hull of the occupant cell. Imagine stretching a rubber skin around the occupant cell; occupants must be completely inside the skin, and helmets must be more than 50 mm from the skin. 2.11.6 Each Team must provide a description of how the occupant cell will protect the occupants from impacts including frontal impacts, side impacts, rollover impacts, bottom impacts 29  and wheel impacts. This description must be endorsed by the Team’s certifying engineer. For analysis of the occupant cell, the minimum test loads are: frontal impact: a 5 g load, opposing the direction of travel, applied to the front of the occupant cell in an area less than 250 mm high and less than 600 mm wide side impact: a 5 g load into the side of the occupant cell, applied adjacent to the driver’s torso in an area less than 250 mm high and less than 600 mm wide top impact: a load with components 5 g down, 1.5 g sideways and 4 g backwards, applied at each possible area of contact between the occupant cell and the ground when the occupant cell is upside down; the contact area for each test load must have a diameter less than 150 mm Loads are based on the fully laden mass of the Competition Vehicle. Teams must be able to show that the occupant cell structure will not fail with these test loads, that any deformations will not impinge on the occupants, and that risks of impacts of the occupants with the interior of the Competition Vehicle are minimised. 2.11.7 The occupant cell must be designed to protect each occupant’s head, arms and upper torso by deflecting objects such as body panels and fencing wires away from the occupant. The structure used to achieve this must extend to the top of the occupant cell and be capable of resisting or deflecting loads of 5 g applied to it from any horizontal direction by a horizontal object less than 250 mm high and 2.3 m wide. It is permissible for the windscreen to break provided the occupants are protected. Regulation 2.16.2 defines the maximum obscuration of the driver’s vision by A-pillars. 2.12 Seats 2.12.1 Challenger vehicles must have one seat. Cruiser vehicles must have at least two seats. Cruiser vehicles must have two occupants while driving. 2.12.2 Each Competition Vehicle occupant must have a seat that faces forwards. The driver’s legs, viewed from above, must be within 10° of the forwards direction. 2.12.3 Each seat must have a back, and a head restraint that is behind the occupant’s head. The distance from the hip point to the top of the head restraint at the lateral centreline of the seat must be at least 800 mm for front seats and at least 750 mm for Cruiser vehicle rear seats (UNECE Regulations 17 and 25). The hip point may be approximated as shown in the diagram below. 30  You may use different cushions for different drivers. The full set of cushions will be considered part of the Competition Vehicle and must be carried in the Competition Vehicle. 2.12.4 An Event manikin (‘PVC Pat’) must fit into the driver’s seat and any passenger seat that will be occupied during the Event. Dimensioned drawings of the manikin are available on the Event website. PVC Pat’s dimensions are based on 95th percentile international male and female dimensions from the DINED anthropometric database. 2.12.5 When seated in the normal seating position, PVC Pat must be protected by the occupant cell (Regulation 2.11), with the exception that PVC Pat does not have to wear a helmet (Regulation 2.11.4). 2.12.6 PVC Pat does not have to meet the vision requirements. 2.12.7 Each occupant’s heels, including PVC Pat’s heels, must be below their hip point. 2.12.8 The outer edges of PVC Pat’s ankles must be 436 mm apart, as shown in the drawing. The outer edges of PVC Pat’s wrist’s must be able to be placed 496 mm apart. 2.12.9 The angle between PVC Pat’s shoulder, hip and knees must be more than 90°. 2.12.10 PVC Pat’s head can tilt forwards, but no more than 30° from the line of the spine. PVC Pat’s head does not yaw. 2.12.11 PVC Pat, or a person no smaller than PVC Pat, must be able to get in and out of the normal seating positions. You may remove PVC Pat’s legs, temporarily, to help get the torso and head into position. 2.12.12 PVC Pat’s hip point must be in the same position as the hips of an actual driver in the normal driving position, or an actual passenger in the normal seated position. 