Twaron® with circular content, developed by Teijin Aramid, will help power one of the world’s most advanced solar cars in one of the toughest proving grounds on the planet. The Brunel Solar Team will compete in the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge using Bridgestone tires, featuring belts reinforced with Twaron® with circular content.
This milestone marks the first use of Twaron® with circular content in a high-performance race tire. The material delivers the trusted strength, thermal stability, and lightweight properties of standard Twaron®, with the added benefit of supporting a more circular aramid production process.
©Teijin Aramid Twaron® with circular content
Twaron® with circular content applied to Bridgestone’s tire
The tires for the 2025 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge will once again feature ENLITENTM technology, building on the success of the previous event, achieving a high level of both environmental performance and tire performance. Through co-creation with partners, Bridgestone has enhanced environmental performance that contributes to sustainability by applying new recycled resources, as well as leveraging a new version of Twaron® aramid—containing circular material—in the tire belt. These combined technologies tires ensure low rolling resistance, durability, lightweight construction, and puncture resistance required for solar cars, maximizing their performance and supporting safe and secure long-distance journey of approximately 3,000 km under the harsh conditions of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
Teijin Aramid sponsors Brunel Solar Team
As an official sponsor of the Brunel Solar Team, Teijin Aramid is proud to contribute high-performance materials that support both vehicle efficiency and safety. The team’s Nuna 13 car uses Bridgestone tires, featuring belts reinforced with Twaron® with circular content. Inside the vehicle, a protective flame-resistant (FR) shield made with Twaron® -reinforced fabric has been installed around the driver area, offering enhanced safety through its strength, thermal stability, and low weight.
“Every material choice we make is intentional,” said Daan van den Dries, Chief Engineer of the Brunel Solar Team. “Twaron® gives us the strength, protection, and weight reduction which we need to perform at the highest level while also lowering our environmental impact with recycled or circular material. Partnering with Teijin Aramid is helping us build a safer and more competitive vehicle. It shows that high performance and sustainability go hand in hand.”
“Seeing these two types of Twaron®, being used in this solar race car is a powerful example of how our partnerships, be they with large corporations or students, really drive progress,” said Peter ter Horst, CEO of Teijin Aramid. “This project brings together innovation and sustainability in a way that speaks to our goal of Materializing ambitions.”
Supporting Brunel’s bid in solar race challenge
Covering more than 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide through the remote terrain in the Australian desert, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is the world’s leading solar mobility competition. The Brunel Solar Team, based at Delft University of Technology, has earned multiple titles since its debut in 2001 and is the most successful team in the world, with 7 championships since their debut in 2001. In 2025, the team will race their newest car, Nuna 13, in the Challenger Class. The use of Twaron® with circular content in the Nuna 13 reflects Teijin Aramid’s broader mission: enabling lighter, stronger, and more sustainable solutions for next-generation mobility.
About Teijin Aramid
Teijin Aramid is a subsidiary of the Teijin Group and a world leader in aramid production. The company’s products, Twaron®, Teijinconex® and Technora®, are renowned for their excellent strength-to-weight ratio, heat resistance and wide application. Aramids are used in a variety of markets, including automotive, industry, safety and life protection, and aerospace. These high-performance and recyclable materials are produced in the Netherlands, Thailand and Japan.
For more information: www.teijinaramid.com
About Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group with two core businesses: high-performance materials and healthcare solutions. Established in 1918 as Japan’s first rayon manufacturer, today Teijin comprises some 170 companies employing 20,000 people in 20 countries. Teijin is committed to its purpose, “Pioneering solutions together for a healthy planet.”
Teijin works together with employees and external partners to achieve its long-term vision, “To be a company that supports the society of the future.” Teijin posted consolidated revenue of JPY 1,005.5 billion and total assets of JPY 1,061.3 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
About Brunel Solar Team
To follow the Brunel Solar Team’s race journey, visit www.brunelsolarteam.com
