The leading car in the World Solar Challenge has caught fire and withdrawn from the race a little more than 250km from the Adelaide finish.

The NunaX car of Dutch team Vattenfall caught fire just before Mambray Creek on Thursday.

The incident has left Belgian team Agoria in front and heading for victory in the 3,000km event from Darwin.

With a very heavy heart we have to tell you that our @WorldSolarChlg is over. A first 'did not finish' for Nuna in 20 years.

Driver Tim is okay and got our of the vehicle in time.



Keep you updated. #BWSC19 pic.twitter.com/VgI5hbA6Ge — Vattenfall Solar Team (@VattenfallTeam) October 16, 2019

“The team is devastated, our solar car caught fire and we won’t be finishing,” Vattenfall tweeted.

“Currently managing the fires and figuring out what happened.”

The team said the driver, identified as Tim, was unhurt.

The team is devastated, our solarcar caught fire and we won't be finishing the @WorldSolarChlg. Currently managing the fires and figuring out what happened.#bwsc19 pic.twitter.com/jIN5dhW9Hv — Vattenfall Solar Team (@VattenfallTeam) October 16, 2019

It’s the second day of drama in the challenge with another Dutch car, RED E from Solar Team Twente, crashing out of the race on Wednesday.

Organisers said “unprecedented” wind gusts flipped RED E just north of Coober Pedy.

The driver was unhurt but was taken to hospital for observation before being released.

Members of Solar Team Twente with their crashed car on Wednesday. Photograph: Jerome Wassenaar/Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

The conditions also claimed German team Sonnenwagen and Kogakuin from Japan with their cars blown off the road.

Both teams were delayed but were expected to reach the finish.

Agoria’s car Bluepoint was due to cross the line around noon on Thursday.