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Innoptus Solar Team
The Infinite is one of the most innovative and efficient solar cars that the Innoptus Solar Team has built. This team of Belgian engineering students from KU Leuven can count on Innoptus & Infinite as the main sponsor for the coming years!
August 28, 2025: Innoptus Solar Team finishes on the podium after a thrilling race
After 3,021 kilometers through the Australian Outback, the Belgian solar team crossed the finish line in Adelaide, securing 3rd place at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2025.
Starting from 16th position after a challenging qualification, the KU Leuven students fought their way back into the top of the leaderboard. Along the route, they climbed as high as 2nd place, before a flat tire and difficult weather conditions forced them to adjust their strategy. A final charging stop on the last day allowed the Twente team to overtake.
Despite these setbacks, the Infinite Apollo showcased outstanding performance, and the team once again proved that they belong to the world’s solar racing elite. The podium battle was exceptionally close: less than 30 minutes separated the top three after five days of racing, unprecedented in the history of the championship.
With this 3rd place, the Innoptus Solar Team confirms its status among the best in the world, achieving another remarkable collective success that Belgium can be proud of.
August 26th, 2025: Belgian Solar Team drops to third place after pit stop for flat tire
The Leuven students started today in second place, just a few seconds behind the race leader: the team from Delft. However, things went wrong during the day when the Belgians suffered a blowout. Because of the puncture, the students had to stop at the side of the road. While they were changing the tire, their competitors from Twente managed to overtake them, causing the KU Leuven students to drop back to third place. By the end of the day, however, the students were able to catch up with their rivals and remain close behind.
The teams still have nearly 900 km to go until Adelaide. The top three in the standings are incredibly close, within less than 8 minutes of each other, showing how evenly matched the teams are. The coming days will reveal who ultimately takes the title.
August 25th, 2025: Belgians Within Reach of First Place After Day 2 of World Solar Car Championship
Clash of Titans
The Belgians started today in third place and repeatedly leapfrogged with Twente. They eventually finished the day in second place, just a few seconds behind Delft. After nearly 1,500 kilometers covered, that gap is remarkably small. With the race now halfway through, a neck-and-neck battle is shaping up.
Technical Check
The solar car, Infinite Apollo, ran a flawless course, with just one brief stop. In the afternoon, the team paused briefly along the road to inspect an electronic component to ensure safety. Within three minutes, they were back on track. During that time, the team from Twente briefly overtook them, but the KU Leuven students quickly regained their position. By the end of the day, they had closed the gap to the race leader to just a few seconds.
Outlook
Tomorrow brings a challenging stage toward Coober Pedy, known for its strong crosswinds and rapidly changing weather conditions. In the past, teams have run into trouble here. The Infinite Apollo is equipped with a double fin, which reduces energy consumption through a sail effect and also provides extra stability. The students hope to stick to their strategy.
August 24th, 2025: Strong Start. Belgian Solar Team Climbs to Top 3 in World Solar Car Championship
Catch-Up Race
The team began today in 16th place at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. After a disappointing qualification round yesterday, the Belgians were determined to make up ground. Thanks to an impressive catch-up race, the KU Leuven students ended the day in third place, having covered more than 700 km through the Australian Outback. The team is very pleased with this performance.
Dream Scenario
To secure third place, the Belgians had to overtake many teams today. They had extensively practiced with their entire convoy to be able to do this even under the hectic conditions of the race start. Their solar car, the Infinite Apollo, performed fantastically today. Thanks to the good weather, they were able to store a lot of solar energy for the coming days and will try to get as close as possible to their competitors.
August 23rd, 2025: Qualification round
The team completed their qualification round today at the Hidden Valley race circuit in Darwin. They recorded a time of 2m19.62s, which means they will start 16th tomorrow on their journey through the Australian Outback. The team had practiced extensively beforehand, aiming to set a competitive time without taking unnecessary risks. However, the students completed the qualification round slower than hoped. Starting tomorrow, the Belgians will begin their catch-up race.
We practiced a lot for this so we could safely set a good lap time. Unfortunately, we drove a bit slower than expected, but we’re ready to start the race and we’re really looking forward to it.
— Lander Deprez (21, Tienen), Driver at the Innoptus Solar Team
August 19th, 2025: Scrutineering
Today, the technical inspection, also known as scrutineering, was on the agenda for the team. During this check, it is verified whether the solar cars comply with all the competition regulations, with special attention to the safety of the driver. The Infinite Apollo passed the inspection smoothly. The engineering students are now fully ready to begin their qualification round on Saturday. The result of that round will determine the starting order for the race on Sunday.
August 11th, 2025: Belgian Solar Team unveils new innovation as they aim for third world title
The Innoptus Solar Team has revealed the second major innovation in their newest solar car, the Infinite Apollo. Their latest addition, called The Bounce, introduces an adaptive ride height system - a first in the history of Belgian solar cars. With the Infinite Apollo they aim to secure their third world title at the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, starting on August 24th.
