Often in technology, it’s competition and challenge that spur inventors and engineers onwards. While the X-Prize garnered some media interest last year for space, the World Solar Challenge is a biennial has been a feature in the electric car world for years, and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, with the race set for October 21-28.

Created by the Danish adventurer Hans Thostrup (now run by the South Australian Tourism Commission) and billed as “the ultimate challenge in sustainable energy,” the Panasonic World Solar Challenge does indeed put its competitors to the test. The competition challenges competitors to build cars that can cross the continent of Australia (from Darwin, Northern Territory to Adelaide, South Australia.), powered only by sunlight. If you’re not familiar with Australian geography, we can give it to you in a number: 3,000 km, or about 1,864 miles.

That’s certainly no easy task, especially when you’re doing it while racing other competitors. The competing teams are required to balance speed with endurance in a race of brains as well as wheels. Inspired and encouraged by the spirit of competition the event has fostered, the competition hosts teams from research and educational institutions as well as teams from a corporate background.

The race is open to all competitors, so if you want to look into their next race, or if you just want to learn more about the World Solar Challenge, check out their website at http://www.wsc.org.au. Fun Fact: The winner of the 2005 race, Nuna 3 from The Netherlands, made the distance at a world record breaking average speed of 102.75 km/h (about 64mp/h).