Designed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brightside marked a major evolution for the team. For the first time, returning members from a previous design cycle carried forward lessons from Daybreak, enabling significant improvements in aerodynamics, vehicle mass, and manufacturability. These advancements positioned Brightside as a far more competitive and refined solar car.

Built during the 2023/2024 period, Brightside reached completion through a collective team effort and was driving on campus just weeks before competition. At FSGP 2024, Brightside made history by finishing in the top six teams, completing 98 laps (94 after penalties)—nearly double the distance achieved by Daybreak. Despite extreme weather conditions and narrowly missing a key checkpoint, Brightside became the first UBC solar car to qualify for the American Solar Challenge.

This milestone solidified Brightside as a breakthrough vehicle for the team, providing invaluable experience and momentum as we continue to optimize the car for future competitions and develop the next generation of solar vehicles.