American Solar Challenge 2026

The American Solar Challenge (road event) and Formula Sun Grand Prix (track event) are collegiate level competitions, organized by Innovators Educational Foundation, to design, build, and drive solar vehicles. FSGP is not associated with FORMULA 1 racing.

The Formula Sun Grand Prix is more than just a competition—it’s a test of engineering, strategy, and endurance. Here’s what it takes to compete.

Seats one person
6m2 solar array size
Battery capacity is limited to 5.25kWh
Recharging the battery via non-solar sources is not allowed
Scoring is based on the highest overall official distance driven or laps completed over the duration of the event with ties being broken by the lowest overall official elapsed time or fastest lap
Primary objective is to complete the full American Solar Challenge base route
Secondary objective is to complete as many official miles as possible by completing the optional loops at stops
Tiebreaker for teams who complete the same number of miles is shortest elapsed time

Vehicles can seat at least 2 people
5m2 solar array size
Battery capacity is limited 15.5kWh
Recharging the battery via non-solar sources is allowed and metered
To do well in this class teams must be able to much more than simply drive as far as possible during the event. They must balance that with practicality considerations in their design.
For detailed information about MOV Scoring, please reference the latest event regulations. At a high level, the formula is 40% distance, 40% efficiency, and 20% practicality.
Primary objective is to complete the American Solar Challenge base route without trailering, teams that do not will automatically rank below those who do
Secondary objective is to maximize their score according to the above formula

Non-competitive class for vehicles designed for past or future events.
Vehicles must have passed scrutineering in a previous FSGP, ASC, or other solar car competition in the past four years

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Be designed for a future solar car competition with published regulations
These vehicles will be scrutineered to the regulations they were designed for with the exception that they must meet current safety related regulations.