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Waking up to the challenge
In the early morning sun sleepy-eyed students line up by the start line at the Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, surrounded by low-slung cars with streamlined curves. Some sip coffee; others wear blankets to keep out the chill. All are keen to see their car take on the circuit for the last day of Shell Eco-marathon Europe 2012.
First in line
Winona Mulder from Team SGH in The Netherlands sits with her teammates at the head of the queue for the track. “We just want to get out there, and set a time,” she says. “Yesterday our driver took a sharp turn and the rolled over twice. The marshalls were great and now we have fixed the damaged parts.” Their car, powered by electric battery, lies in two parts on the ground as it waits for the driver to step in and be sealed in the small cockpit.
Just behind her in the queue the smooth lines of Microjoule can be made out below a yellow satin cover. It looks like a spaceship. “Conditions are good,” says Kevin Chauvrau. “We haven't changed anything in the car since we got here – there is no need.” His team, from La Joliverie, is currently winning.
High spirits
The VIRGIL car shape from IPSIA Ferrari school is inspired by a whale
Teacher Filippo Sala has slept around 6 hours in three days – but at 7h30 is smiling as he waits before the start. “I am happy the sun is shining this morning,” says Filippo. The team come from the IPSIA Ferrari school, but the shape of their car is inspired by a whale rather than a sportscar. The “tail” is filled with solar panels. “We hope today we will go far!”
The Prototype competition ends at 11h30 today. The final round of the UrbanConcept competition takes place from 12h-16h30. Off-track awards will also be announced for achievements including innovative design, safety and team spirit.
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