QUANTUM LEAPS TOWARD WORLD SOLAR CAR TITLE

ARMED WITH A DRAMATICALLY LIGHTER AND AERODYNAMICALLY CLEANER RACECAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN TEAM LIKES ITS CHANCES DOWN UNDER IN THE 2011 WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE.

CROSSING AUSTRALIA'S INFAMOUS OUTBACK in any vehicle remains a daunting task. But racing the barren 1800 mi (2900 km) from Darwin to Adelaide-in a featherweight electric prototype, powered only by energy harvested from the sun-is a sport that's best undertaken by inspired college students.

The 100 members of the University of Michigan's SolarCar team believe they've got what it takes this year to win the prestigious, week-long World Solar Challenge. The bi-annual event, which begins Oct. 16, is the pinnacle of solar-car competition. No American team has won the race Down Under since General Motors' Sunraycer took the inaugural 1987 title.