字幕表 動画を再生する
FRANCES VAN ELBURG: Really important
[レース4日目 アウトバック 風速16メートル]
to prepare ourselves for, uh...
心の準備をしておくべきよ
the situations that can happen,
[トゥエンテ フランシス・ファン・エルブルグ]
because to win this race
リスクを負わなければ優勝できない
it means taking risks.
[第3夜]
MAN: Oh!
新参の若手エンジニアにとっては―
Oh! [BEEPING]
先の見えない 人生を変える旅となります
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
参加当初と違い 今の彼らはソーラーカーに夢中です
DEREK: When young engineers
ライバルの強さを知り 自然の驚異を感じたことで―
join the fraternity of
結束力は高まっていきます
a solar car team,
勝ちたいという気持ちに 突き動かされるのです
it's just the beginning of
強烈な夜だった
an unforeseeable
強風が砂を巻き上げてた
yet life changing journey.
雷まで発生したの
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[アゴリア ヤンテ・ファン・ハム]
A commitment that
車を修理するために―
begins as a choice
板を立てて即席で作業場を作ったわ
[indistinct shouting]
荒野の真ん中にね
rose into an obsession.
きつかったけど頑張った
[indistinct shouting]
試練により 崩壊するチームと 団結するチームがあります
And when their ideas face
夜中にテントが倒れた
not only fierce competition,
[アゴリア ドリエス・ケテルスレガーズ]
but the reality checks
強風が吹き荒れてたよ
of Mother Nature,
急いで外に出て テントや荷物を トラックに運んだ
their bond grows with the struggle.
まさに冒険の旅だ
And their will becomes
60年後に子供たちに “すごい砂嵐だった”と語るつもりだよ
even more consumed with the desire to win.
南下するにつれ 樹木が減り風が強くなる
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[番組ホスト デレク・ミューラー]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
風よけとなる木がないから 道路に横風が吹き荒れ―
YANTE VAN HAM: That night was very... very tough.
ソーラーカーがスピンしてしまうんだ
There was a lot of wind, there was lot of sand.
精密機器が壊れる可能性もある
There was a thunderstorm out of nowhere, lightning strikes.
クーバー・ピディの前後数百キロは―
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
厳しく危険な道が 続きます
And then in the meantime we still had to fix the car.
気候変動の影響で 風の威力と 危険度が増しているのです
So, we set up a
クーバー・ピディ周辺は横風が強い
make-shift workshop
[アゴリア ウィレム・ジャン・クラース]
with wooden crates and everything
ソーラーカーは軽く横風に弱いから―
and then we fixed the car in the middle of nowhere.
しっかり操作しないと まっすぐに進めないんだ
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
いいぞ 行け
It was tough but
クーバー・ピディからグレンダンボは向かい風だ
yeah, we pushed through.
[東海大学 シッド・ビッカナーバー]
DEREK: It's challenges like these
予報では風速14メートル
that can either
[暫定5位 東海大学]
break a team or
電池の減りが早いだろうし―
bring them even closer together.
ハンドル操作も難しいだろう
DRIES KETELSLEGERS: In the middle of the night, I woke up
ロードトレインにも注意が必要だ
with a tent right in my face.
大変な1日になる
Like, everything was blown to pieces.
バッテンフォールが 攻撃を開始しました
So, I ran out and started helping here
[暫定2位 バッテンフォール]
getting the tents back in,
昨日は22~23分の差があったけど―
getting all the stuff to the truck.
[バッテンフォール モード・ディーペヴェーン]
It's an adventure.
今は3分差に迫ってる
I mean, in 60 years we can
今日中にトゥエンテに追いつくつもりよ
talk to our children and say,
強風に強いドライバーがいるの
"Ah, we've had that and sandstorms"
彼らなら風があっても速度を保てると思う
and everything, so...
[暫定1位 トゥエンテ]
I thought it was quite cool.
トゥエンテは3日間 1位を守ってきましたが―
As we get into South Australia,
バッテンフォールに 追いつかれるかもしれません
the wind is picking up because there are
昨日はソーラーパネルが風で開いてしまった
fewer and fewer trees.
