Unleashed Down Under

STUDENTS and staff from South Bank University have set off on an epic 1,880-mile adventure across Australia with their wacky home- made, singleseater car, Mad Dog III.

It is London's entry in the World Solar Challenge, an international race that starts in Darwin. All competing cars will be powered by the sun's energy.

Mad Dog III, which weighs just 200kg and was built in the university's engineering department, survived a serious crash when its steering broke during another solar race in America in June.

It had to undergo repairs in New Mexico before being transported direct from the US to Australia for the race.

The five-man team behind Mad Dog III is being led by Dr Mike Duke. He said: "It's going to be very tough. The cockpit on our car is very cramped and it'll be very hot and noisy in there right across the desert. We're driving in relays, about three hours each at a stretch. We won't be fastest, but we're aiming to do well in the production class."

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