Vhélio trophy : Millenium edition

The Vhélio Trophy is stepping up a gear!

Following the remarkable success of its inaugural edition in May 2026, the Vhélio Trophy returns with even greater ambition.

In 2027, this solar-powered convoy proudly forms part of the European Year of the Normans and celebrates a historic journey: one thousand years after William the Conqueror, this festive, inclusive and collaborative adventure will connect Sotteville-lès-Rouen with Hastings.

The challenge combines a 150 km route aboard Vhélio, an open-source solar tricycle, with a crossing of the English Channel.

The adventure begins long before the starting line. Teams build their own vehicles from kit form, driven by a spirit of mutual support, friendliness and resourcefulness.

The Vhélio Trophy champions active, sustainable and empowering mobility, centred on sharing practical technical know-how. By embracing the Vhélio, participants learn how to build, understand and maintain their own vehicle, proving that a simple collection of components can become a reliable companion for long-distance travel. A modern interpretation of the spirit of exploration, the project places cooperation at the heart of the adventure and brings together a diverse, inclusive and enthusiastic community.

 It embodies the very ethos of Vhélio: using shared innovation as a bridge between French and British cultures, and creating new opportunities for exchange across the Channel.

The 2026 edition already brought together an impressively wide range of participants, including students, community organisations, local authorities, businesses, retirees, social centres and people with disabilities. All were united by a common purpose. Anyone can take part by forming a crew of four to six people and imagining the future of the Vhélio through a collective adventure lasting several months, filled with encounters, mutual support and low-tech experimentation.

Participants share their experiences from the inside...

    "Exhausted, exhilarated and already wanting to do it all again next year. Sad to leave, a bit like a teenager coming home from summer camp!"
    "Alone, you take a step; together, you can go to the ends of the earth!"
    "A long moment of despair in the middle of the night... rescued from our welding attempt by the FabLab team!"
        "The incredible diversity of participants led to fascinating conversations. Whatever the conditions are for 2027, we'll be there. We're ready to start again tomorrow!"

After several stops across Normandy and the United Kingdom, where local communities can meet the participants in host towns and villages, or even join the adventure themselves, the journey will culminate with an arrival at Pevensey Castle!

Registration closes on 31 December 2026
Entry fee applies

Cooperation France-United / Kingdom 
Partners: English Heritage, Visit Sussex, Marine Workshop Newhaven, City of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, Seine-Maritime Department (Parc de Clères), City of Dieppe, Transmanche Ferries (DFDS), higher education institutions, associations and businesses.

Photo credit: tropheevhelio © marinethomann2026