Brunel Solar Team unveils aerodynamic breakthrough
The Delft University of Technology student team that will participate in the World Solar Challenge Race has unveiled an innovative wing fin.
Published on August 20, 2025
© Brunel Solar Team
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Brunel Solar Team, a student team from Delft University of Technology, has unveiled a new blade fin innovation for their solar car, Nuna 13, which will compete in the upcoming Bridgestone World Solar Challenge race. The blade fin allows the car to extract more energy from the airflow and reach higher speeds when wind conditions are favorable. It also improves the car's stability, allowing drivers to make fewer corrections and race faster.
The Brunel Solar Team consists of 18 students from Delft University of Technology who spend a year designing and building a solar car. Their main goal is to inspire the world with sustainable innovation. The team participates in solar car races around the world to demonstrate the possibilities of solar energy and push technological boundaries. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, a biennial event, challenges teams to race solar cars across the 3,021-kilometer Australian outback, from Darwin to Adelaide. This year's challenge will take place from August 24 to 31.
Keeping Nuna on course
In addition to extra speed, the sword fin also contributes to greater stability on the road. Its shape and placement create a so-called dart effect: the solar car stays better in the direction of travel and swerves less in strong crosswinds. “Especially in the open plains of the Australian outback, the gusts of wind can be fierce,” explains Gilles Oude Elberink, mechanical engineer at the Brunel Solar Team. “Our drivers then have to steer hard to keep Nuna straight on the road. That not only costs energy, but also time. Thanks to the sword fin, Nuna automatically turns a little more into the wind and stays on course more tightly. While driving, it feels a lot more stable. The less we have to correct, the faster we ultimately race to the finish line.”
Nuna 13 has successfully passed the static inspection, confirming that it meets all technical and safety requirements. The technical inspection included further checks on the car's compliance with regulations and safety standards and the driver's ability to quickly get in and out of the vehicle. Oude Elberink noted that the organization has approved their sword fin and expressed his confidence for the upcoming qualifying round this Saturday.
The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge route spans over 3,000 kilometers through the Australian outback [3]. This year's race, held earlier than usual, presents additional challenges, including potentially milder temperatures and increased cloud cover, which could impact the solar car's efficiency. Despite these hurdles, the Brunel Solar Team is determined to compete for the world title.
