With less than five weeks to the start of the WSC things are getting exciting. Teams are arriving in Australia, making themselves at home, preparing to test their car and procedures on Australian roads. Two teams I had not seen any updates from, Principia and Solaris, have popped up in the news stream and it seems both will make it to the 2011 WSC.

If you have any information I’ve missed, please let me know either in the comments under this article, or through e-mail.

Please read on for this week’s WSC news:

Tokai University

The Tokai team is in full preparation for their journey to Australia. If I interpret the translation of their website correctly, the team and their car will travel to Australia next week.

University of Michigan

Quantum is on its way. A blog post describes how the team’s container (which has seen service in several WSCs) has been adapted to fit Quantum.

Nuon Solar Team

It’s sponsor-tickling time for the Nuon people with a story about sunglasses. After having arrived they are now outfitting ‘mission control’, the Nuna6 support vehicle, filled with sensors, computers and – among other team members – a strategist. From this vehicle all important decisions regarding speed and other race parameters will be made.

Worryingly, Nuna6 is still being held at customs and because apparently they on strike it’s difficult to find out when the car will be released. The team is buying itself with preparing their fleet cars and other stuff, but if the delay takes more than a few days the impact on the testing schedule is sure to make itself felt. I hope Nuna6 is released soon.

MIT SEVT

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Istanbul Technical University

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Sakarya University (SAITEM)

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Solaris

For the very first time I’ve started my weekly WSC news updates, this team has given a sign of life. Although their website seems to be down, the Facebook account show photos of Avenir 2011, their new car. It’s good to see that things are going well for the team? I’m very curious about the performance figures of the car, and I have asked for more information.

Umicore Solar Team

The team has travelled to Australia and because of massive delays it took them sixty hours… horrible. But they’ve arrived in Darwin and are making themselves at home. Here is nice mood-video of the flight:

Onda Solare

While several teams are getting comfortable in Australia, this Italian team is still working on their car.

Uniten Solar Team

This team has a new website up, which looks good but is a little thin on information and photos. The WSC entry page has been updated with much more details about the car and team.

Team Bochum

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Cambridge Uni Eco

There haven’t been any updates to their blog or Facebook acount, but a Tweet announces that at least part of the team will be travelling to Australia in about a week.

Durham University

Although their website hasn’t been updated in two weeks, their Twitter account has become somewhat active.

Solar Energy Racers

This Swiss team’s monthly newsletter describes how the car has been tested on the local airfield. Their website mentions three students of meteorology who will provide the team with accurate weather data, needed for prediction of energy generation. According to the most recent update on the website the car will be shipped to Australia shortly.

I have to say, this quiet Swiss team has built quite a nice-looking car. Judging by photos such as these they seem to have built their car to a very high standard. I’m getting the feeling this is a team to watch.

Stanford Solarcar Project

No updates on the website this week, except for a short article mentioning that the adopt-a-panel scheme is coming along nicely

Uni Malaya Pahang

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Beijing Institute of Technology

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Solar Team Twente

Unlike the Nuon Solar Team, the Twente team has been reunited with their car. The recap of their first week down under clearly shows they’re comfortable.

University of Tehran

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Midnight sun

No updates on their website, but they are recruiting new team members, presumably for the 2013 WSC.

CalSol

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Houston Solar Team

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Principia Solar Team

Having not seen any sign of life from this team I was starting to get worried, but this team has completely redesigned their website and started posting updates. Although it is not 100% clear I think that from this article I deduce that their car Ra7s (s for silicon) is on its way to Australia.

Istanbul University

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Aurora

This team’s website is down, so I’m unable to find any information about them.

TAFE South Australia

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Seraaj

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

University of Calgary

This team has a very interesting article up about the new MPPT (maximum power point tracker) the team’s electrical engineer has built.

Qazvin Islamic Azad University

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

UNSW Solar Team

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

University of Toronto

Like many other university solar teams from the North American continent, this team takes advantage of the influx of new students to recruit new team members for the 2013 team.

Ashiya University

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Universidad de Chile

This team has a few small updates up this week.

Green Maniac

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Team Solar Phillipines

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Team Okinawa

This team has a terse update online called “Embark” with a picture of a small truck and – presumably – the team members. It’s not a lot to go on, but could this mean the team is on its way to Australia?

Eclipse 7 Solar Car Team

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Nanyang Tech Uni

Unfortunately, this team has published no news since the last time I looked.

Anadolu Solar Team

Although I can’t find any website or other online presence for this team, the WSC site mentions the car from this Turkish team has been revealed to the world around August 22nd. The few small photos there show quite a nice car.

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Posting comments is more than welcome, it’s interesting to see the lively discussion under some of my articles, but I’d like to ask every one to keep the comments in English. That way, international viewers can partake, too. Thank you!