PHL solar car back in the race, unfazed by fire

Unfazed by a fire that hit their solar car Tuesday, the Philippine team in the World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia remains determined to "continue the fight" and finish the race. Team spokesperson Harold Geronimo said Wednesday the team members held a meeting Tuesday night where they decided to replace the battery that burned out and rejoin the race. "Kagabi nag-meeting at napagpasyahan ng Team Solar Philippines na ipagpapatuloy natin ang laban. Gusto natin i-prove sa buong mundo na kaya ng Pilipino, hindi umaatras ang Pilipino (On Tuesday night, the team held a meeting where the members decided to continue the fight. We want to show the world what the Filipino is capable of. The Filipino does not back out of a fight)," Geronimo said in an interview on dzBB radio. "Tuloy pa rin ang laban (The fight will continue)," he added. Early Wednesday morning, the team made final inspections on the solar car after replacing its battery. Sikat II left Tennant Creek at 11:14 a.m. (Australia time).

On Tuesday afternoon, a fire hit Sikat II as it was recharging at its designated rest stop in Tennant Creek at the end of the WSC race's second day. Geronimo said they traced the cause of the fire to the battery pack inside the car. No one was hurt as the team was at the control stop, although there was tension because of the fire. He added an inspection of the car showed the vehicle itself was not damaged from the fire. For now, Geronimo said the Philippine team is in 19th place. — TJD, GMA News