2.12.13 Head space for each seat must comply with Section LK of the Australian National Code of Practice for Light Vehicle Construction and Modification, as shown in the following diagram. The 835 mm radius arm must be able to move 45° forwards, 25° backwards and 7° either side of vertical. The steering wheel, mirrors, seat backs and head restraints may be inside the head space but must be designed to minimise the risk of injury in a crash. No other part of the Competition Vehicle structure, including the windscreen, may be inside the head space. 31  This minimum head space requirement is based on a 50-percentile male and does not allow for a helmet. Taller team members may need more head space. 2.13 Safety-belts 2.13.1 Safety-belts must be fitted for each seating position. Safety-belts must be compliant with at least one of the following standards: UNECE Regulation 16, US FMVSS 571.209, SFI 16.1, SFI 16.5, SFI 16.6, FIA 8853-2016, FIA 8854/98. The occupant cell will provide the greatest protection when occupants are secured into the cell with four- point or five-point harnesses. 2.13.2 Safety-belts must be fitted and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, or as approved by the Team’s certifying engineer. 2.13.3 Safety-belt anchorages must meet the intent of UNECE Regulation 14. In particular: upper anchorages for each seat must withstand a force of 13.5 kN applied to the upper safety-belt straps lower anchorages for each seat must withstand a force of 13.5 kN applied to the lower safety-belt straps the location of anchor points must comply with the instructions of the safety-belt manufacturer, or with UNECE Regulation 14 Annex 3. 2.13.4 Compliance must be confirmed by the Team’s certifying engineer. 2.14 Egress 2.14.1 Teams must demonstrate that all occupants can exit the Competition Vehicle in less than 15 seconds, without assistance. 2.14.2 Doors and canopies used for egress must be capable of being secured and released from inside the Competition Vehicle and from outside the Competition Vehicle. 32 2.14.3 Emergency openings, and the methods of opening, must be clearly indicated on the exterior of the Competition Vehicle, and be visible and achievable by an emergency services first responder not familiar with the Competition Vehicle. Instructions may include diagrams. 2.14.4 Occupants must be able to exit the Competition Vehicle without assistance at any time. Teams must not use adhesive tape to secure exits. 2.15 Ventilation, cooling, and hydration 2.15.1 The Competition Vehicle must have sufficient ventilation to prevent the build-up of CO2 in the cabin. Occupants must have ventilation or cooling sufficient to ensure that they will not overheat. The Team must describe the ventilation and cooling systems and have them approved by their certifying engineer. 2.15.2 Each Competition Vehicle must have space for at least two litres of drinking water for each occupant (see Regulation 3.23.3). 2.16 Forward and sideward vision 2.16.1 Each driver, when seated in the normal driving position with safety-belt and helmet on, must be able to identify 75 mm high letters at every point of forward travel that is: 4 m from the driver’s eyes, and between 0.4 m below eye level and 0.7 m above eye level, and between 100° left and 100° right of the direction of travel. 33 2.16.2 There must be no more than 2 pillars within the forward and sideward field of view. Each pillar must obscure less than 6° of the horizontal field of view. 2.16.3 Forward and sideward vision must be achieved without the aid of mirrors, lenses, or electronic vision systems. 2.16.4 The windscreen that is used for forward and sideward vision must have an optical transmittance more than 75%. 2.16.5 Traffic light colours must be discernible through the windscreen. 2.17 Rear vision 2.17.1 The Competition Vehicle must have rear vision systems that enable the driver, when seated in the normal driving position with the safety-belt fastened, to see the ground in the shaded areas shown in the diagrams below (UNECE Regulation 46, Section 15). 2.17.2 Rear vision systems may be electronic, mirrors, or both. Rear vision systems must operate whenever the Competition Vehicle is in motion under its own power or about to be driven. Rear vision images must be upright and oriented so that objects on the right of the Competition Vehicle are on the right of the image. 2.18 Steering 2.18.1 Steering must be controlled by a steering wheel designed so that it cannot catch on clothing while driving or when the driver exits the Competition Vehicle. 