[トゥエンテ ヤスパー・デ・グローテ]
Without that coverage,
しっかり直したから もう大丈夫だと思う
well, the winds can whip up to incredible
でも今日も何が起こるか分からない
speeds here
少し後ろにいる東海大学は 自分たちのブレットデザインが―
and fly across the roads.
カタマランより 風に強いと確信しています
That can cause solar cars
攻撃をかけるチャンスです
to spin around,
前後から吹く風と―
lose their bearings
[東海大学 福田紘大]
and maybe ruin some of their
横風に強いデザインだ
delicate mechanics.
他のチームと比べると 影響を受けにくいと思う
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
流体力学を駆使した結果 矢のような形が採用されました
DEREK: The journey in and out of the next control stop,
重心は前方にあります
Coober Pedy, is a few hundred kilometers of
後方はダーツのように 十字になっており―
notoriously treacherous road
速度が出るほど安定します
for this race.
ショルダーラインにもこだわり
And climate change has only made
横風を 下へ後ろへと流します
these winds stronger
精巧なデザインです
and more dangerous.
アゴリアは全く違う 方法を選びました
The section around Coober Pedy is very difficult,
[暫定3位 アゴリア]
as there is a lot of sidewinds.
“クラビング”というシステムで車を横にするの
And our light solar cars are very
四輪操舵を利用して 風に合わせて動くことで―
sensitive to those sidewinds
抗力を減らすことができるのです
as they get blown away
抵抗を減らす効果がある
and the pilot has to constantly
横から風を受けたら 車体を傾けて―
work on the steering wheel to keep
空気抵抗を少なくするのよ
the... car going straight.
[暫定4位 ゾネンバーグン]
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
ドイツの代表は僕たちだけ
Go, let's go. Let's go.
[ゾネンバーグン ケルステン・ヘックマン]
SIDD BIKKNNAVAR: Starting of the day, we'll be fighting some
オランダに勝つことを目標にしてる
pretty high head winds
僕たちには完走する実力があるし―
from Coober Pedy to Glendambo.
オランダに勝てると証明したい
That's the next to two control stops.
クーバー・ピディ手前の トゥエンテは―
The weather models are all predicting
追っ手の存在に気づいています
50 kilometers power winds.
重要な1日になる
So, it drains the battery
最後まで気を抜けないよ
'cause you're fighting through the wind
作戦の成功を願ってる
and the other thing is
接戦だから みんな減速したがらず―
it makes uh... steering very difficult.
[アゴリア ヤスパー・スヒレイヴェルス]
Plus you have gust from side to side,
ミスを起こしやすい
road trains, so it'll be
横風が吹いてるから危険な状況だよ
a really difficult day.
[暫定1位 トゥエンテ]
DEREK: In spite of the harsh conditions,
1位のトゥエンテが...
last year's champions
アウトバックの洗礼を受けました
Vattenfall, are on the attack.
かなり深刻な事態です
Yeah, yesterday we were
風が強い
22-23 minutes behind Twente
ドライバーはよくやってたけど―
and now we are only three minutes behind,
突風に襲われてしまったの
so, uh, we made up for a lot of the time.
グリップを失って ここまで飛ばされたわ
And I think we'll be able to
壊れた車を見るのは とてもつらい
overtake Twente today.
裏返しになり 動かなくなった
We've got a couple of drivers that are
3日半トップにいたトゥエンテが―
really good with driving with
ワールドソーラーチャレンジから 脱落しました
big winds, so we hope
ドライバーも仲間も無事よ
they will sort this out today
[トゥエンテ アナリーズ・デッカー]
and we can go as fast as we want to.
何よりもみんなの安全が一番大事だわ
DEREK: For three days straight, Solar Team Twente
意気消沈する彼らの横を―
from the Netherlands, has held on to the lead.
[暫定1位 バッテンフォール]
An impressive accomplishment.
バッテンフォールが通過
But with Vattenfall right on their tail,
リードを奪いました
things maybe about to change.
去年1年の努力が水の泡となった
JASPER DE GROOTE: So, yesterday was kind of a hectic day.
