Michigan university wins N American solar car challenge

OTTAWA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- After a journey of 4,000 kilometers that lasted 10 days, a solar-powered car from the University of Michigan won the first place Tuesday in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge.

The race, which began July 13 in Texas, the United States, completed in Calgary in western Canada.

Competitors made their way through Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota before crossing into Canada's Manitoba and lastly Alberta province.

The University of Waterloo was the second car to roll across the finish line Tuesday.

The University of Calgary was the second Canadian team to reach the finish, and came in sixth overall.

Twenty-five cars from the United States, Canada, Germany and Britain began the race but only 15 made it to the final leg.

The competitors averaged between 80 and 100 km/hour during the race although some, like the German entry FH Bochum, were capable of speeds of up to 130.

The University of Michigan has dominated the event over the past nine years, taking the title five times.

The solar cars resemble flying saucers with tiny cockpits that drivers cram themselves into for six hours at a time, enduring no air conditioning and little ventilation.