It’s now July, which means schools from around the world are making final preparations for the Electrek American Solar Challenge 2026, and this year is going to be an especially notable one! A record 42 teams from colleges in the US, Canada, Belgium, and the Netherlands are registered to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix pre-qualifier track event in less than two weeks.
This is a big deal for teams. Apart from FSGP being a competition in its own right, it’s the opportunity for students to prove their hand-built solar car has what it takes to hit the open road and trek 1,500+ miles across the United States for the renowned American Solar Challenge.
Here’s everything you need to know about both competitions, the teams, and the schedule.
A brief history
The roots of American solar car racing can be traced back to 1987, when GM’s Sunraycer solar car won the first World Solar Challenge in Australia. The Sunraycer featured a more rounded, UFO-looking design made of Kevlar for a great strength-to-weight ratio. It was covered in 8800 solar cells capable of generating about 1500 watts of power. It was an impressive feat of engineering at the time and proved to the world that electric drivetrains could be efficient and competitive.