34 2.18.2 Failure of any non-mechanical component of the steering system must not prevent effective steering of the Competition Vehicle. 2.18.3 Steering shafts must be designed to reduce the risk of injury to the driver in a crash. A collapsible boss is an acceptable method to reduce steering wheel impacts. 2.18.4 Spherical joints used in steering and suspension rod ends must be designed so that the two joined parts cannot detach completely if the spherical joint fails. 2.18.5 Rear-wheel steering is not permitted. Specifically, no wheel that is rearward of the centre of mass of the Competition Vehicle may be steered, either by a mechanism that the driver operates or via a servo motor. This does not preclude suspension designs that are deliberately designed to have built-in bump steer or roll steer. 2.18.6 The Competition Vehicle must be able to turn in each direction within a circle with a radius of 7.5 metres, measured to the extreme outer edge of the tyre track at ground level. 35 2.19 Stability 2.19.1 Competition Vehicles must be able to negotiate a Figure-8 course in less than 9 seconds per side and less than 18 seconds overall. 2.19.2 Competition Vehicles must be able to negotiate a slalom course in less than 11.5 seconds. 2.19.3 The Competition Vehicle must be stable at all achievable speeds and in crosswinds likely to be encountered. Teams must provide analysis or test results that show that the Competition Vehicle will be stable at high speeds and in crosswinds. This analysis must be approved by the Team’s certifying engineer. In 2019, at least six Competition Vehicles left the road when hit by strong wind gusts. Wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h are possible. Some of the factors affecting Competition Vehicle stability are presented in the informal discussion paper by Prof John Storey, 'Stability Considerations’ V 2.0, available on the World Solar Challenge website. 2.19.4 The fully laden Competition Vehicle should not tip when tilted by 45° about each pair of adjacent tyre contact patches. The Team’s certifying engineer must approve the stability and the rollover propensity of the Competition Vehicle. A tilt test is one way of testing the static stability factor (SSF) of a Competition Vehicle, which is one indication of susceptibility to rollover. Notice that the Regulation says ‘should’ and not ‘must’. It is permissible to have a Competition Vehicle that does not pass a static tilt test, provided that the Competition Vehicle has some other mechanism for handling the equivalent forces without tipping. If the Competition Vehicle cannot pass a tilt test in all suspension configurations it becomes particularly important that the certifying engineer be satisfied with the roll-over stability under all conditions. Their certification documentation should provide a summary of analysis and testing you have done. 36 2.20 Brakes Braking requirements are based on UNECE Regulation 13-H. 2.20.1 The braking system must be approved by the Team’s certifying engineer. 2.20.2 The Competition Vehicle must be equipped with a service braking system that enables the driver to control the Competition Vehicle and bring it to a halt without removing either hand from the steering control. 2.20.3 The Competition Vehicle must be equipped with a secondary braking system, operated by the same control as the service braking system, that the driver can use to control the Competition Vehicle to a halt if the service braking system suffers any single failure. The service braking system in a conventional vehicle is controlled by a brake pedal that operates two independent hydraulic brake circuits. Once possible configuration has the front wheels on one circuit and the rear wheels on the other. An alternative configuration has a circuit for each diagonal pair of wheels. These arrangements meet the requirements for service and secondary braking systems—the service system operates both hydraulic circuits, and the secondary system operates whichever circuit has not failed. 2.20.4 Service and secondary braking systems may share components deemed ‘not liable to failure’ if they are amply dimensioned and readily accessible for maintenance. Components ‘not liable to failure’ are: a brake pedal and its bearing hydraulic cylinders and their pistons hydraulic control valves brake cylinders and their pistons brake lever and cam assemblies. 2.20.5 Hydraulic brake hoses and lines are regarded as liable to failure. 2.20.6 The service braking system must apply braking effort to all road wheels. 