The Dutch solar car Nuna, using European space technology, finished first in the World Solar Challenge, a 3010 km race right across Australia for cars powered by solar energy. Having set off from Darwin on Sunday 18 November, Nuna crossed the finish line In Adelaide on Wednesday 21 November 2001 in a record-breaking time of 32 hours 39 minutes. The Dutch Alpha Centuri Team used many materials originating from space in constructing one of the most efficient solar vehicles ever build. This high-tech racer Nuna uses lightweight materials such as carbon fibres, synthetic resin and foam plastics in around one third of the total car. The aerodynamics and the technology used to join plastics were first used for space vehicles re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. High performance solar cell can push the car up to 160 km/h.
Nuna crosses here the finish line of the World Solar Challenge 2001 in Adelaide, Australia.