すごく悲しい
So, like we had some issues with our solar panel
[暫定2位 アゴリア]
that was clapping uh... open
たった今 1位のトゥエンテを抜いたわ
because of the wind but,
道路から外れたとこにいた
we fixed it overnight and made sure
風に飛ばされたんだと思う
it will not happen again
きっと深刻な状況ね
and I have no clue
ライバルが減ったことは確かだけど 競って勝ちたかったわ
how it will go uh... today
相手の不幸を願ってたわけじゃない
and how the weather will play out.
クーバー・ピディは軽視できない
DEREK: And while two formidable Dutch teams
“警告”
are still leading the pack,
“立ち入り禁止区域”
team Tokai are convinced
[暫定1位 バッテンフォール]
that their bullet design
1時間たっても 風は収まりません
is far superior
この区間を無事抜けようと どのチームも必死です
for handling strong winds
[暫定2位 アゴリア]
than the catamarans out front.
危ない
Today is the day to make their move.
車体が揺れてた
KOTA FUKUDA: Our design is
[アゴリア フィリップ・ゲプツ]
not for straight wind
バランスを失ったんだ
not uh... but also
いろんな要素が重なることで危険度が増すんだ
for the side wind.
高速走行するマシン 小さな竜巻のような風
So the effect is smaller
ロードトレインや野生生物
than other teams, I think.
走行距離が長く 集中力も要る
DEREK: Using complex
時間の経過と共に風は強まり―
fluid dynamic simulations,
風速20メートルの 突風が吹き始めました
Tokai designed a vehicle shaped
ブレットデザインの ゾネンバーグンは好調ですが―
like a dart.
[暫定4位 ゾネンバーグン]
The majority of the weight
無理は禁物です
upfront, and a rear
〈クラッシュした瞬間に思った〉
that forms a cross.
〈“せっかく4位にいたのに”と〉
Like a dart, their car
〈みんなの2年間の努力が ムダになってしまった〉
actually gets it more stable
風速14メートルの横風が 突然 ロードトレインに遮られ―
the faster it goes.
後方に発生した乱流に 車体が巻き込まれたのです
Increasing stability further,
何度も転がり 最後は裏返しになりました
Tokai carefully shaped the shoulder of the car
幸いケガはなかったけど 危なかったよ
to direct crosswinds, down and back.
[ゾネンバーグン カイ=ジミー・シェン]
It's an ingenious design.
安全な車両を提供してくれた 仲間に感謝してる
Meanwhile, team Agoria has developed
〈シャシー 電気系統 バッテリーは無事だった〉
a completely different solution.
〈完全に壊れたのは外装だけだ〉
VAN HAM: We also have a system built into our car
〈フロントガラスが割れてるし―〉
which is called crabbing.
〈タイヤハウスも 3つ壊れたけどね〉
And for crabbing we turn
〈でも問題は外装だけ〉
the car sideways.
〈思ったほどひどくない〉
DEREK: By using four wheel steering,
〈どう?〉
Agoria is able to turn their car
〈やろう〉
into the wind.
〈一瞬 途方に暮れたけど 今は やる気に満ちている〉
And thus greatly reduce
〈続行を目指すよ〉
drag and lateral force.
〈外せる物は外して テープで修復する〉
VAN HAM: This helps us reduce air resistance.
〈太陽電池は無事だったから〉
So, when there is a side wind,
〈外装を直すだけでいい〉
we can tilt the car and then it
車両の破損は激しく レース続行は不可能に見えますが―
catches that side wind, and then
不屈の精神で取り組みます
the aerodynamic air resistance
“危険 鉱区”
is reduced.
クーバー・ピディは採掘の町
As the only competitor
オパールが採れるんだ
from Germany, and the...
気温が低くて 風が強い
challenger class,
ここまでの100キロは とても危険だった
it's our goal to
フィニッシュラインまで 約800キロだ
take on the Dutch, as
[暫定1位 バッテンフォール]
we say in our team.
前回の王者 バッテンフォールは―
So we need to
20分前に1位で到着しました
show that we are able to finish the challenge
風の中の走行はどう?
and show all the others
風の影響は感じる
that we can take on the Dutch.
[バッテンフォール ティム・ファン・レーウェン]
DEREK: Entering the notoriously dangerous
でも好調だし 安定してる
stretch of road before Coober Pedy,
マシンは問題ないが 集中力を保つのが大変だ
Twente is well aware
風に飛ばされそうで怖くない?
that their competition
ライバルの事故を見た
is gunning for them.
