The 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, One of the World's Most Well-Known Solar Car Events, Kicks Off in Australia on October 8

TOKYO, Sept. 27, 2017 -- Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) today announced the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, one of the world's most well-known solar car events, will take place in Australia from October 8-15, 2017 (local time). Bridgestone is the title sponsor of this event, which brings together the greatest minds from around the world to challenge electric vehicle norms and travel the outback in a vehicle powered only by the power of the sun.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of this event, which brings together university students and young engineers from 21 countries to participate in the race, encompassing about 3,000 km (1864 miles) on the Australian continent.

The race consists of three classes: Challenger Class, which is a contest of speed; Cruiser Class, which is a competition of vehicles' energy efficiency and practicality; and Adventure Class, which is a non-competitive class open to various types of vehicles. A total of 42 teams from 21 countries are scheduled to compete. For the race, Bridgestone will supply fuel-efficient "ECOPIA with ologic" tires for solar cars to 21 of the 40 teams competing in the Challenger Class and Cruiser Class races.

Bridgestone is committed to continually working toward a sustainable society to help ensure a healthy environment for current and future generations. Through events like the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, Bridgestone is helping expand educational opportunities to support young engineers who will drive the development of technologies to help realize a sustainable society.

Overview of the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge:

1. Date: October 8–15, 2017
2. Host Country: Australia (Start: Darwin; Goal: Adelaide)
3. Host: South Australian Tourism Commission
4. Race Classes

(1)    Challenger Class
A race to be first in vehicles designed for speed; vehicles require four wheels and one driver.

(2)    Cruiser Class
A race testing vehicles' energy efficiency and practicality; vehicles must have four wheels and be able to be ridden by one driver and more than one passenger.

(3)    Adventure Class
A race open to vehicles that do not meet the requirements to compete in the Challenger Class or Cruiser Class, such as vehicles based on the regulations of prior competitions; vehicles must have more than three wheels.

Event schedule

"ECOPIA with ologic" tires for solar cars
"ologic" is Bridgestone's fuel-efficient tire technology with a narrow tread and a larger diameter of the tire, which realizes high levels of fuel efficiency and safety. Bridgestone will supply fuel-efficient "ECOPIA with ologic," tires, which is based on the "ologic" concept for solar cars to 21 teams participating in the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

Teams Bridgestone will supply tires

About Bridgestone Corporation:
Bridgestone Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. In addition to tires for use in a wide variety of applications, it also manufactures a broad range of diversified products, which include industrial rubber and chemical products and sporting goods. Its products are sold in over 150 nations and territories around the world.

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SOURCE Bridgestone Corporation

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