Darwin, Australia -- Sikat II, the country’s representative to the 2013 World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia, reached another milestone when it placed first in its class during the qualifying round of the world’s biggest solar car competition held at Hidden Valley Raceway on October 5.

The Philippines clocked 2:30.53, beating closest competitor Team Aurora of Australia which timed 2:32.95. There are five other solar cars participating in the Adventure class.

This achievement earned Sikat II the pole position in the biennial meet, beginning October 6in this Northern Territory city and will end in Adelaide on October 11.  It covers 3,021 kilometers of the Australian Outback.

This is the best performance of the Philippines in the qualifying round since it joined the WSC in 2007. Sinag placed 12th that year while Sikat ranked 19th in 2011.

A core group of 20 mechanical and electrical engineering students and six faculty members from De La Salle

First Phil Holdings, First Gen, Energy Development Corporation, Sunpower, Ufreight, Shell, and Motolite helped make the improved Sikat II possible.

A total of 42 teams from 24 countries are joining in this year’s WSC, competing in three classes.  

For updated news and information on Sikat II and Team Sikat Solar Philippines, go to Facebook: Team Solar Philippines, and Twitter and Instagram: SikatSolarPh.