The Bounce
Powered by a hydraulic mechanism, the Bounce gives the Infinite Apollo an adaptive ride height system, allowing the car to adjust its chassis's height in real time based on speed and road conditions. This improves both stability and aerodynamics, two key factors in the 3,000 km Bridgestone World Solar Challenge across the Australian Outback.
With a solar panel surface area increased to 6 m², maintaining a low and stable chassis helps to increase stability. The Bounce allows the car to lower itself for more stability during, for example, challenging wind conditions, and to raise the ride height when navigating rough and uneven terrain.
The system is carefully designed to react rapidly, ensuring the car can always drive over bumps and road irregularities, complying with the competition's regulations.
By controlling the car’s centre of gravity with precision, the Bounce gives the team greater handling, adaptability, and reliability throughout the race.
July 22nd, 2025: The first meters on Australian soil
Today, the Infinite Apollo made its first meters on Australian soil. The solar car arrived a few days ago in Darwin, located in the far north of Australia, where the team is preparing for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. In exactly one month, the 3,000-kilometer race through the Australian Outback will begin. During the event, 37 student teams from around the world will compete against each other.
June 30th, 2025: From Leuven to Australia: Belgian solar car sets course for world title
After a year of intensive development and testing, the Infinite Apollo, the eleventh Belgian solar car, has officially departed for Australia. There, the Innoptus Solar Team will participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge: a 3,000-kilometer journey through the Australian Outback, which for the first time will take place during the Australian winter. The car underwent rigorous testing and preparation phases, and now both the team and the vehicle are ready for the final preparations on site — with one goal in mind: to compete for the world title.
May 8, 2025: Solar Car Built for Glory Unveiled - The Infinite Apollo
We are proud to support the Innoptus Solar Team as they unveil Infinite Apollo, a groundbreaking solar car designed for the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Featuring the world-first double aerodynamic fins, an ultra-efficient 27% solar panel co-developed with LONGi, and a lightweight 170 kg design, the car is built for performance in the challenging Australian winter. With innovation at its core, Infinite Apollo is both a race contender and a real-world testbed for future clean technologies.
September 25, 2024: Successful year for the Innoptus Solar Team shines even brighter with the extension of the main sponsorship by the 4ITEGO Group
4ITEGO Group, which includes the companies Innoptus and Infinite Simulation Systems, is pleased to announce that it will continue as the main sponsor of the Innoptus Solar Team for another two years. Following the successes of the past year, the 4ITEGO Group will also support the new Solar Team in their pursuit score a hattrick by becoming world champions again in Australia. To achieve this goal, a brand-new solar car will be developed entirely from scratch. The team looks forward to once again pushing the boundaries of what is possible and competing with the best teams in the world.
September 22, 2024: Historic Double Victory for the Innoptus Solar Team and the BluePoint Atlas on the F1 Circuit at Zolder!
This weekend, the Innoptus Solar Team achieved an incredible feat, winning two gold medals in just 48 hours. After their victory at the Sasol Solar Challenge in South Africa with the Infinite solar car, the team claimed the European title at the iLumen European Solar Challenge on the Formula 1 Circuit at Zolder, Belgium.
With flawless strategy, the team dominated the 24-hour race. This double victory, all in one weekend, demonstrates the team's drive and perfectly sets them up for their next major challenge: the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in 2025, in Australia.
September 20, 2024: Resounding victory for the Innoptus Solar Team at the Sasol Solar Challenge 2024!
Innoptus Solar Team won first place in the Sasol Solar Challenge 2024 thanks to their solar car, Infinite! This marks the team’s first-ever victory in South Africa, an incredible milestone after several years of participation.
Infinite’s advanced engineering helped the team break the daily distance record twice during the race, covering over 4,000 km across South Africa’s challenging landscapes. This win culminates months of hard work, strategy, and innovation. We are immensely proud to support these talented students and their remarkable journey. Congratulations to the entire team on this extraordinary achievement and a huge thanks to everyone who has supported them along the way!
September 11, 2024: Team passes scrutineering and qualifies 2nd for Sasol Solar Challenge
The solar car Infinite underwent rigorous technical inspections, passing tests for safety and fairness to ensure it was ready for the competition. Afterward, the qualifying lap took place at the Red Star Raceway, where the Innoptus Solar team finished with a fantastic result of 3 minutes and 28 seconds. This achievement secured them a strong second-place starting position for the Sasol Solar Challenge, which will begin in two days!
