Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix Qualifiers and Road to the 2026 American Solar Challenge

The final day of the 2026 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix in Brainerd, Minnesota concluded with an awards ceremony that confirmed the teams advancing to the 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge (ASC). Sixteen teams met the mileage requirement—200 miles (65 laps) in a single day or 300 miles (97 laps) across two consecutive days—to earn a spot on the cross-country route. An additional three teams (Illinois, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Wisconsin) received provisional qualifications, pending further evaluation. All qualified entries are single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) except for the three provisional teams, bringing the potential ASC starting grid to 19 cars in Minneapolis.

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École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) dominated the SOV class, completing 345 laps—approximately 1,070 miles—setting an event record for distance driven in 24 hours. Delft University of Technology placed second with 319 laps, and KU Leuven’s Innoptus took third with 303 laps; Delft also recorded the fastest lap of the event at 3:12 per circuit (about 58 mph). In the multi-occupant vehicle (MOV) class, Georgia Tech Solar Racing secured the top spot with a perfect score of 100, logging 244 laps and nearly 2,000 person-miles. Appalachian State University’s Team Sunergy followed with a score of 94.6, and Polytechnique Montréal’s Esteban ranked third at 51.1. Notably, both Appalachian State and Polytechnique Montréal completed the race without drawing any external kilowatt-hours from the grid, operating entirely on solar power.

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The qualifying results shape the competitive field for the ASC, which will test endurance and efficiency over a 1,500-plus-mile route from the University of Minnesota to Amarillo, Texas. Teams will undergo practicality judging on the MOV class at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Mall, with scores influencing final ASC placement alongside distance and efficiency metrics.

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The 2026 Electrek American Solar Challenge begins on July 25 at the University of Minnesota and will traverse the Great River Road and Historic Route 66, concluding on August 1 at the Arts in the Sunset event in Amarillo, Texas. Participants and spectators can follow the race via the official American Solar Challenge website.

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