Anthropic, the team behind Claude, will provide competitors access to Claude while foundational Scientific Partner, CSIRO, ensures rigorous technical validation — a powerhouse combination for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge (BWSC) 2027 tech grid.
With tomorrow marking one year to go until the start line, and early bird entries approaching record numbers, the world's largest and toughest solar motorsport challenge is officially accelerating into its next technological era. By naming Claude as an Official Partner, the BWSC adds a next-gen intelligence boost to the 3,000-kilometre journey through the Australian outback.
Claude joins the BWSC partner ecosystem alongside a 40-year CSIRO partnership, which will continue to spearhead the event's scrutineering, technical intel, and validation of live performance metrics. Broadening the pool of independent technological expertise and resources available to teams, brings a compelling new dimension to the competition and an exciting addition to the 2027 starting grid.
By driving decarbonisation through sustainable mobility, the BWSC aims to stimulate research into, and development of, sustainable transport and new energy innovation. To compete, teams must design and construct an energy efficient vehicle and drive it 3,000 kilometres – the length of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. Design parameters change each event, reflecting rapidly evolving science and technology.
The BWSC is an endurance environment where shifting wind resistance, solar intensity, and cloud cover, change by the second. All teams will have access to Claude's powerful AI models to use how they see fit during research, development, and the race itself. Claude excels at tasks like coding, whether that's debugging telemetry scripts or modelling battery performance, and it's just as useful for research, writing, and working through concepts teams are experimenting with for the first time. Teams will also have access to members of Anthropic's Applied AI Engineering teams, and the BWSC will continue to rely on CSIRO's authoritative standard for environmental data, technical analysis, and performance benchmarking.
BWSC Ambassador, Chris Selwood, AM, said in keeping with the BWSC's 40-year legacy, we are issuing zero rules, mandates, or instructions on if or how the technology is used. It is entirely up to the free thinking, brilliant minds on the starting line to determine if, when, and how they deploy Claude to help them outsmart the desert.
"The outback is the ultimate proving ground. Through Anthropic's generous provision of access to Claude, teams can explore a powerful new set of AI capabilities alongside CSIRO's rigorous scientific foundation. Together, they expand the technology toolkit available to competitors while preserving the freedom to innovate that lies at the heart of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge,' Chris said.
"We have established the adventure arena, and secured world-class partners, but there is no instruction manual. It is entirely up to the individual teams to navigate the data, deploy the tools, and code their own path from Darwin to Adelaide.
"As early bird entries close, it's fantastic to see 30 teams have already registered this far in advance. We thank our longstanding Title Sponsor, Bridgestone Corporation, and Major Support Partners, the South Australian Motor Sport Board, and Tourism & Events Northern Territory for their continued support of this incredible adventure and welcome the return of Toyota as naming rights partner for the Challenger Class. I know there are further exciting partnerships in the pipeline, and we look forward to welcoming them to the BWSC family to help us lead the charge in our 40th anniversary year," Chris said.
South Australian Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy Chris Picton MP said the inclusion of Claude's AI models will add an innovative element to the competition.
"The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is one of the world's great showcases of innovation, and it is fitting that the next chapter of this iconic event will put AI to the test across the Australian outback," said Minister Picton.
"We want to see the world's brightest minds continue to push the boundaries of what technology can achieve this year, with a helping hand from AI. We look forward to seeing all the teams utilise AI to solve problems and make decisions in the heat of the moment on their journey from Darwin to Adelaide," he said.
General Manager for Australia and New Zealand, Anthropic, Theo Hourmouzis, said Claude is a thinking partner to millions of students around the world who are using AI to help solve big challenges, and the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge will be an exceptional example of just that.
"This incredible event tests the limits of human creativity, endurance, and technical innovation. We are proud to be part of for the first time, supporting teams with Claude to help accelerate scientific progress and be a co-pilot along the journey from Darwin to Adelaide," Mr Hourmouzis said.
CSIRO Energy Systems Research Director, Dr John Ward, said great scientific breakthroughs often begin with a challenge. For 40 years, the World Solar Challenge has brought together the brightest scientific and engineering minds in one of the great technological adventures, creating an environment where teams can test ideas, learn rapidly and innovate under real-world conditions.
"It's a bold, collaborative pursuit that inspires new thinking and helps shape the future of clean energy, sustainable transport and the next generation of innovators," Dr Ward said.
