Supervisor and teamcoach Wubbo Ockels (L) and the students of the TU Delft pose near the new solar powered vehicle Nuna in Amsterdam on June 25. (Marcel Antonisse/AFP/Getty Images)

DARWIN—The only UK team to enter the 2009 World Solar Challenge is hoping a top ten placing will give it the leverage to take out the title in 2011.

Tipped as one of the favourites to win this year's solar car race, which stretches 3000km across the Australian outback, students from Cambridge University say they cannot compete with the likes of four-time winner Nuna 5.

Cambridge University team manager Anthony Law said the team had taken two years to develop its first solar race car, which they aptly named Endeavour.

"We can't hope to compete with teams who have millions of dollars to spend on their cars," he told AAP.

"Our longer-term aim is to come back here in 2011 having raised even more sponsorship, and there is no reason we can't be competing for the top spot if we can get more funding."

The Endeavour was one of 31 cars waved off from Darwin on Sunday by Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson and hundreds of motoring enthusiasts and conservationists.

"The development of technology used in this race has never been more important with nations striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Mr Henderson said in a statement.

Event director Chris Selwood said technology was evolving each year, making the race more competitive.

"These are some of the things that will no doubt be coming into the electric cars that we will all be driving in coming years," he told AAP.

Solar cars leading the race are expected to take at least three days to arrive in Adelaide.

All the vehicles, including Australia's own Aurora 101, got off to a smooth start except French Canadian entry Esteban which left the start gate about 30 minutes late due to technical difficulties.

The Netherlands outfit behind Nuna 5 managed to repair damage to their vehicle's shell and rear tire in time for the start after it rolled during a test run in Darwin.

As well as ironing out any technical difficulties that might arise along the route, teams will battle scorching temperatures, driver fatigue, dehydration, road trains and Australian wildlife.

"It's a great adventure -- the billion stars of the southern desert sky, you can't go past it -- but it can be dangerous," Mr Selwood said.

"Experience in this event counts for so much."

Just getting to Australia was challenge enough for several teams, with six cars failing to make it to the start line.

The Iranian team reportedly had their car, Persian Gazelle, impounded in Dubai, while several Canadian and Indian teams were forced to pull out at the last minute due to a lack of funding.

"It's nice to see the other teams have overcome the (global financial crisis) problems," Mr Selwood said.

The solar race is part of the Global Green Challenge which also showcases electric, hybrid, low-emission and alternative-energy vehicles.