An estimated 800 people gathered in a hangar at Twente Airport. Gearte Nynke Noteboom is responsible for the marketing and publicity of Solar Team Twente: "It was even cooler than we had hoped. We opened the unveiling with a presentation of all the different technical activities involved in this project. In a theater setting, we told the story of the new solar car, explained the choices we made, and even acted out scenes of its development. A narrator gave explanations. We also simulated a tire change in an Australian setting and even staged it as if we were driving the RED Shift through the Australian landscape. Because that's the country with which we'll be driving the RED Shift for the first time in October this year during the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge."
Also, the Australian ambassador present
The Australian ambassador also explained what he sees in this project and why he thinks it is so important. Especially the fact that the Solar Team Twente is helping to solve a world problem appealed to him. Then the RED Shift was presented with the necessary visual and musical support by rolling it out of a container. "Everything went exactly as we hoped," said the enthusiastic Gearte Nynke.
Spectacular decor by Meilink
Meilink also played a role in the unveiling. Gearte Nynke: "They arranged the complete decor, together with DTL Lasertechniek. Meilink built an enormous decor for it with their wooden shipping crates. We wanted to radiate the Australian outback in the immense hangar. It seemed appropriate to use Meilink's wooden crates as a decor piece for that, because our solar car will eventually be transported to Australia in them. Meilink never says no, it turned out, and with their wooden crates they built a spectacular décor for us." Bolk Transport from Almelo selflessly placed a number of containers for this project, thus providing a great service to Meilink and Solar Team Twente.
Debut: Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
On 8 October 2017, Solar Team Twente will be at the start of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the prestigious race for solar-powered cars. Together with more than fifty other international participants, Solar Team Twente will drive the solar car 3000 kilometers right through the Australian outback. The race has four different classes. Solar Team Twente is participating in the Challenger Class, the Formula 1 class for solar cars. We will keep you posted!
