Leading cars in the World Solar Challenge are closing in on the Adelaide finish line after a drama-packed 3,000-kilometre race from Darwin.

The winner is expected to reach the finish on Thursday, with Dutch team Vattenfall favoured to win the event with its car NunaX.

The race leader being hotly pursued by Agoria from Belgium, with the Japanese crew from Tokai University in third spot.

All three teams spent their final night on the road camped close to Port Augusta, in SA's mid-north.

Solar Team Twente crashed out of the lead and on Wednesday.

Dutch team Vattenfall's race ended after having travelling 2761 kilometres from Darwin, as they charged towards Adelaide on their final leg, their car Nuna X caught fire just before Mambray Creek.

The driver was able to quickly park the car on a side road and get out safely, before the car burnt to the ground.

The team's RED E car flipped north of Coober Pedy as strong winds battered the field.

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

The deteriorating weather conditions also claimed the German Sonnenwagen team when their car was damaged after it was forced off the road by wind gusts. Its driver was also unhurt.

The incidents prompted race officials to briefly impose an 80 km/h speed limit on all cars.