見たくなかったよ
DE GROOTE: Today will be a very important day
誰も事故は望んでない
because it will be very tense at the finish.
そうだね
It's just
お疲れさま
this close and you're just
1位のバッテンフォールが レースに戻っていく
hoping your strategy plays out well.
他のチームは まだ来てない
JASPER SCHRIJVERS: Because the teams are so close,
50分後方 2位にいるのはアゴリア
teams are less eager to
その後ろは東海大学とミシガンです
slow down because of safety.
1位から7時間半後れて ゾネンバーグンが到着しました
I think somebody will make a mistake and...
テープで修復した車両で 復活を遂げたのです
making a mistake with these kind of
事故に遭ったけど 何とか復帰できた
sidewinds...
仲間が急いで直してくれたからだ
can become dangerous.
幸運にもケガはなく みんな無事だった
DEREK: While pushing hard to keep their lead,
危険なレースだと実感したよ
Twente is harshly confronted by the outback.
でも世界の人々に知ってほしいんだ
And it costs them... dearly.
気候変動や持続可能な技術のことをね
DEKKER: It's really windy here
注目が集まれば もっと開発が進む
and our driver he was doing a great job
すでに多くのことが可能になってる
keeping the car on the road
僕たちのメッセージが 伝わることを願ってるよ
but suddenly, there was one wind strike
[暫定3位 東海大学]
more heavier than the rest,
大胆な安全策が講じられました
and he lost grip with his tires
[暫定4位 ミシガン]
and then he arrived here.
悪天候と強風のためルールが変更され―
ELBURG: It was so hard to see your car
ソーラーカーは時速80キロ未満で 走行しなければならなくなった
and it was uh... yeah sort of gone.
トゥエンテとゾネンバーグンの横転が この決断につながったんだと思う
It was upside down. It didn't...
[暫定3位 東海大学]
it didn't drive anymore.
不利な展開だよ
DEREK: After dominating the race for three and a half days,
僕たちは風に強い車両で臨んでるんだ
team Twente is out
速度が制限されたため 順位は変わらなくなりました
of the World Solar Challenge.
[暫定4位 ミシガン]
DEKKER: Everyone is okay.
[暫定3位 東海大学]
Our driver is okay, so that's that.
トップの2チームは 速度制限に助けられてる
I am very happy with that
[暫定1位 バッテンフォール]
and that's the first thing
風に弱いカタマラン型だからね
that was important, yeah.
[暫定5位 トップダッチ]
Everyone is okay.
後続車も後れを取ることなく 現状をキープできる
DEREK: As the emotional shock of their crash sets in,
[暫定2位 アゴリア]
the defending champions, Vattenfall,
次はグレンダンボに向かうよ
pass them by.
ゴール手前の コントロールストップだ
Moving them into the lead.
アゴリアも風の中の走行に 自信があったため―
It's like life's work for last year
速度制限に不公平さを感じたようです
and then it's gone.
[暫定1位 バッテンフォール]
This is so sad, yep.
彼らはオフィシャルに 意見を述べることにしました
VAN HAM: Oh [bleep]!
現在 時速80キロに制限されている
We just passed by Solar Team Twente,
でも映像を見て
who were in the lead, in the race.
安定してるし そのようにデザインされてる
And they were on the side of the roads.
強い横風でも大丈夫
And pretty far off,
これが時速80キロ
so I think they were just
速度を上げても安全に走行できる
blown off the road and
ダン?ポールだ
landed in the side.
80キロの速度制限を見直すと―
I hope their driver is fine
誰かがアゴリアに言ったらしい
but it looks really bad.
何か情報はある?
It's great for us that we can overtake them
速度制限を解除する
because we've lost a competitor,
自由だ
but it feels terrible at the same time.
- 分かった - ありがとう
We wanna win, but we wanna win by being the best,
追いつくぞ
not by having the other ones being
速度制限は2時間続きました
blown off the road.
好機を逃したと感じていた 一部のチームも―
Coober Pedy,
これで本領を発揮できます
not to be underestimated.
