Solar Car Challenge

The Solar Car Challenge is an annual solar-powered car race organized in Texas for high school students. The event attracts teams from around the world, but mostly from American high schools. Originating as a class competition held in 1989, the first official race was held in 1995. Each event is the end product of a two-year education cycle organized by the Solar Car Challenge Foundation, a non-profit. The venue of the race typically alternates annually between being cross-country races which start at the Texas Motor Speedway and track races taking place solely at the speedway. Currently, this means that track races take place on even years and cross-country races on odd years, but occasionally consecutive track races are held which disrupt this pattern. Most recently, in July 2025, the race took place around Texas Motor Speedway, with a cross country race across the state of Texas scheduled for July 2026.