Jock Wishart Heads Campaign to Race in World Solar Challenge, Australia 2015
3 November 2014
Adventurer, sportsman and explorer Jock Wishart turns business angel to help Durham University students to fundraise to compete in the World Solar Challenge.
The race, the biggest of its kind, takes place in Australia next year and is part of the run up to the 175th anniversary of Bede College in Durham University where Jock was an undergraduate student.
Jock is the perfect champion for this project. Adventurous by nature, Jock shot to fame by rowing the Atlantic, breaking 15 speed boat records in the Cable & Wireless Adventurer in a round-the-world venture. He remains the only man to achieve the endurance double of walking unsupported to a pole and rowing across an ocean. Passionate in his belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, Jock now leads a successful business that nurtures others to achieve their own personal goals.
"I am a passionate believer in protecting our environment. Our Round the World Powered Record was only possible because of the extreme fuel efficiency of our boat and of course we used Solar Panels for our power when rowing to the Pole a couple of years ago so for me the "fit" is perfect, It is a terrific opportunity to broadcast the skills of our Durham students and a massive PR opportunity for the University and I urge everyone to get behind it"
Design work for the next generation of Durham Solar Car is well underway and manufacture and testing will be complete by June 2015 to give time to ship the car to Australia. The team (of Engineering and Business School students) has designed an asymmetric car layout with a monocoque carbon fibre chassis. The car will use the next generation of Durham in-wheel electric motor that has been designed in house.
The students need to raise £40,000 through gifts in kind and cash for the parts, solar panels, tyres, fuel, shipping and travel and accommodation costs.