The latest from the epic 5 400 km Sasol Solar Challenge 2012 endurance race, sees the teams braving the rain and rough terrain on the 650 km sixth stage between Oudtshoorn and East London.

This stage presented the teams with many challenges, ranging from narrow roads to scattered rain along the way. During this section of the race, the first stop was the Port Elizabeth control stop, where the people of the friendly city came out in numbers to cheer on the local teams.

By the time the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University team pulled their solar-powered car into the control stop, the area was a hive of excitement with supporters, friends, family members and sponsors catching a glimpse of the eco-friendly, custom build vehicles.

Where to next?

Yesterday the teams left East London and headed towards Bloemfontein, with a few of the slower teams heading straight for Kokstad and Pietermaritzburg, where they will all meet up for the final two stages of the Sasol Solar Challenge 2012.

The team from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) have been very impressive in every stage of the challenge and currently find themselves in second placed behind the vastly experienced Tokai University team. UKZN’s vehicle is currently the best performing South African car in terms of distance covered by their vehicle on the road.

Follow the Sasol Solar Challenge 2012 on Twitter (@solar_challenge), Facebook and online.