Formula Sun Grand Prix
The Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) is a solar car race that takes place on closed-loop race tracks. In the race, teams from colleges and universities throughout North America design, build, test, and race solar-powered vehicles. Every 2 years FSGP serves as a qualifier for the American Solar Challenge road race.[1]
FSGP 2014 took place on July 17–19 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Format and organization
Rules
- Race consists of three days of freely driving laps around the race track.
- The team with the most total laps driven wins.
- The total area of all solar cells and related reflectors, etc. must not exceed 6 square meters
- The solar array may be reoriented toward the sun for charging batteries for specified time periods before and after race hours.
- Strict specifications and engineering scrutiny process is provided for vehicle configuration, safety requirements, and other standards
- Previous races have divided teams into open and stock classes based on levels of solar cell and battery technologies.
History
Formula Sun Grand Prix is governed by the Innovators Educational Foundation, and was started in summer 2000 at Heartland Park race track in Topeka, Kansas in conjunction with a solar bike race. It has served as a qualifying race for the biennial American Solar Challenge road race. It was held there every year through 2005 until the 2007 American Solar Challenge was canceled due to funding issues. It resumed in 2009 and has been held every year since then at a few different venues.
2000
The inaugural Formula Sun Grand Prix was held at Heartland Park race track in Topeka, Kansas. It was won by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's Solar Phantom V. The stock class was won by the University of Missouri-Rolla's Solar Miner II.
Overall Standings
2001
FSGP 2001 served as a qualifier for the 2001 American Solar Challenge and was the only year when multiple events were held.
- The first event was again held at Heartland Park Topeka and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology again took 1st place overall with Solar Phantom VI, while the stock class was won by Minnesota State University Mankato / Winona.
- The second event was held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan, and was won by Principia College's RA IV, while the stock class was won by Stanford University.
Overall Standings
2002
FSGP 2002 was held at Heartland Park Topeka and was won by the University of Missouri-Rolla's Solar Miner III, while the stock class was won by Kansas State University.
Overall Standings
2003
FSGP 2003 was held at Heartland Park Topeka and served as a qualifier for the 2003 American Solar Challenge. It was won by the University of Minnesota's Borealis II, while Kansas State University finished one lap behind in 2nd place. The stock class was won by North Dakota State University.
Overall Standings
2004
FSGP 2004 was held at Heartland Park Topeka and the University of Missouri-Rolla's Solar Miner IV took 1st place overall.
Overall Standings
2005
FSGP 2005 was held at Heartland Park Topeka and served as a qualifier for the 2005 North American Solar Challenge. It was won by the University of Minnesota's Borealis III.
Overall Standings
2009
FSGP 2009 was held at the Motorsports Ranch in Cresson, Texas after a 3 year hiatus. The University of Minnesota's Centaurus took first place overall.
Overall Standings
2010
FSGP 2010 was again held at the Cresson Motorsports Ranch and served as a qualifier for the 2010 American Solar Challenge. It was won by the University of Michigan.
Overall Standings
2011
FSGP 2011 was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the Indy 500's 100th anniversary celebrations. The University of Minnesota's Centaurus II took first place overall.
Overall Standings
2012
FSGP 2012 was held at the Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, New York and served as a qualifier for the 2012 American Solar Challenge. It was won by the University of Michigan.
Overall Standings
2013
FSGP 2013 was held at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. Oregon State University's Phoenix took 1st place overall, while Illinois State University's Mercury IV finished 1 lap behind in 2nd place, and Iowa State University's Hyperion finished 1 lap behind them in 3rd place.
Overall Standings
2014
FSGP 2014 was again held at Circuit of the Americas and served as a qualifier for the 2014 American Solar Challenge. It was won by the University of Michigan. The race was marred by an electrical fire in a garage causing many team's cars and equipment to be damaged by water from the complex's sprinkler system.
Overall Standings
2015
FSGP 2015 will be held again in summer 2015 and regulations have been released.
See also
Other solar vehicle challenges
- American Solar Challenge
- World Solar Challenge, the biennial World Championship solar car race held in Australia
- South African Solar Challenge, a biennial South African event that was first held in 2008
- The Solar Car Challenge, an annual event for High School students from the U.S. and (to a lesser extent) other parts of the world, first held in 1995
