Formula Student

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University of Hertfordshire's Formula Student car in the 2006 class 1-200 event
University of Hertfordshire's Formula Student car in the 2006 class 1-200 event

Formula Student is a student engineering competition held annually in the UK. Student teams from around the world design, build, test, and race a small-scale formula style racing car. The cars are judged on a number of criteria including both static and dynamic events. It is sanctioned by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Automotive Engineers and uses the same rules as the original Formula SAE.

The 2008 Formula Student event will be held at Silverstone Circuit between 10-13 July 2008, entrance to the event is free.

Contents

[edit] Class Definitions

There are 5 entry classes in Formula Student, designed to allow progressive learning.

[edit] Class 1

This is the class which is similar to the Formula SAE competition in which teams design, manufacture and race fully working cars built solely for the event, the car can not be entered into class 1 again after its first year, instead it can be entered into class 1-200.

[edit] Class 1a

This is an alternative fueled class where more of an emphasis is placed on the environmental impact of racing.

[edit] Class 1-200

This is when the car from the previous years class 1 entry is re-entered and re-engineered to allow the students to gain experience for the class 1 event.

[edit] Class 2

This is the class for teams that have a car that is nearly fully ready for class 1 but do not compete in the dynamic events.

[edit] Class 3

This is the initial entry point into Formula Student in which teams design cars to Formula SAE rules but do not manufacture them, allowing them to get some good design feedback before they manufacture.

[edit] Judging

The cars are judged by industry specialists on the following criteria:

[edit] Static Events

  • Design (150), Cost (100) & Presentation Judging (75)
  • Technical & Safety Scrutineering
  • Tilt Test
  • Brake & Noise Test

[edit] Dynamic Events

  • Skid Pan (Figure of 8) (50)
  • 1Km Sprint (150)
  • 75m Acceleration (75)
  • 22Km Endurance (350) & Fuel Economy (50)

The winner of the event is the team with the highest number of points out of a maximum of a 1000.

[edit] Venue

[edit] Silverstone

The Event is currently held at the Silverstone circuit, with the dynamic events taking place on Luffield, Brooklands and the pit straight. The event has been held at the Silverstone circuit since 2007.

[edit] Bruningthorpe

The Event was held on the Go-Kart track at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome between 2002 and 2006.

[edit] NEC Birmingham

The event was held for 3 years at the NEC Birmingham between 1999 and 2001.

[edit] MIRA

The First event was held at the Motor Industry Research Association proving ground in 1999.

[edit] Winners

Year Location Class 1 Best UK Team Class 1-200 Class 3 Class 1a
2008 Silverstone TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
2007 Silverstone RMIT University Bath University University of Hertfordshire University of Hertfordshire N/A
2006 Bruntingthorpe University of Toronto Oxford Brookes University University of Hertfordshire Instituto Superior Técnico N/A
2005 Bruntingthorpe University of Toronto University of Hertfordshire Swansea University Bath University N/A
2004 Bruntingthorpe RMIT University Oxford Brookes University UAS Stralsund Bath University N/A
2003 Bruntingthorpe University of Toronto Oxford Brookes University Helsinki Polytechnic Stadia Swansea University N/A
2002 Bruntingthorpe Georgia Institute of Technology Brunel University University of Hertfordshire University of Florence N/A
2001 NEC Birmingham Georgia Institute of Technology Leeds University University of Birmingham Bath University N/A
2000 NEC Birmingham California State University, Pomona University of Hertfordshire N/A University of Huddersfield N/A
1999 NEC Birmingham Rochester Institute of Technology Leeds University N/A University of Maribor N/A
1998 MIRA University of Texas at Arlington University of Birmingham N/A N/A N/A

[edit] Notable Judges

Ross Brawn - Honda Racing F1

Andrew Deakin - Renault F1

Jon Hilton - Flybrid systems, ex Renault F1

Ben Michelle - Dunlop Tyres

Dan Jones - Flybrid Systems

[edit] Competing Teams

[edit] See Also

[edit] External links