まもなくグレンダンボに 1位のチームが到着する
DEREK: After about an hour on the road,
バッテンフォールだ
everyone is still battling the wind,
戦略的なレースを見せてきた
just trying to make it
9回出場し7回優勝しています
into the control stop at Coober Pedy,
戦略は変えずに ライバルのミスを利用します
in one piece.
横転したトゥエンテから1位を奪い―
Sheezus...
その後 大きくリードを広げた
We see the car
残りあと数百キロだ
being a bit well... imperfect,
“グレンダンボ 標高150メール”
or im... imbalanced
勝負の鍵は彼らが握ってる
on the road.
速度制限の影響を受けながらも―
WILLEM-JAN CLAES: The danger of the race is
アゴリアは差を半分に縮めました
all the factors combined
バッテンフォールとの差は23分です
so you have the speed of
まだ分からないぞ
those cars that go fast.
1区間で追い上げたね
You have the winds.
次も この調子なら...
You have some small tornadoes also
1位に追いつく
that can pass the roads.
[アゴリア サフィル・ファイド]
You have the road trains,
そうだね
incoming traffic,
[暫定3位 東海大学]
a lot of animals.
マシンの調子は?
It's a long route
すごくいい
and you have to be focused
この環境にピッタリだ
every minute of the race.
福田先生は空気力学の専門家なんだ
DEREK: As the day wears on,
最高のマシンを用意したのに―
the wind continues to build,
速度制限のせいで 先頭に追いつけなかった
with gusts reaching up to 80 kilometers per hour.
次の区間で頑張って
The aerodynamics of
ペースを上げるよ
the German team's bullet design
楽しみだ
is serving them well,
速度制限が解除され 上位チームはハイペースで進みます
but it may have its limits.
5時までに289キロ先の ポートオーガスタに着きたいからです
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
今夜か明日にはバッテンフォールを抜きたい
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
でも後方も要注意だ
[SPEAKING GERMAN]
東海大学が迫ってきてる
DEREK: As Sonnenwagen's driver steers into
[暫定3位 東海大学]
50 kilometer per hour crosswinds,
苦しいけど ワクワクしてるよ
the road trains suddenly cuts off the wind,
自分の限界に挑むレースだ
and then creates a turbulent wake behind it,
長時間 細心の注意を払い続ける
sucking the solar car into its draft.
突風やマシントラブルに備えてね
It rolls multiple times
瞬時に正しい判断ができるように ずっと集中しておく必要がある
before coming to rest,
緊急時はマシンのために行動するんだ
upside down.
最後のコントロールストップ ポートオーガスタにいるよ
KAI-JIMMY SHEN: I didn't have any injury, but uh...
この後はアデレードを目指す
it could have been much worse than that, so uh...
4日目が終わるよ
I'd like to thank my
まもなくバッテンフォールが到着する
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] my colleagues
アゴリアが どの程度 差を縮めたか気になるね
for building such a safe car
5時まで あと20分だ
[SPEAKING GERMAN]
上位2チームは ここで1日を終えることになる
[MAN SPEAKING IN GERMAN]
アゴリアは予想以上に早い
DEREK: Chances looked pretty slim that
バッテンフォールのすぐ後ろだ
the German team can get
差は7分に減った
their car back on the road.
前回は23分だったんだ
It is in rough shape,
驚異的だね
but one has to respect
アゴリアが すごい勢いで追い上げてる
their tenacity.
気をつけろ
I'm in Coober Pedy.
バッテンフォールの車両が 風に押されて動き出した
This is a mining town.
でも車両に触れると タイムが加算される
This is where a lot of Australia's opal comes from.
アゴリアとの差はわずかだから―
It is cold, it is windy
手近な物を下に投げ入れて 動きを封じたんだ
and the last hundred kilometers
すごいな
of this race, have been
一部始終を見ていたアゴリアは 違反だと感じたようで―
incredibly treacherous
不当であると抗議しました
We're now about 800 kilometers
触れなくても ルール上 問題があると言うのです
from the finish line.
コントロールストップでは ドライバーが車両を動かす
Defending champions, Vattenfall,
触れていいのは車だけだ
have taken a lead following Twente's crash.
あのコーンが車の一部で 触れたのがドライバーなら問題ない
and they've been here for
でもそうじゃない
for 20 minutes already.
