Florida Students Win National Solar Car Competition
A team of South Florida students turned years of engineering, teamwork and persistence into a national victory by winning the Classic Division of the 30th annual Solar Car Challenge, one of the country’s most recognized student competitions focused on science and alternative energy.
TechGarage, a team affiliated with the Palm Beach County 4-H Association and based in Plantation, captured first place with its solar-powered vehicle, the ALSET Sport GT. The car was designed and built from the ground up by the students.
The competition brought more than 325 high school students from across the United States to North Texas. Twenty-four teams representing seven states arrived at Texas Motor Speedway with solar-powered cars developed through months—and in some cases years—of planning, testing and hands-on construction.
Before entering the race, each vehicle had to complete a demanding inspection process known as “scrutineering.” During this phase, experienced judges evaluated the cars to determine whether they met the required technical, mechanical and safety standards.Teams that passed the inspections advanced to a challenging five-day journey across Texas.
The 631.7-mile route from Fort Worth to Fort Stockton tested not only the performance of the vehicles, but also the students’ ability to repair breakdowns, respond to changing weather and terrain, and remain organized during long days on the road.
In addition to winning the Classic Division, TechGarage received the Renda Carter Award, presented to the team with the most outstanding video and scrapbook submitted before the race.
The Solar Car Challenge was founded in 1993 by educator Dr. Lehman Marks to encourage students to pursue science, engineering and alternative-energy fields. Although formal preparations for the 2026 competition began with workshops in September, some teams spend two or three years completing their solar cars.
Marks has described the event as a “brain sport” because students must learn how to create a plan, develop a budget, raise funds, engineer a vehicle, manage a project and solve the unexpected problems that arise during competition.
TechGarage’s victory represents far more than another championship trophy. It highlights the talent of Florida students and the value of educational programs that connect classroom learning with real-world challenges.
With the ALSET Sport GT, these young innovators did more than cross the finish line. They demonstrated that creativity, teamwork and clean energy can help drive the next generation of engineers toward a promising future.
