The University of Queensland solar racing team's entrant SunShark finished second overall in the gruelling 1790km CitiPower SunRace from Sydney to Melbourne which finished on Saturday, January 23, at Melbourne's Albert Park.
SunShark was pipped to the line by three minutes in the fast and final 108km Bendigo to Melbourne leg by overall winner Spirit of Canberra raced by a team from Lake Tuggeranong College (a private ACT high school).
"We averaged 86km/hour but we lost two minutes when we got stuck behind a Yellow Camira doing 80km/hour," team publicity co-ordinator Steve Goodwin said.
"Spirit of Canberra ran a fine race and would still have beaten us to the line by a minute, but I'll always remember that Camira's number plate."
First five places went to:
1. Spirit of Canberra
2. SunShark
3. University of New South Wales vehicle Sunswift II
4. Aurora 101
5. Central Queensland University's Capricorn Solar Flair.
SunShark team members will return to Brisbane in a few days to show off the vehicle at the Brisbane Motor Show, starting at the Brisbane Convention Centre on February 4, and to prepare for University studies with University of Queensland classes starting February 22. They will then concentrate on preparing for the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide in October.
Further information, Steve Goodwin, SunShark publicity co-ordinator, on mobile telephone 0412 635 194.
