Charging Ahead: WEHS Solar Car Team Shines Bright with Victory in 2024 Solar Car Challenge

The Wylie East High School Solar Car Team is coming in hot!

The team brought home the overall win in the advanced classic division of the 2024 Solar Car Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth!

“For the past five years, we came in second place,” Solar Car Team sponsor Matthew Karlsen said. “This year, we beat second place by over 90 laps. That’s about 135 miles. Coming in first place -- It was like a curse was lifted!”

The goal of the solar car challenge is to drive the most laps around the track over a four-day period, logging laps until they run out of power. Teams from across the country compete against one another to see which high school built the best solar-powered car.

“The most challenging part of the race was finding a strategy on how much power to use,” team co-captain and senior Zetyn Becerra said, “and to see if we will still have enough power after our charging time to continue to race.”

The team started strong by winning first place every day of the four-day race. They set a new track record with 210 miles driven on that first day.

“The other teams were taking notice,” Karlsen said. “It was a cool buzz for sure!”

The WEHS team spent the school year and many days this summer perfecting their car, East Beast Xtreme, preparing it to race in the Texas heat.

Team co-captain and senior Orion Ramirez has been on the WEHS Solar Car Team for the past two years.

“My biggest regret in high school is that I didn’t join the team sooner,” Ramirez said. “Solar Car is much more than an after-school club, it’s a team. This race was so fun; if you asked me to stay longer or go home -- I would stay longer.”

Karlsen was particularly impressed with his students' performance during the tech inspection, where the advisor and mentors could only watch.

“It’s all on them,” Karlsen said. “We couldn’t help. They talk to judges. They did a really good job of knowing what to do and what to say.”

During the 2024 Solar Car Challenge, the team drove a total of 524 laps (786 miles), setting a new record! Their solar car also set one of the fastest lap times for the week with a 62 mph average.

The Solar Car Team comprises Becerra, junior Matthew Davis, sophomores Jayden Guild and Dylan Nord, Ramirez, and seniors Gianni Reyes, Giovanni Reyes and Raul Torres. Community member Charles Livingston is a team mentor, and retired WEHS teacher Tony Roseberry, the original sponsor of the team, continues to co-sponsor the team.

Karlsen said many thanks are owed to Orion’s mother, Heather Ramirez.

“She was a big part in helping fundraise and she runs the CTSO (Career & Technical Education Student Organization),” he said. “We couldn’t have done it without her! I’d also like to show my appreciation for Wylie ISD and Farmers Electric Cooperative, our title sponsor.”

The team brought home more than just a championship.

“The Solar Car Challenge isn’t just about competing to win a trophy, but to help and connect with new people across the country,” Becerra said. “The sportsmanship is amazing in the race, too.”

Learn more about the solar car challenge at solarcarchallenge.org.