2.20.7 Braking must not cause the Competition Vehicle to yaw. This requirement applies to both the service braking system and the secondary braking system. 2.20.8 For Competition Vehicles without anti-lock brakes, the front wheels must lock up before the rear wheels. 2.20.9 The service braking system must be able to stop the fully laden Competition Vehicle within distance 0.1 v + 0.0060 v2 metres from any speed v, in km/h, that the vehicle can achieve, with minimum regenerative braking. If regenerative braking is disabled when the energy storage system is full then the service braking test must be done with no regenerative braking. 37 2.20.10 If the service braking system has a failure, the secondary braking system must be able stop the fully laden Competition Vehicle, with no regenerative braking, within distance 0.1 v + 0.0158 v2 metres from any speed v, in km/h, that the vehicle can achieve. Braking the single rear wheel of trike, for example, might not provide sufficient braking force. 2.20.11 Competition Vehicles must be equipped with a parking brake that can be operated by the driver from the normal driving position. The parking brake must hold the fully laden Competition Vehicle on a 20% incline or decline. 2.21 Tyres 2.21.1 Tyres must be suitable for highway use and used in accordance with their manufacturer’s recommendations always. 2.21.2 Competition Vehicles must be fitted with tyres that are: compliant with UNECE Regulation 30, UNECE Regulation 75 or US FMVSS 571.109, as indicated by an E or DOT approval marking on the tyre; or otherwise approved by the Event Organiser. Experimental or prototype tyres must be approved by the Australian road traffic authorities. The Event Organiser will administer this process, which requires the tyre manufacturer to submit a sample tyre and written technical specifications to the Event Organiser’s office not later than 25 April 2025. A positive outcome to the approval process, which may take up to three months, is not guaranteed. 2.21.3 The speed rating of the tyres must be more than the maximum speed of the Competition Vehicle. The load rating of each tyre must be more than the maximum static load imposed on it by the fully laden Competition Vehicle. 2.21.4 Tyres must be approved by the Team’s certifying engineer. 2.21.5 Tyres must be free of any apparent defect. 2.22 Driving and reversing 2.22.1 The fully laden Competition Vehicle must be able to start from rest on a 7% gradient. 2.22.2 The Competition Vehicle must be able to be driven backwards under its own power with the driver seated in the normal position. 2.23 Lighting 2.23.1 Competition Vehicles must be fitted with: two rear stop lamps one central stop lamp left and right front direction indicator lamps 38  left and right-side direction indicator lamps left and right rear direction indicator lamps two daytime running lamps. Headlamps and tail lamps are not required, though would increase the practicality of Cruiser vehicles. 2.23.2 Stop lamps must emit red light. Direction indicator lamps must emit amber light. Daytime running lamps must emit white light. If you are designing your own lamps, then you must show that your lamp colours conform to the chromaticity requirements described in UNECE Regulation 48. 2.23.3 Lamps must be compliant with UNECE Regulation 148 or the SAE/DOT equivalents. Teams must demonstrate compliance by either: the presence of compliance markings on the lamps, or detailed documentation that demonstrates compliance with the photometric requirements of the UNECE or SAE/DOT regulations, confirmed by the Team’s certifying engineer. Lamps approved for motorcycles and side marker lamps might not meet these requirements. Photometric requirements for lamps are listed in Appendix 3 of UNECE Regulation 148. You may demonstrate compliance by testing or by calculations. If you are using calculations, be aware that most LEDs do not emit the same intensity at every angle, so the simple formula for converting luminous flux (lumens) to luminous intensity (candelas) does not apply. 2.23.4 Competition Vehicles must have the correct type of lamp in each position. Lamps must be mounted with the correct orientation so that the photometric requirements of UNECE Regulation 148 or the SAE/DOT equivalents are met. Lamp UNECE category SAE/DOT type Front indicators 1, 1a, 1b I3, I4, I5 Rear indicators 2a, 2b I6 Side indicators 5, 6 E2 Stop lamps S1, S2 S Central stop lamp S3 U3 Daytime running lamp RL Y2 Lamp position and visibility requirements are based on UNECE Regulation 48. ‘Apparent surface’ is defined in the glossary and in UNECE Regulation 48. 