Ford-backed TUT solar team wins 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge after eight-day engineering test across South Africa

Ford-backed TUT SunChaser 4 team wins the 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge after eight days on the road

Ford engineers provided hands-on technical mentorship and support, including 3D-printed components, roadside diagnostics and mobile workshop assistance

The challenge put student engineering to the test across changing weather, demanding road conditions and real-time technical challenges

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, 18 September 2026 – The Ford-backed Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) SunChaser 4 team has won the 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge, crossing the finish line in Franschhoek after eight days of demanding road conditions, changing weather and continuous technical problem-solving.

The result sees the student engineering team crowned winners of the 2026 Sasol Solar Challenge after maintaining a strong position throughout the cross-country event.

Throughout the challenge, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa engineers worked alongside the students, providing technical mentorship and practical engineering support as the team navigated the journey from Sasolburg to the Western Cape.

The challenge pushed both the SunChaser 4 and its student engineers beyond controlled testing environments, requiring the team to make real-time decisions around energy consumption, battery temperatures, vehicle reliability and changing weather conditions.

From strong headwinds and cool conditions during the opening leg from Sasolburg to Swartruggens, to rising temperatures across the North West, intermittent cloud cover and crosswinds en route to Kimberley, and the intense heat and long open roads of the Northern Cape, each stage brought a different technical challenge.

The students relied on telemetry data to continuously adjust cruising speeds and energy consumption. Battery cooling cycles were extended during periods of intense heat, solar arrays were cleaned to maximise photovoltaic efficiency, while suspension, tyre pressure and wheel alignment checks helped the team respond to rougher road surfaces and minimise rolling resistance.

Ford’s involvement extended beyond mentorship. During the journey, Ford engineers helped 3D print and install components on the solar vehicle, provided roadside diagnostic support when a lighting issue arose on the team’s trailer, and made Ford’s mobile workshop and tools available to assist with repairs.

“Winning the challenge is about so much more than crossing the finish line. Every day presented us with a different problem to solve, whether it was managing energy, responding to changing weather or making technical adjustments on the road.

We have been able to take what we learn in the classroom and test it in a real-world environment, where every decision has an immediate impact. To come away with the win makes that experience even more special,” said Mpho Mogadimo, BEngTech Mechanical Engineering graduate and SunChaser 4 driver.

The result also represents another step forward for the TUT solar programme. During the team’s previous participation in the challenge in 2024, a crash damaged the vehicle and forced the students to withdraw. Their return this year has provided an opportunity to apply lessons from that experience to the design, preparation and performance of SunChaser 4.

The Sasol Solar Challenge is not a traditional race for outright speed. Teams are challenged to maximise the distance their solar vehicles can cover using solar power, placing engineering design, energy management, reliability and race strategy at the heart of the competition.

For Ford, the challenge has provided a practical platform to work directly with emerging South African engineering talent, allowing experienced automotive engineers to share technical expertise while giving students space to make decisions and solve problems themselves.

“What has stood out throughout this journey is the students’ ability to think on their feet. Engineering in the real world does not always happen under controlled conditions. You have weather, road conditions, time pressures and unexpected technical challenges, and you need to find solutions quickly.

Our role has been to bring our engineering experience to the table and support them where needed, but the students have been the ones doing the thinking, learning and problem-solving. Seeing them cross the finish line as winners is a powerful reflection of what can happen when young engineering talent is given the opportunity to put theory into practice,” said Marko Venter, Engineering and Operations Leader at Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa.

For the students, reaching the finish line brings to a close an intensive practical learning experience that tested not only the performance of SunChaser 4, but also their ability to collaborate, adapt and solve engineering problems under real-world conditions.

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