UNSW's solar car, Jaycar Sunswift III, is attempting to break Dick Smith's world record for the fastest solar powered road trip from Perth to Sydney.

The student designed solar car set out from Perth's Scarbourgh Beach at 8am this morning. Perth's Lord Mayor Dr Peter Nattrass was there to farewell the team, which includes 11 students, the solar car and three support vehicles.

If all goes to plan the team hopes to arrive at Sydney Harbour on Monday 15 January, beating the previous world record by three days.

According to Yael Augarten, Project Leader of the UNSW Solar Racing Team, "Jaycar Sunswift III is a vehicle to inspire Australians about what the future may hold for sustainable road transport: it's efficient, it's light weight and it's solar powered.

"Sure, it doesn't have much in the way of air conditioning, and it is rather sleek, but this is a demonstration vehicle. In much the same way that a Formula 1 vehicle demonstrates what is possible with a combustion engine, you're not going to take the kids to school in it just yet."

Updates before and during the record attempt will be posted regularly on the team's website www.sunswift.com

Media Contact: Victoria Collins, UNSW Media Office, tel. 9385 3263.