Featuring at the spectacular Michelin organised Challenge Bibendum event at the new Formula 1 race track in Shanghai, China - the Melbourne based Aurora solar car group announced plans to develop a new Olympic Class solar car for the world's longest solar car Zero Emissions Rally being planned to complement the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Inspired by the success of the official Cultural Olympiad solar car event, Phaethon 2004, held late May in Greece, members of solar car groups from all parts of the world co-signed the "Charta of Olympia" dedicating themselves to linking the sporting ideals of the Olympics with the pursuit of renewable solar car transportation. The vision is to stage a zero emissions solar car rally in 2008 from Olympia in Greece to the city of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing. Aurora has encouraged such a linkage with the Olympics. In Sydney's "green" Olympics in 2000, the Aurora solar car starred in an exhibition of environmentally friendly transport vehicles. CSIRO - the organisers - aptly labelled this exhibition, ECOMOTION.

The Aurora 101 solar car featured in the 800 km Phaethon 2004 Solar Car Rally in May, visiting famous historical locations such as Patras, Olympia and Delphi.

But a rally from Olympia to Beijing is an extraordinary adventure for these technical supercars dependent on sunlight alone.

Aurora team leader David Fewchuk said: 'This adventure requires a new type of solar car, tough enough to withstand the bad roads and mountains, reliable enough to get through'.

So the idea of an Olympic class is born. A solar car with dimensions limited to 4 metres x 1.8 metres with just 6 square metres of solar panel . A car where the driver has complete control, with the ground clearance of an offroader, and lights for night driving. A solar car that the public may even want to buy.

Dennis Negkas, the organiser of Phaethon 2004 said: 'The 2008 Solar Marathon has captured the imagination and support of the Greek Government, and has been welcomed by Chinese authorities in Athens. Solar vehicles symbolise the principles of the Olympic ideal - combining athletic and technological rivalry to ensure our world has an economic future and a healthy humanity, living in a promising environment. We are delighted to see that the outstanding solar car team, Aurora, is taking this bold initiative'.

Aurora plans to first trial the Olympic Class solar car in the 2007 World Solar Challenge, the cross continental Australian event. This will be the 20th Anniversary of this famous event. Event Director Chris Selwood welcomed this new initiative and commented: 'The Solar Marathon provides a catalyst for different thinking. This Solar Marathon has the potential to offer zero emission mobility to much of the world. There are problems to solve. There are adventures to be had. When the idea of crossing Australia on solar power was promulgated, they said it couldn't be done. The World Solar Challenge looks forward to not only providing the testing ground, but making a real contribution to this Olympic initiative'.

With the idea of electric drive systems becoming accepted in Hybrid and Hydrogen fuel cell cars the time is approaching when these technologies will be complemented with integrated solar panels. The Olympic Class will bring this possibility a big step forward.

High resolution images and further background on Aurora available on the Aurora web site.
For further information contact: David Fewchuk 8608 2889 or 0411 250464