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Hertfordshire takes UK crown for Formula Student 2005

Author: IMechE

Source: Autoindustry

Publication Date: 19th July 2005


Hertfordshire University has been crowned Best UK Team in this year’s Formula Student (FS) event organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). FS took place at Bruntingthorpe Proving Grounds, near Leicester over July 8, 9 and 10, with 85 worldwide teams taking part.

FS is now the biggest student motorsport event in Europe and teams taking part have to compete in a Formula One style racing car they have designed and built from scratch. The Herts team of nine, all studying automotive engineering at the University, had to step up a gear to beat 31 other UK teams to the title. They took seventh place overall out of teams from as far away as India and Australia. First place went to Toronto University.

Herts Team Leader, Anthony Sale, said: “The whole team is still on a high. Winning the IMechE Formula Student competition means so much to us – we wanted to get best UK Team and that’s what we did. For a lot of engineering students take on automotive engineering degrees so they can be a part of this competition and the skills we have learned, and the friends we have made has made it all worthwhile.

“We started designing the car from scratch 13 months ago and we literally worked on it every spare second we had including weekends and nights because we wanted to win. It is a fantastic way of getting new blood into engineering and I wish the team next year every success. We are all graduating next week and we are all hoping to get into the motorsport industry after this.”

Anthony’s team had to take part in a variety of gruelling tests include sprint, skid pad (driving the car in a figure of eight), endurance and acceleration. The car with the highest overall points across each test wins the competition.

IMechE Formula Student Manager, Brian Robinson, said: “This year’s event has shown what outstanding engineering talent there is, not just from the Toronto team but in our UK entries. These students have built these cars on top of their engineering degrees – and I congratulate Hertfordshire, Toronto and every other team that took part. But as well as being fun, it promises to transform today’s undergraduate engineers into highly capable graduates and, just as importantly, it helps to attract school children into engineering degrees and careers – that is why the IMechE is so proud of it.”

Ferrari Technical Director, Ross Brawn, made a surprise visit to see the students and said he was “thoroughly impressed” with the quality of the cars and enthusiasm of the students.

The IMechE is proud to host FS, in partnership with many organisations including the Society of Automotive Engineers and the Institution of Electrical Engineers and next year’s event is set to be even better.

The cars undergo a series of tests but restrictions are placed on the car frame and engine so the students’ knowledge, creativity, and imagination are also tested. Judges will get a chance to test the cars’ capabilities across Design, Presentation, Cost, Acceleration, Sprint, Skid-Pad, Endurance and Fuel Economy.

For more information and results visit the IMechE Formula Student website at www.formulastudent.com

- Ends -

Notes to editors

  • Formula Student is a project for engineering students to design and build a small single seater racing car. The project usually forms part of their academic studies, and culminates in a competition where teams from all over the world come together to race and compete against each other. Restrictions are placed on the car frame and engine so the students’ knowledge, creativity, and imagination are tested. In December 2004, the IMechE received funding from the Government’s Motor Sport Learning Grid initiative. This ‘seedcorn’ funding of £30,000 for 2004 was given in recognition of Formula Student’s outstanding contribution to engineering education and the promotion of engineering careers to young people. To arrange interviews or pictures, or to attend the event, please contact Rita Congera, IMechE Media Relations Executive, on / or email
  • This year’s event sponsors included Advanced Composites Group, Grand Prix Racewear, Shell, Ricardo, Solidworks Corporation, SKF Racing, Jack Knight Development, Altair Engineering and National Instruments.
  • The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has over 75,000 members in 120 countries. It represents mechanical engineers involved in a diversity of fields such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries to name a few.

Added to the database on 19th July 2005

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Keywords: Formula Student, design, engineering, competition


 
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