The Brunel Solar Team from Delft University of Technology has won the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, securing its eighth victory in the grueling 3,000-kilometer race from Darwin to Adelaide. The team s solar car, Nuna 13, showcased cutting-edge engineering supported by advanced materials from Teijin Aramid.

Nuna 13 was designed with one objective: efficiency. Weighing just 160 kilograms, it operates with a custom-built ironless in-wheel motor achieving 98% efficiency. Its asymmetric catamaran form, validated by wind tunnel testing, and two vertical fins helped harness side winds for greater speed and stability.

The vehicle ran on Bridgestone solar car tires with ENLITEN technology, reinforced by Twaron Next , Teijin Aramid s latest fiber innovation containing circular content. This marked the first industrial-scale use of Twaron Next in a real-world mobility application. The fiber also featured in Nuna 13 s protective driver shield.

Our role is to provide materials that enable ideas to come to life, even in demanding conditions. This challenge shows what can happen when we back the next generation of engineers with sustainable, high-performance solutions, said Hendrik de Zeeuw, Chief Commercial Officer, Teijin Aramid.

The team s success underscores both Dutch engineering excellence and the growing importance of sustainable, high-performance materials in next-generation mobility. Teijin Aramid supported the effort as part of its Materializing Ambitions platform, which highlights engineering transformation worldwide. To further mark the achievement, Teijin Aramid released a three-part documentary series, Building Nuna, following the team s journey from design to competition.

Source: www.teijinaramid.com