Saudi engineering students, who are pursuing higher studies under the King Abdullah Foreign Scholarship Program in Japan, have helped their university win a top international solar car competition.

The Saudi students studying at Tokai University, took part in the 1,400-km Atacama Solar Challenge in Chile last month. “They participated in the challenge for the first time in pursuit of a third title, after their team won in Australia in 2011 and South Africa in 2012,” sources at the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education said.

This year was special because Abdurrahman Al-Khatib, a master’s student, became the first non-Japanese to take the driver’s seat in the history of Tokai University, they said.

The other Saudi students wore the official race colors of the team. They included Anas Al-Muwary and Khalid Al-Shayie. Al-Khatib carried the flag of the Kingdom in the race. Panasonic Corporation powered the solar car, Tokai Challenger, for the race.

This year’s competition in the Atacama desert saw 25 teams from six countries participate with their vehicles fueled solely by the sun.

Earlier, Esam Amanullah Bukhari, Saudi culture attache in Japan, said that this was the result of the government’s support for education at some of the world’s best technology and science institutions.

Team members who participated at last year’s solar challenge in Australia were honored by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, during his visit to Japan.