For the past week, many of us have been glued to the live tracker map, munching popcorn and cheering on Estonia’s Solaride team as they raced their way across Australia. Today is the big moment – after 3,000 km of sun, wind and rain, the team is set to cross the finish line in Adelaide at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
If you’re in Adelaide, you can join the crowd at the finish line to welcome them home in true Estonian style – cheering, flag-waving and perhaps even a few tears of pride.
Not in Adelaide? No worries – you can still be part of the excitement. Track their final kilometers in real time on the live tracker map, where each team’s progress updates every 2.5 minutes.
And don’t miss the team’s own brilliant reels, interviews and behind-the-scenes photos on the Solaride Facebook page.
Achievements along the way
The Solaride crew of 25 Estonian students – 20 of them engineers – have built not just a car, but a statement of ingenuity and endurance. Their vehicle, the Solaride III Enefit, is a 5.8-metre solar car designed for both efficiency and passenger comfort. With a 15 kWh battery pack, the car can cover up to 700 km on solar and stored energy, even in Australia’s unpredictable outback conditions.
From Darwin to Adelaide, Solaride held the lead for much of the race, thrilling fans at home and abroad. They also bagged a major early win: the Design Award in the Cruiser Class. Judges praised their blend of innovation, practicality, safety and solar efficiency – awarding them a strategic 28-minute time advantage. That edge could prove game-changing in such a tight competition.
Solaride’s main rival has been the Hong Kong team, with the two cars often separated by just minutes. As chief engineer Joosep Ress explained to Aktuaalne Kaamera, “Until the 2,000 km mark we held first place, but after that it’s been a very close fight.” In the final stretch, the Estonians have faced tough weather – rain, strong winds, and now the threat of 130 km/h gusts on race day.
Driver Ülo Pajutee described the last leg as “extreme – we’ve never tested the car in such harsh conditions.” Yet the team remains determined. “Of course, our goal is to win,” Ress said, while acknowledging the uncertainties of the final day.
More than a race
The World Solar Challenge is legendary – the oldest and toughest of its kind, running since 1983. For Solaride, it’s not just about crossing the line first. Their bigger mission is to inspire and train the next generation of engineers through hands-on challenges and world-class innovation.
Whatever the outcome today, Estonia can already be proud. A student-built car, designed for endurance in the Australian outback, has carried our flag across 3,000 kilometers of sunburnt road, winning recognition and fans along the way.
So tune in, follow live, and celebrate this remarkable Estonian achievement – whether from Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, or the other side of the world.
Eesti päike särab täna Austraalias. Fingers crossed! 🌞
Read more
You can follow Solaride and read more using the links below.
Delfi blog (updates in Estonian)
Solaride on Aktuaalne Kaamera (in Estonian)
Estonians in Adelaide Facebook page
Acknowledgement
With thanks to Alice Veedla from Solaride and Malle Nõgeste for their contributions and support.
