SELF DRIVING CHALLENGE 2026 KICKS OFF

The teams compete in two categories. Five teams will face off in the closed category, and five teams will compete in the open category.In the closed category, students work with a kart provided by the RDW, which they are allowed to program themselves. In the open category, teams fully design, build, and program their own vehicle.

This year, the Self Driving Challenge attracted interest from several international teams, including teams from India, the United States, and Turkey. Ultimately, only the Turkish team is participating, but it is clear that the SDC is recognized nationally and internationally as a serious competition.

“It is fantastic to see the Self Driving Challenge attracting interest from new corners, even from abroad. This shows that we are a serious student competition,” said Johan in ’t Holt, ICT Department Manager and commissioner of the SDC within the RDW.

The ten participating teams are: Cyberweb, Fontys, University of the North, Hogeschool Rotterdam, and Firda in the open category. In the closed category, the teams are Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Hogeschool Rotterdam, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, University of Twente, and Team Alaz from Turkey.

The Self Driving Challenge officially kicked off yesterday with a festive event in Lelystad. With over 80 enthusiastic participants, the energy was palpable from the very start. Teams met one another, received detailed information about their respective categories, and took to the stage as team captains shared their ambitions and introduced their teams.

Confidence is running high. Last year’s winners, Hanze (closed category) and Fontys (open category), emphasized that they are building on the knowledge and experience gained in previous editions. Other teams see their strength in their multidisciplinary composition, bringing together ICT specialists and automotive students, all united by one common goal: winning the competition, and also to have a lot of fun.

Road to the final
From now on, teams can test their vehicles weekly at the RDW Test Centre in Lelystad. The grand finale will take place on June 16, where teams will compete for the coveted trophy. During the final, the vehicles must complete a course featuring realistic traffic obstacles, such as stopping at a pedestrian traffic light, avoiding an inflatable car, and staying neatly within the course boundaries.

New this year is that the obstacles will not have fixed positions in advance. In previous years, obstacles had predetermined locations on the track, allowing teams to prepare throughout the competition. This year, the obstacle locations will only be announced 24 hours in advance, adding extra excitement and challenge for all participants.

With the Self Driving Challenge, RDW offers young talent the opportunity to develop their skills for the future of autonomous driving. RDW facilitates the competition and provides participating educational institutions with the necessary hardware, software, and technical guidance.