THE Philippines’ Sikat II vies for honors against 38 other aspirants from 19 countries in the 2011 World Solar Challenge endurance race for solar-powered cars.

Sikat II will run in the 3,000-km race from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia from October 16 to 23. The cars will be flagged off at 8 each morning and stopped at 5 p.m.

Sikat II has a top speed of 110 km per hour but the average speed of each car is expected to be just around 80 kph.

“This is a matter of endurance. Navigating the car to victory requires leadership, managing the time, team effort and getting a good average speed,” said Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc., President Ramon Agustines during a press briefing at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last week.

Two drivers take turns at the wheel while the escorts would be following the race in a regular road car, and will monitor the weather for possible cloudy spots that may disrupt their progress, among other things.

The 22 De La Salle University teachers and students who designed and built the car are confident of a fine performance after making improvements in the earlier model solar cars called Sinag and Sikat I.

Sikat II features better aerodynamics, more efficient solar panels and weighs lighter than Sinag and its immediate predecessor Sikat I.

Made of carbon fiber, Sikat II has a 2-kilowatt motor and at under 180 kilograms is 10 kg lighter than Sikat I and roughly 110 kg lighter than Sinag. Using its 4,000 watt-hour lithium-ion battery and solar panels, it can run for 800 kilometers at 85 kph.

Sinag was fielded in the 2007 edition of the WSC, placing 12th in a field of 40.

(Recto Mercene)