東海大学もギリギリで到着しました
What is that like to drive in that vehicle
すでに5時を過ぎていたため―
in this wind? What is it like?
30分の義務停車は 明朝消化します
Feel the wind, definitely.
いよいよ明日 アデレードを目指します
erm... I'm happy with the way the car drives currently,
バッテンフォールには 5分のペナルティーが加算されます
we're relatively stable.
上位2チームの差は わずか2分半 これほどの接戦は大会史上初めてです
Erm... it's... we can keep it on the road, that's fine.
明日は―
It just requires concentration at all time.
[アゴリア バート・ロンギン]
DEREK: Is there any fear about
全力で優勝を狙う
you know, flipping or going off the road?
あと一歩だからね
Oh, yes if you see your nearest competitor go
ついに明日 チャンピオンが誕生します
and that's something you never want to see.
バッテンフォールは8回目の優勝を
That's not the way you want any solar event to go.
不運続きだったアゴリアは
No, exactly.
初優勝を狙っています
Okay, well done getting to the check point.
懸命にトップを追い続けてきた東海大学が―
There goes team Vattenfall.
トロフィーを手にする可能性もあります
They are the first team to depart Coober Pedy.
In fact they have the entire control stop
up to themselves
Fifty minutes back, now running second, is Agoria.
Then Tokai from Japan
and the University of Michigan.
Seven and half hours behind the leader,
Sonnenwagen, arrives at Coober Pedy,
with the car being held together by duct tape and
and pure resilience.
[CROWD CLAPPING]
SHEN: Even though we had this accident,
we were able to uh... to go on.
Uh... they assessed the damage
and they fixed it very quickly.
We're very lucky that uh...nothing happened.
That's uh... fortunate that everyone is... is fine.
We always have to remind ourself,
this is a dangerous competition.
But what we
wanna achieve
is the message that
sustainable technologies
and the new ones that have
fight climate change, that they get attention
and that, uh... they develop even more.
We wanna show what's possible already
and I hope [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
uh... yeah,
this message is being delivered.
DEREK: With the lead team's back on the wind-blown highway,
the race has made a bold move
for safety.
The race has really changed
because of this crazy weather
and all of the wind,
well, the race officials have actually declared
that all solar cars
must go under 80 kilometers per hour.
That was maybe precipitated by
the rollover of Twente
that happened earlier today
and also the team Sonnenwagen
BIKKANNAVAR: This hurts us in a big way.
We actually performed very well in the high winds,
the car was designed for it.
DEREK: By complying with a lower speed limit,
teams positions in the race
are effectively on hold.
BIKKANNAVAR: This helps the leading cars,
in front of us, which are catamarans
and they're...you know very unstable in the wind.
This also helps uh...
some of the slower cars behind us.
Now, instead of falling
further and further behind,
they're able to just sorta
keep their position locked behind us.
PHILIP GEPTS: Yeah, so we're headed towards Glendambo now...
that's the place where the second control stop will be.
And that's uh...
second to last.
DEREK: Like Tokai, Agoria feels
their car is very capable in the wind.
And the speed limit,
is actually hurting their chances
of catching Vattenfall.
[SPEAKING OTHER LANGUAGE]
DEREK: Taking charge, Agoria sends
their advance crew to the next control stop,
control stop, to make a case to the race officials.
The faculty has imposed an 80 kph limit
The thing is, we have footage
from our car which shows it is stable
and it is designed
to be able to...
To drive in severe crosswinds.
This is basically at eighty kilometers an hour
And we just know we can go faster
while driving safely
Hi, Dan, uh... this is Paul
Agoria, uh... apparently they've spoken with
some people that said
this uh... 80 kph speed limit is going to be reviewed,
have you heard any news
about that?
All right, speed restriction
has been taken off.
It's free for all.
-Alright. -Okay, thank you very much.
Let's chase them!
DEREK: The speed limit was enforced for
a full two hours.
Definitely, an opportunity lost
for teams that felt it took away their
competitive advantage.
But now, the gloves are off.
Here in Glendambo,
I am expecting
the first vehicle to
roll in here very shortly,
it is the team, Vattenfall.
This team has run
a pretty incredible strategic race.
Having won this event
seven of the last nine times they've competed,
Vattenfall knows to
to stick to their strategy and take
advantage of other team's mistakes.
