We’re nearly at the end of our run, as we cross this wide, brown land from top to bottom. It’s been an adventure – and we’ve seen more than a few spectacular sights.

Wildlife was everywhere, and we saw eagles, hawks, kangaroos, wallabies, camels, snakes, cows and sheep wandering around the place. Unfortunately though, while I kept my eyes peeled, I didn’t quite manage to catch a glimpse of any drop bears (but I did hear rumours of hoop snakes just before we hit Tennant Creek – they’re those ones that bite their tails and then roll along the road like a hoop!).

The Global Green Challenge route goes through a seriously huge stretch of land, all the way from Darwin to Adelaide. The official route goes through cattle stations, Defense Force prohibited land (near Woomera), and a number of prescribed areas where alcohol and pornography are not allowed (many people spend the rest of the trip wondering what exactly they do for fun in those areas!).

Seriously though, over the past few days, we’ve driven over, through and past the traditional ancestral lands of many people, including several sacred sites and other important locations.

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge (and thank) those indigenous people for allowing us to use their land for this challenge.

The following Ananju / Nunga countries are traversed by the Global Green Challenge:

Northern Territory Larrakia Warai Kungarakany Wagiman Jawoyn Yangman Mudburra Jingili Warlmanpa Warrumungu Kaytej Anmatyerre Arrente	South Australia Luritja Pitjantjatjara Antakarinja Arabunna Kokatha Barngala Nukunu Ngadjuri Narrungga Kaurna
The Roadster at Devils Marbles, NT

- Jessica Citizen

The first solar car arrived in Adelaide this afternoon at 3:39pm local time – covering 2,998km since Sunday morning.

Team Tokai arrive in Adelaide to the adoring media

It’s a bit of a history-making event – not only are they the first team to ever win on Day 3, they are also the first Japanese team to win the event since 1993. In addition to that, the drivers included Kenjiro Shinozuka alongside Tokai University students and alumni – he was the first Japanese to achieve overall victory in the Paris to Dakar Rally!

By the way, after qualifying fourth, the Tokai race was nearly flawless, with the only reported “issue” a flat tyre, which happened this morning at a rail overpass in Crystal Brook.

…this victory also breaks a four-event winning streak from Team Nuon, who took home the gold in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. This year’s Team Nuon entry, Nuna V, is currently tied for second place with Michigan University’s Infinium, with both cars arriving simultaneously at Port Augusta at 3:30pm SA time this afternoon – it’s a very tight competition between those two!

The fourth solar car is actually not the one in fourth place overall: it’s actually OSU Model S, the team from Osaka. They’re entered in the Adventure Class, which has slightly different specifications to the Challenge class that Tokai, Michigan and Nuon are competing in.

21Revolution, from Solar Team Twente (our Dutch friends) are currently somewhere near the SA/NT border in 9th place, following an accident 90km from Alice Springs.

Australian favourite Aurora 101 has suitably recovered from their issues earlier, and are currently in 8th place, having checked in at Coober Pedy late this afternoon.

We, on the other hand, checked out of Coober Pedy this morning and are now settling into our final hotel for the trip, in lovely Port Augusta. Nearly home – we return victorious to Adelaide tomorrow afternoon!

- Jessica Citizen

After a very long day yesterday (don’t we say that every day?), Team Internode did what they intended to do: set a new distance record for a production electric car.

Simon and Emilis making history

In the words of the man himself:

On Tuesday 27 October 2009, Simon Hackett, Managing Director of Australian national broadband company Internode, who owns the only Roadster in Australia, has driven it with with co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas, to a distance of 501 km’s (313 miles) on a single charge.

The world record-setting distance for a production electric car on a single charge was achieved as part of the Global Green Challenge (http://www.globalgreenchallenge.com.au). The car had about 3 miles of range left when the drive was completed.

Security Seal applied before the record breaking drive

The distance will be fully accredited by event officials in due course, and preparation for the record-setting drive included security sealing of the electric charge port door at departure and full on-road supervision of the vehicle during the drive.

The path driven was to the south from Alice Springs, in the Australian Northern Territory, and ended at a distance marker on the highway at a point 183 km north of Coober Pedy, in South Australia.

Internode’s favourite road marker on the entire Stuart Highway

Congratulations, team! We did it!

- Jessica Citizen