The largest U.S. competition for solar-powered vehicles -Sunrayce- takes its name from the GM Sunraycer, the General Motors prototype that in 1987 won the first World Solar Challenge in Australia. The record-setting Sunraycer finished the race more than two days ahead of its closest competitor; over 500 miles in difference! The Sunraycer vehicle is displayed today at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

The Sunrayce competition has taken place four times: the first 1990 GM Sunrayce USA and the biannual Sunrayce events of 1993, 1995 and 1997. This event is scheduled every two years because of the rigorous planning and preparation period.

In July 1990, the first GM Sunrayce brought 32 teams of North America's college students who raced solar-powered vehicles from Florida to Michigan. The race was won by the University of Michigan.

In the 1993 Sunrayce, the University of Michigan repeated as champions. This race was characterized by strong weather conditions as the teams raced from Dallas, Texas to Minneapolis, Minnesota on a 1,300 mile route, one week before the Great Midwest Flood of 1993. Despite the difficulties, the average speed was 27.29 miles per hour!

The 1995 Sunrayce brought a different challenge for solar-powered cars: elevation. The race began at 708 feet above sea level in Indianapolis and finished at 5,693 feet above sea level in Denver, Colorado. This race demanded substantial improvement in performance. And the 36 team's solar cars met the challenge. Some cars averaged a speed of 50 miles per hour during one 165-mile leg race day. As a result of higher speeds the average winning speed climbed to 32.73 miles per hour!

The 1997 Sunrayce added 17 new teams including solar vehicles from outside the United States; seven teams from Canada, one form Puerto Rico, and 47 from the USA increased remarkably the level of competition. The route crossed the US Midwest from Indianapolis to Colorado Springs, Colorado in a ten-day race.

Since its debut in 1990, the Sunrayce program's flagship activity continues to be this biennial intercollegiate competition to design, build and race solar-powered cars in a challenging long-distance event. The fundamental mission of Sunrayce is to promote and celebrate educational excellence. Fueled by the spirit of friendly competition and teamwork, Sunrayce champions the creative integration of technical and scientific expertise across a range of exciting disciplines.

The Sunrayce poses formidable tasks as well as educational benefits for the students. Teams must display proficiency in business and product development, creativity, resourcefulness, technical innovation, engineering excellence, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Sunrayce also contributes to America's awareness about a host of important issues: renewable energy resources and technology; clean energy option; environmental protection; cost savings through energy efficiency improvements in transportation; and creation of new, fast-growing energy-related fields.  For more information, visit http://www.formulasun.org/history/index.html