{"691610":{"#nid":"691610","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Solar Racing Team Sets Record at Electrek American Solar Challenge ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Solar Racing team returned from this year\u2019s Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) and Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC) with hardware in hand, setting team and competition records in the process. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s 655-kilogram vehicle, dubbed SR-4 Aurora and powered by a 14-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, 1.2-kilowatt solar array, and custom in-hub radial flux motors, propelled the team to first place in the Grand Prix\u2019s multi-occupant category. Held at the Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, the Formula Sun Grand Prix tested each vehicle\u2019s handling, endurance, and efficiency. For laps completed, optimization, and efficiency, Tech won with a score of 95.8 (out of 100) and was the only team to place four people in its vehicle throughout the event. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe FSGP served as a qualifier for the premier collegiate solar car event in North America, the American Solar Challenge. The biannual event, which began on July 25, featured teams traveling more than 1,600 miles along the Great River Road and Route 66 from Minneapolis to Amarillo, Texas, over eight days. Tech was one of three multi-occupant teams to complete the challenge, and, once again, the only team to do so with four riders \u2014 setting an all-time ASC record for the highest average occupancy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter placing third in the FSGP last year, the team returned to Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStudent Competition Center\u003C\/a\u003E to begin fine-tuning the SR-4. Weekly testing pushed the car to its limits. Outgoing team president Sam Woolsey recalled that many testing days ended with car components failing. The team addressed mechanical and electrical speed bumps along the way, including an issue that forced them to ship their motors back to their supplier early in the summer. They got the motors back just four days before the competition.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe went into this competition without any expectations because our car had broken so much in front of us. But every time that car broke down was an issue we learned about and now knew how to fix it. It was satisfying to come to the competition after all those testing days ended in sadness, because we were prepared for almost anything that our car could throw at us. And on site, we had one of the most reliable cars at that competition,\u201d Woolsey said. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile the next American Solar Challenge is in 2028, the victories and records at this year\u2019s event only serve to motivate the team to work harder to improve ahead of next year\u2019s Formula Sun Grand Prix. The team intends to launch a new car and compete in the single-occupant category\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u201cThe work has already started,\u201d Woolsey said. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u2019s success didn\u2019t occur overnight. Woolsey credits the hundreds of students who have contributed to the vehicle, dating back to its design phase in 2020. Georgia Tech Solar Racing currently has more than 150 active members, which they expect to grow. The team is primarily made up of mechanical and electrical engineering majors, but all students are encouraged to join. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe\u0027re proud to be one of the teams in the Student Competition Center that is pushing forward what extracurriculars can do for your education,\u201d Woolsey said. \u201cThere are few other places on campus where you can learn the kind of technical communication, the group work dynamics, and the real-world problem-solving opportunities that you get here. It\u2019s the epitome of what a Georgia Tech education is about.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The team set a challenge record for occupancy and took home first place in the Formula Sun Grand Prix\u2019s multi-occupant category. "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe team set a challenge record for occupancy and took home first place in the Formula Sun Grand Prix\u2019s multi-occupant category.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The team set a challenge record for occupancy and took home first place in the Formula Sun Grand Prix\u2019s multi-occupant category. "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2026-08-11 17:52:53","changed_gmt":"2026-08-11 18:54:11","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-11T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-11T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680837":{"id":"680837","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Solar Racing\u0027s SR-4 Aurora","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Solar Racing\u0027s SR-4 Aurora on the track during the Formula Sun Grand Prix. Photo credit: Innovators Educational Foundation\/American Solar Challenge\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1786471124","gmt_created":"2026-08-11 17:58:44","changed":"1786471124","gmt_changed":"2026-08-11 17:58:44","alt":"Georgia Tech Solar Racing vehicle","file":{"fid":"265161","name":"55409413669_c8c4e8d574_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/11\/55409413669_c8c4e8d574_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/11\/55409413669_c8c4e8d574_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":8795837,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/11\/55409413669_c8c4e8d574_o.jpg?itok=ubUldduQ"}}},"media_ids":["680837"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/solarracing.gatech.edu\/","title":"Georgia Tech Solar Racing"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"}],"keywords":[{"id":"167984","name":"solar racing"},{"id":"179815","name":"Student Competition Center"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013\u0026nbsp;Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}