2.23.5 The rear stop lamps must meet the following position and visibility requirements: for each of the left and right stop lamps, the lateral distance between the outer edge of the apparent lamp surface and the corresponding outer edge of the Competition Vehicle must be not more than 400 mm 39  the minimum lateral distance between the apparent surfaces of the two stop lamps must be at least 600 mm, or at least 400 mm if the Competition Vehicle is less than 1300 mm wide the lowest point on the apparent surface of each stop lamp must be at least 350 mm above the ground the entire apparent surface of each lamp must be visible from every point in the region between the planes 15° up, 5° down, and 45° to the left and right. 2.23.6 A central stop lamp is required. Viewed from behind the Competition Vehicle, the lateral position of the lamp must coincide with the visual centre of the Competition Vehicle (see the examples in the following diagram). The lowest point on the apparent surface must be higher than a point 150 mm below the rear windscreen if the Competition Vehicle has a rear windscreen, and the bottom of the apparent surface of the lamp must be higher than the top of the apparent surface of the rear stop lamps. The entire apparent surface must be visible from every point in the region between the planes 10° up, 5° down and 10° to the left and right. 2.23.7 The following position requirements apply to the left and right front indicator lamps and to the left and right rear indicator lamps: for each of the left and right indicator lamps, the lateral distance between the outer edge of the apparent lamp surface and the corresponding outer edge of the vehicle must be not more than 400 mm the minimum lateral distance between the inner edges of the apparent surfaces of the left and right indicator lamps must be at least 600 mm, or at least 400 mm if the Competition Vehicle is less than 1300 mm wide the lowest point on the apparent surface of each indicator lamp must be at least 350 mm above the ground. 2.23.8 Side direction indicator lamps must be less than 1800 mm behind the front most part of the Competition Vehicle, and the outer edge of each apparent surface must be within 400 mm of the extreme outer edge of the Competition Vehicle on each side. 2.23.9 The entire apparent surface of each front and rear direction indicator lamp must be visible from every point in the region between the planes 15° up, 5° down, 45° inboard and 80° outboard (see the diagram below, which shows the horizontal angles for the right indicators). 40 2.23.10 The entire apparent surface of each side indicator must be visible from every point in the region between the planes 15° up, 5° down, 5° outboard and 65° outboard (see the diagram below). 2.23.11 Direction indicators must flash at 90±30 flashes per minute. 2.23.12 It must be possible to flash the left and right direction indicator lamps simultaneously, as a hazard warning signal. 2.23.13 Daytime running lamps must be mounted at the front of the Competition Vehicle so that: the minimum lateral distance between the apparent surfaces of the lamps is at least 600 mm, or at least 400 mm if the Competition Vehicle is less than 1300 mm wide the lowest point on each apparent surface is at least 250 mm above the ground the entire apparent surface is visible from every point in the region between the planes 10° up, 10° down, 20° outwards and 20° inwards. 2.23.14 Headlamps (if fitted) must be at the front of the Competition Vehicle so that the lateral distance between outer edge of the apparent surface and the corresponding outer edge of the Competition Vehicle is not more than 400 mm the minimum distance between the apparent surfaces is at least 600 mm, or at least 400 mm apart if the Competition Vehicle is less than 1300 mm wide the lowest point on each apparent surface is at least 500 mm above the ground each entire apparent surface is visible from every point in the region between the planes 15° up, 10° down, 45° outwards and 10° inwards. 2.23.15 The stop lamps must operate whenever driving is possible and the brakes are applied. 2.23.16 The daytime running lamps must operate whenever driving is possible. 2.24 Audible warning device 2.24.1 An audible warning device complying with the intent of UNECE Regulation 28 must be fitted to the Competition Vehicle.