Yeah, Tony mentioned repeatedly that the performance from the electronics are negligible. We use Tony's EM3 and found it a breeze to use/setup. You could even say its (almost) fun! Build quality & design of the car is still the biggest factor.

I would like to see solar panels tested at the 100% light level again during scrutineering.

We all know that the 2007 weather conditions advantaged St Pauls due to the low Fill Factor, however we cant use this as an excuse to test panels at low power.

Most of the time, cars are racing in 80 - 100% sunlight, so they need to test the panels at that light level.

Testing at 50% advantages the panels with Higher Fill Factors too greatly at higher than 50% light levels, and even more so during bursts over 100%.

If a panel is tested and shown to have a lower than normal FF, then they may be asked to change the panel, or carry a penalty.

This years cars were really FAST.

Although, as Marc mentioned somewhere, the aerodynamics this year were more efficient, I personally think the greatest factor in these fast times was the Higher Fill Factor Panels, which perform exceptionally well under Full sun conditions.

Seeing Marc's two test cars run, one running older DSE cells (typically 0.65 FF), and the other running Johns new cells (which i tested at 0.74 - 0.76 FF), proves my point a little?

I will check the FF of the 10 DSE cell panel that I had on last year's test car the next time I have the meter out, but I'm fairly certain that it was around the 0.72 mark (over 0.7 anyway).

Improved panel FF should indeed enhance car performance in good sunlight but whether it is the greatest factor in the good times that we are seeing I'm not so sure. Something to look into in a little more detail I suppose.

Before coming up to Melbourne, a couple of the of the Tasmanian cars were run in the wind tunnel at the Utas.
While everything was set up I also tested both the 2008 and 2009 test cars. Tests indicated that the air drag of last year's car was almost twice of what this year's car was getting.
Entering this into either Ian's simulator or the one that I have very easily then translates into at least half a second difference (if not more) during a race in half decent sunlight.

I think the combination of improved FF, aerodynamics and cooling of panels have all contributed to some good times.

miseli

From memory, your latest test car was faster off the mark, before aerodynamics have an effect, indicating it had more power going to the motor.