Malaysian heads for upcoming 2019 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

By CARSIFU | 10 October 2019


PETALING JAYA: The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, one of the world’s most well-known solar car events returns in 2019, will be taken on by sole Malaysian participant from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and will be representing the nation for the third time.

Under Eco Photon Solar Racing Team, he is being sponsored by Bridgestone Tyre Malaysia which will see the Tigris solar vehicle equipped with the Japanese tyremaker's “ECOPIA with Ologic” tyres.

Bridgestone Ecopia with Ologic
“We are proud and honoured to support UiTM’s Eco Photon Solar Racing Team to the leading event. The 'Ecopia with Ologic' is a tyre engineered with Bridgestone fuel-saving technology which is designed specifically for solar cars.

"The tyre comes with a wider diameter which limits changes in the shape of the contact patch to yield lower rolling resistance, thus improves fuel efficiency. As we continue to design and develop high-performing tyres for such innovative top-level series, Bridgestone also aims to reduce environmental impact via our fuel-saving product,” said Bridgestone Tyre Malaysia managing director Michael Chung.

The third-generation Eco Photon Solar Racing Team will be heading on a 3,000km journey from Darwin to Adelaide from Oct 13 to 20.

Eco Photon Solar Racing Team - Tigris - 02


The solar car with a carbon fibre shell is equipped with an upgraded self-built monitoring system with high accuracy measurements and safety systems to prevent electrical shortages and is all set to compete in the Challenger class - one of the three classes in the challenge.

“With all the improvements from the previous car and the new technology implemented, we aim to be in the top five in the Challenger class. We are also eyeing for the 'Best Creative and Multimedia' award as well as 'Best Safety Prioritized' award.”, said team president Syazwan.

Bridgestone Corporation will supply solar car tyres to 32 teams participating in the challenge, for which the Japanese tyremaker is the naming rights sponsors.