IndyCar driver Stefan Wilson is continuing to pursue his goal of having the first solar power-equipped racing team at the 100th Indianapolis 500 in May.
Launched in October last year, Mr. Wilson received a boost for his #ThinkSolar campaign in January, with sponsorship by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).
“We think Stefan’s #ThinkSolar campaign is a great way to get solar in front of people in a new way,” said ASES Executive Director Carly Rixham.
” There is already some solar in the racecar industry. In fact, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has a 9 MW solar farm nearby with 39,312 solar panels. Now, bringing solar onto the track will increase the visibility of the technology with a diverse audience.”
The Indianapolis 500 is said to be the largest single-day sporting event on the planet.
Mr. Wilson, who is also a fan of electric vehicles, says solar panel systems along with battery energy storage can power pit stands, where computers are used for monitoring race cars, diagnostics and car setup changes. Solar panels also can be used to recharge team radios and to power other equipment in team garages and hospitality areas.
“I see this campaign as being an exploratory test for solar in motorsports. The plan is to implement solar within the race team in unique ways,” says Mr. Wilson.
” While solar won’t be driving the car, it will be driving the team and the applications will be critical to the operation. If successful, I hope we can influence small change and solar adoption throughout the motorsport world.”
While car racing may never be environmentally friendly per se; a lot can be done to minimize environmental impact; such as helping to power the venues where races are held.
As well as Indianapolis Motor Speedway, other tracks in the USA utilising solar energy include Pocono raceway, Daytona International Speedway, Michigan International Speedway and Sonoma Raceway.
The racing sector has also implemented broader initiatives including NASCAR Green; which seeks to raise awareness of sustainability among fans and promote solar technology across the sport.
