The University of Kentucky Solar Car Team designs, manufactures, and races competitive solar vehicles while providing team members with hands-on engineering experience, resume-building opportunities, and industry-relevant skills beyond the classroom, all while supporting STEM outreach across the Bluegrass region. The team competes against more than 30 teams from across the country in national competitions, including the American Solar Challenge and Formula Sun Grand Prix.
University of Kentucky Solar Car Team
The Car
The University of Kentucky Solar Car Team has been building and racing solar cars since 1999.
Since then, the team has manufactured and raced seven different vehicles, with our eighth currently being manufactured with its rollout date scheduled for Summer 2029. Historically, the University of Kentucky Solar Car Team has achieved impressive results in national competitions, including 1st place at the 2021 Formula Sun Grand Prix, 2nd place at the 2021 American Solar Challenge, and podium finishes in both competitions in 2022. Our former vehicle, Gato del Sol VI (retired in 2022), also holds the record for the fastest lap at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.