When Twente went off the road,
they were able to pass by and take over
what seems to be a sizeable
and potentially insurmountable lead.
From here on out, there's only
several hundred kilometers into Adelaide.
So, it's their race to lose.
Remarkably,
even with the section of speed restriction,
Agoria has cut their gap in half
since the last control stop.
To just 23 minutes behind Vattenfall.
This race might not be over yet.
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
DEREK: That was closing a lot of ground,
like on one leg.
So, if you can do that again the next leg.
Then we'll be... head-to-head.
DEREK: Awesome!
How is the Tokai car holding up today?
Ah. It's holding up great.
Our car was designed
for these kinds of conditions.
-[DISTORTED SOUND] -Fukuda sensei is the
aerodynamics professor.
So...this was all designed for,
and then unfortunately we had to...
we had to slow it down and lose our advantage.
But this was the sector where
we were gonna overtake the leaders.
So, now you can make up some more time on the next leg.
Yes. So now we can increase the pace, yeah.
Fantastic.
With no imposed speed limits,
the top teams are in a sprint
to make the next control stop, Port Augusta,
before the day's end at 5 p.m.
And it is 289 kilometers away.
Hopefully, we pass Vattenfall tonight.
If not then, we'll get them tomorrow
But also the... solar car behind us, Tokai.
They're, uh...
hunting us down as well.
BIKKANNAVAR: This competition is a blend of
endurance and excitement.
It's putting yourself to the test.
Those long hours of
having to pay attention and do everything right.
You know, a gust of wind comes by
or there's a mechanical problem.
It's a lot of mental focus to
stay alert and to be ready to
operate at very high level all at once.
Anything goes wrong, you need to be able to
do whatever's right for the car.
DEREK: I am here at Port Augusta,
the ninth and last control stop
of this entire solar challenge.
After this, it's straight through to
the finish line in Adelaide.
Now, it's nearly the end of Day Four
and momentarily
we are expecting the arrival
of the Vattenfall car.
The real question what I wanna see here is
how close behind them is Agoria.
Looking at the time that it is now,
nearly 20 to 5:00,
looks like both of those cars
may end their day
here, at this control stop.
This is way faster
than I was expecting.
Agoria is in right
on the heels of Vattenfall.
Seven minutes separating these two teams.
The last control stop, it was more like... 23.
That is remarkable.
This team is pulling back time
in a serious way.
Oh... whoa... whoa... watch out! watch out!
DEREK: Phew!
The Vattenfall car
just being pushed by the wind,
rolled off its moorings,
and started rolling backwards.
Now, none of the team members
are allowed to touch that vehicle
or they have to start that timer again.
Team Agoria has already arrived.
So, everyone was running
trying to throw rocks and...
little bits of matter underneath it
just to stop the car from rolling away.
This is incredible.
Agoria has witnessed
this entire moment,
and feels the defending champions
have violated the rules.
In turn, they have filed a protest.
Even though no one physically touched the car,
they still feel the rules were broken.
FAID: The rule only says that
during the control stop
the pilot ha to do all the handling
nobody can touch anything.
And everything that he's using,
must be part of the car.
If that cone was part of the car,
that has been carried all the way
then it would be fine. As long as the pilot did it.
Right, but that's not what happened.
Team Tokai, has just made it
in the nick of time.
Since all control stop periods must
be served during official race hours,
they will have to take their 30 minutes
stop down before leaving in the morning.
Tomorrow morning will be
a full-tilt sprint to the Adelaide finish line.
Race officials have agreed with
Agoria's protest and docked Vattenfall
a five minute penalty.
That means,
the top two teams will be departing here only
two and half minutes apart.
The closest in race history.
Yeah, tomorrow...
It's full attack for the win.
Now we are so close,
we have to do it.
DEREK: Tomorrow, one team will be crowned
champion of the World Solar Challenge.
Will the Dutch team, Vattenfall,
hang on and become champions
for the eighth time?
Will the Belgian team, Agoria,
finally their streak of bad luck
and claim their first victory?
Or will the ultra-disciplined team, Tokai,
who had been relentlessly gaining on
the leader since day one,
finally catch them both,
and take home the trophy?