August 26, 2024: Arrival in South Africa Marks the Final Countdown
After 13 months of hard work with 13 engineering students, the Innoptus Solar Team has finally arrived in Cape Town, South Africa. Here, they will be taking part in the Sasol Solar Challenge, where student teams from all over the world drive more than 4000km from Johannesburg to Cape Town in 8 days. They are ready for the final preparations, including extensive testing of the innovations added to their high-performance solar car, the Infinite.
June 28, 2024: Unveiling the upgraded Infinite Solar Car
After 12 months of hard work, the Innoptus Solar Team presented the Infinite - the most efficient solar car ever built, which became the world champion in October 2023. In September 2024, the students will participate in the most extreme Solar Challenge in the world in South Africa, where they will have to deal with large differences in altitude, busy cities, and exceptional weather conditions. Therefore, it was important that Infinite, which gave the team the world title in October 2023, was provided with the necessary adjustments and innovations.
June 3, 2024: Testing the Infinite on Flemish Roads to Prepare for Extreme South African Terrain
The Innoptus Solar Team tested their solar car on the roads of Leuven to prepare for the Solar Challenge in South Africa where they will face challenging conditions such as steep slopes and high temperatures. The students were able to conduct their tests safely, and after some adjustments to the motor, the solar car successfully drove up the steep Wijnpersstraat in Leuven. The Belgian team will leave for abroad with the car Infinite at the beginning of August!
Summer 2024: From Flemish Roads to South Africa – Belgian Solar Team’s Final Preparations
Their high-performance solar car, the Infinite, will go through extensive testing and upgrades to prepare for the challenging race from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The team is getting ready to take on the challenge and showcase their innovations in the upcoming competition.
April 19, 2024: 200 Young Innovators Compete in Solar Olympiad Finals
Following the Belgian Solar Team's world title, 200 Belgian students also competed at the Headquarters of Colruyt Group Technics, showcasing their solar-powered cars and gadgets. Out of 200 initial teams, 40 advanced to the final round. The Solar Olympiad aims to promote STEM education and sustainability, providing students with hands-on experience and encouraging them to contribute to sustainable innovations in the future. Prizes were awarded based on speed, innovation, technology, and presentation.
Spring 2024: Solar Olympiad Brings Together 200 Belgian Students for Final Showdown
The engineering students of the KU Leuven organized their 20th Solar Olympiad today. The Solar Olympiad is an 8-month competition in which Belgian youngsters go through a Solar Challenge.
January 10, 2024: Gearing Up for the World's Most Extreme Solar Challenge
The Innoptus Solar Team from KU Leuven, world champions in 2023, is preparing to compete in the SASOL Solar Challenge 2024 in South Africa, considered to be the most extreme solar challenge. The 4000-kilometer race will run from Johannesburg to Cape Town over eight days. The team is refining their champion car, the Infinite, for the demanding competition. They must adapt the car for steeper gradients and more frequent acceleration and braking. The race requires strategic planning to cover the most distance within the given time. After finishing second in their debut in 2022, the team aims to win this year with strong competition expected.
New Year, New Challenges: Belgian Solar Team Aims for Victory in 2024 SASOL Solar Challenge
In September 2024, the engineering students will participate in the Sasol Solar Challenge for the second time, where they achieved 2nd place last edition. With the innovated Infinite, they hope to take the win to Belgium this year.
October 26, 2023: World champion!
The Infinite is the first to cross the finish line! Making the Belgian team World champions once again! Their ultimate goal. After 15 months of work on their solar car, they are the first the arrive in Adelaide. It is the second time that the Innoptus Solar Team becomes World Champion.
October 22nd – October 26th 2023: On your marks? Set. Go!
On October 22nd the race started. 3021 kilometres through the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide. Solely powered by solar energy. Who brings home the title? We’ll know in a few days.
September 2023: On the road
Time to fly! We waved the Infinite goodbye at the end of August, when she left for Australia by plain.
Two weeks later, the team leaves as well. Giving them a month to test the car, do final adjustments and acclimate to the weather. This way they are fit to compete!
August 2023: Race simulations
Time to test! The students are bringing the car to the test track to test it thoroughly. How does it drive? How does it react in certain circumstances? Are all systems functioning as designed? Everything is to be as prepared as possible.
July 2023: Into the tunnel
To make sure the Infinite is streamlined to the max, the team did a lot of CFD simulations. Now the team takes it to the wind tunnel to examine whether the simulations correspond to reality.
Based on these results, some last-minute minor adjustments will be made before the solar car flies off to Australia.
July 14, 2023: New car, new name!
Meet the Infinite, the 10th Belgian Solar Car!
A fitting name for the newest car of the Innoptus Solar Team, since Ansys solutions from Infinite had a big impact on the design. Thanks to many simulations, the team was able to design a super aerodynamic vehicle to compete with during the World Solar Challenge in October.
Every two years, the students design a completely new car, based on ideas, simulations and experiments. The other year, they innovate and improve the current vehicle.