CLAREMONT, California - A sleek, Michigan-built bullet of a car overcame a near-debilitating crash and streaked to victory in the nation‘s longest solar-powered race. The University of Michigan team, led by driver Jason Kramb, grabbed the trophy in the American Solar Challenge from 35 other teams after 56 hours and 10 minutes on high plains and desert roads from Chicago to Claremont, California.

The Michigan car, dubbed M-Pulse, covered 3 700 km along historic Route 66 in the 10-day race that helped mark the highway‘s 75th anniversary. All the competitors raced the last 160 kms from Barstow to Claremont together last Wednesday. „It‘s about time,“ said Kramb after he climbed out of the tiny vehicle. „We‘ve been perfecting this for four years.“ Despite a major crash just three weeks ago in a trial run for the race, M-Pulse was able to rebound after a frantic 17-day rebuilding effort by its team. The University of Michigan has won the national solar competition three times. „It‘s hard to believe this fantastic finish considering the position we were in four weeks ago,“ said Michigan team captain Nader Shwayhat. „Through the amazing efforts of this team…we were able to restore M-Pulse to its original racing condition.“

Reuters