HUNDREDS of sun-lovers gathered at the Katherine weighbridge on Sunday to welcome participants in the World Solar Challenge at their first checkpoint.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The spectacular race - which sees competitors from all over the world take on the 3000km trip from Darwin to Adelaide in fancy high-tech solar cars - had left Darwin in the early hours of Sunday morning, and - powered through photovoltaic cells and lots of sun light - the first futuristic vehicles rolled into their checkpoint only a few hours after being flagged off.
The Katherine Rotary Club handed out hundreds of drinks and sausages, and - with TIO donating $2 for every item sold - raised money for the Philippa Walters Bursary Award.
While technical issues left several cars stranded before even reaching Katherine, the fastest competitors are expected to arrive in Adelaide this week.