Just three weeks from departure for the prestigious World Solar Challenge, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) students' chances of competing were crushed when their self-built solar car, SunSPEC4 was destroyed. Undaunted, the SP team rose to the challenge to rebuild the car, with strong support from sponsor Singapore Power.

The team is the only Singapore contender in what is considered the toughest solar car race in the world. The car will travel 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide, Australia, using only solar energy.

The team of 52 students and lecturers worked nights and weekends to rebuild a new vehicle in four weeks, compared to eight months for the original car. With additional funding and logistical support from Singapore Power, the team acquired and assembled parts under a highly compressed schedule. Singapore Power alumni - all alumni of Singapore Polytechnic - also provided additional support.

Mr. Steven Chew, Team Manager and Senior Lecturer at the polytechnic's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said, "The students had worked so hard to create the solar car. Just when we were ready to unveil it and pit it against the world's best at the World Solar Challenge, the setback took everything away. We were devastated to see 20 months of hard work totally destroyed in front of us. But we received strong encouragement from our Board and management, and the students responded by committing to rebuild the car to stay in the Challenge. This became possible when Singapore Power stepped up their sponsorship, including airfreighting the car, which shaved two weeks from the schedule."