Two years already, Rotary Club Genk Staelen organises the event “Nature for Life” in a unique natural Park of over 5700 ha in the heart of the Euregio (Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany)
More than 10.000 visitors experienced the unique combination of the beauty of nature, combined with the attractiveness of military airforce base with a lot of interaction between visitors and participants.

But how to use the beautiful landing strip of 3200 meters in an ecological way was the question we asked ourselves?
Inviting a SOLAR CAR seemed to be the right answer for the 2010 edition. Nobody at that moment believed that one year later, we would have the First edition of the European Solar Challenge.

For the NFL commission of Rotary, for this project under the leading power of Frans Joseph Joosten and Luc Coenen, were several solar teams contacted by Frans-Joseph around Europe and he had positive responses from all the teams.
But how to put this in “the right way”?
After some research Frans-Joseph contacted Jean Todt of the FIA and then both, Frans-Joseph and Luc, were invited to a meeting in Monaco of the Alternative Energy Commission of the FIA.

The ESC was presented to the members of this commission and the idea was welcomed immediately, and we could count on the support of the FIA, but we still have a road ahead to comply with the official FIA rules. That is why it was decided to organise a different kind of challenge this first edition, a challenge that would consist of different small stages instead of the classical race.

We contacted and got, since August 9th oficially, support of the RACB (Royal Automobile Club Belgium) and the help of Marc Martens from Circuit Zolder. The European Solar Challenge story got more official body and we felt very positive that we were founding a unique event for Europe.
Nine months after Nature For Life, our premature idea had become a real fantastic project.

The First European Solar edition will be the main event on the 26th of September when the 3thd edition of nature For Life, now called “Het Naionale Park in beweging” (the national Park moves) will take place.

We are very proud to present six European teams in a unique event in one of the most beautiful Parks of Europe.

Till today, already seven enthusiastic teams will do their best to challenge each other in different tests, some which they have done before, in order to win “the First European Solar Trophy”.
Rotary is grateful to the teams that they were prepared to share their enthusiasm and their experience on solar energy during this unique event.

We are honoured that both FIA and RACB support the European Solar Challenge and are prepared to help this event to become the First of many. We were promised to get their support with the organisation of an alternative energy event in the years that the solar cars will run in Australia.
Rotary Genk Staelen and all the supporting organisations and participating teams will guarantee an event that does not have a lookalike in Europe.

Come and experience this European Solar Challenge and participate on all the other activities that will take place on the 26 of September

Just:
BE THERE at the first European Solar Challenge