The final results of the 2012 SA Solar Challenge have been released, after being ratified by the International Automobile Federation, and they show that several world and South African records were broken in the course of this year's challenge, despite unexpectedly poor weather on a number of stages - which meant not a lot of sunshine to power the cars.
Tokai University's Toray and the privately entered Kenjiro Shinozuka team jointly set a new record for the total distance travelled under solar power - 4632km - and the greatest distance in a day - 658km on Day 6 - while the University of KwaZulu-Natal set South African records for total distance - 2137.2km - and the greatest distance in a day - 300km on Day 8.
World champions Team Tokai took first prize by completing 4632km in 71 hours 13 minutes, with Kenjiro Shinozuka second (in Tokai's previous car!) in 89 hours and 55 minutes.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal were third overall, having covered 2137.2km in 99 hours and 50 minutes.
RESULTS
1 Team Tokai (Challenge Class) 4632km - 71 hours 33 minutes
2 Kenjiro Shinozuka (Challenge Class) 4632km - 89hr55
3 University of KwaZulu-Natal (Challenge Class) 2137.2 - 99hr50
4 North West University (Olympia Class) 1087.2km - 90hr47
5 University of Johannesburg (Olympia Class) 847km - 105hr06
6 University of Johannesburg (Technology Demo) 1218.7km - 109hr39
7 University of Johannesburg (Technology Demo) 578.6km - 101hr59
8 Tshwane University of Technology (Olympia Class) 409.5km - 99hr55
9 EV Drive (Technology Demo) 394.8km - 79hr01
10 Wits University (Technology Demo) 177.7km - 52hr54
11 Delhi Technological University (Technology Demo) 23km - 9hr50
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's Photon retired from the Challenge Class on Day 5 after 53 hours 16 minutes and 299.6km, and ran the rest of the challenge in the Technology Demo class for a total of 598.5km in 100 hours 31 minutes.
The German School's Sonnenbrand II failed to start.