On to a new continent: the Belgian Solar Team heads to America

14 november 2025

Leuven, Belgium

Friday, November 14, 2025 – The Innoptus Solar Team is gearing up for an exciting new adventure. In July 2026, the students from KU Leuven will travel to the United States for the first time to compete in the American Solar Challenge. After a strong performance and a third-place finish in Australia in August 2025, the team is determined to once again showcase the value of Belgian innovation in America. The U.S. race is not only a technical challenge but also a symbolic moment: the Belgian team has never competed in North America before.

A new continent calls

After an intense year of developing, testing, and refining their latest solar car, th Infinite Apollo, the team is embarking on a new chapter. For the first time in their history, they are taking part in the American Solar Challenge: an eight-day race in which student teams from around the world aim to cover the longest possible distance with their solar car. The race in America is not only a first for the team, but North America is also uncharted territory for them.

The new challenge

The race has a different structure than the World Championship in Australia. The American race is not only longer but also features heavier traffic and more elevation changes. The solar car will therefore need to be adapted to these new conditions.

The regulations also differ significantly. As a result, the Infinite Apollo must undergo several structural modifications, including the addition of a metal roll cage above the pilot’s head, a requirement under U.S. safety regulations.

Furthermore, the organizers have not yet announced the route or the date, making it even more challenging to estimate how this unknown course will affect strategy.

The route is still unknown, and it’s also the first time we are going to America, which means we cannot rely on the experience of previous teams. That’s why we are now looking more closely at historical weather data, such as sun and wind, as well as routes from previous editions, in order to build up some knowledge.
_{Quinten Duyck (23, Sint-Katelijne-Waver), Strategist at the Innoptus Solar Team}

Australia as a lesson, America as revenge

After the success in South Africa in 2024 and the intense experience in Australia in 2025, where the team had to relinquish their world title, the team is looking forward to America with great enthusiasm. The Infinite Apollo proved to be highly performant in Australia, giving the team strong confidence that first place is achievable once again.

Our experience in Australia has made our team much stronger. We now have greater insight into what works and what doesn’t, and how to respond more quickly in unforeseen situations. We now know enough to go all out for victory in America.
_{Marie-Johanna Schillemans (21, Dendermonde), Team Manager at the Innoptus Solar Team}