August 5-12, 2026 | 8:00 AM CT
Cross-Country Route | Route TBD
The American Solar Challenge is North America's premier solar car race and one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. This multi-day, cross-country endurance race challenges teams to navigate over 1,500 miles of public roads. Only teams that successfully qualify through the Formula Sun Grand Prix earn the right to compete in this elite event.
Total Duration
Format
Distance
Qualifiers Only
Balance speed with energy conservation, making strategic decisions about when to push and when to conserve power throughout the day.
Adapt to changing conditions and navigate public roads while managing traffic and hitting checkpoints on time.
Support vehicles, chase crews, and drivers work in sync across hundreds of miles each day for 8 consecutive days.
Sustained performance over the entire route tests every system, requiring robust engineering and quick problem-solving.
Over 30 years of innovation, impacting thousands of students and dozens of universities across North America.
The pinnacle of solar vehicle competition, combining speed, efficiency, and reliability over extreme distances.
Final technical inspections, safety certifications, and team briefings before the cross-country journey begins. All vehicles must pass comprehensive checks.
Daily racing from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM across multiple states. Teams navigate public roads, manage energy resources, and complete designated checkpoints while competing for position.
The final day of competition as teams complete the last leg to the finish line. Winners are determined by overall time and performance across the entire route.
Follow Badger Solar Racing as we compete in the 2026 American Solar Challenge