The world's highest number of solar cars [76] has entered the famous 'Dream Cup' set for competition 5-7 August at Japan's Suzuka Formula 1 track. Melbourne's Aurora 101 super solar car has been especially prepared to fight for a top 3 finish. The 'Dream Cup' is decided over 2 x four hour heats held on consecutive days. The team covering the most laps wins.

This will be Aurora's fifth appearance at Suzuka where it now holds the fastest race lap time and has been the only solar car to achieve 50 laps in a 4 hour heat. The Aurora team finished fifth in 2003 and 2004, the best record of any non Japanese entrant in the history of the event.

The Suzuka event is gruelling. High temperatures and high humidity combined with the hilly and tightly curved track play havoc with the high efficiency electronics and low rolling resistance tyres used on the solar cars. Since the beginning of 2005 the volunteer Aurora team together with the direct involvement of its sponsors has rebuilt the solar car, increased its solar power, reduced its weight and beefed up the electronics and cooling systems to take on the favourites at Suzuka. These are two excellent entries - TIGA and OSU - from Melbourne's sister city of Osaka.

The 2005 Aurora team consists of eight members from both the Melbourne and Hamilton Aurora teams. Dan Evans [driver] and Therese McArthur, both from Hamilton are the youngest in the team at 16 years of age. For both of them its their first ppearance at this event.

Team Manager, David Fewchuk said "we are looking for our best ever performance at Suzuka and a great shakedown for the World Solar Challenge which will start from Darwin 25 September".

The team will be posting daily reports on its website www.aurorasolarcar.com.
For further information, contact David Fewchuk 0411 250 464 or (03) 8608 2889.