The SINAG, based in De La Salle University in the Philippines, (Filipino for "sunray") is the first Philippine Solar-Powered Race Car and the first entry of the Philippines to the World Solar Challenge.
The solar car was inaugurated last January 27 at NBC Tent, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
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The design and construction was undertaken by a group of faculty and students from the Mechanical Engineering Department and the Electronics and Communications Engineering Department of De La Salle University. It also needed the help and partnership of Ford Group Philippines, San Miguel Corp., Motolite, Shell, [Sunpower,][1] Philippine Airlines and Ventus.
The solar panels used by the Sinag solar–powered car was manufactured by Sun Power. The body of the car was made of carbon fibers and with the Philippine colors.
The official weight of Sinag is 295 kilograms.
The Philippine team finished 12th place from 40 participants. The team finished the 3,021-kilometer race from Darwin to Adelaide at 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 (Australian time).
Sinag performed exceptionally well from the beginning of the race in Darwin on Sunday, October 21. Needing only minor adjustments to its brake system, Sinag quickly zoomed to 11th place. The team maintained this position and made excellent time, passing the halfway mark at Alice Springs on Wednesday, October 24, and breaching the 2,000km mark at Cadney Homestead the following day, October 25.
Netherlands's Nuon Solar Team, with their car called Nuna4 won the overall championship finishing the race on Oct. 25.
According to Rene Fernandez, Sinag Team Leader, Sinag weathered the course far beyond any of our expectations.
In Senate Resolution No. 32, the all-Filipino team of Sinag was congratulated for their exemplary performance in the 2007 World Solar Challenge.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also cited and recognized in Malacanang the team for a job well done.
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