Formula Student
What common issues did you see with teams at Silverstone this year?
This year we saw many of the top teams suffering unexpected failures. While it certainly made for a very interesting and exciting competition, now that the frustrations have subsided, I guess many of these teams are now wondering how they can learn from the experience and avoid similar ones in the future.
What areas are still being overlooked?
I think one of the biggest issues teams face is reliability, in the short time teams have to develop a car, it is a real challenge to deliver a vehicle that is competitive, robust and reliable. Creating a reliable vehicle needs careful planning to develop a programme that will deliver an inherently reliable vehicle with pragmatic use of simulation and physical testing and development. With the pressures teams face to simply deliver a complete car, it is so easy to overlook this aspect
What can teams expect at Learn to Win this year?
Learn To Win will provide teams a chance to interact with the senior scrutineering, judging and organisational team members. Many of team have been involved with FS for more than 10 years and have great insight into the competition and what factors contribute to success. At this stage in the FS year teams may only have conceptual designs and ideas and what better opportunity than to talk to the senior team members and get answers to the many questions they may have from the people who have the experience.
How important is Learn to Win for a team’s strategy?
It is a great opportunity and could really help many teams navigate towards a more successful performance in FS by taking on board some of the guidance and top tips from the senior team. It can also help in other areas such as providing an opportunity to clarify interpretation of the rules.
What are you excited about for Formula Student 2018?
As well as being our 20th anniversary (and we are striving to put on a very special event to mark that!), we could be looking at one of the biggest FS events we’ve ever held. I am also personally very interested to see how the autonomous competition comes together – vehicle autonomy will be such an important evolutionary step for not just FS but also for the auto sector globally.
What should teams be doing in the run up to Christmas?
Developing a solid concept and a robust plan that will deliver a fully tested and validated, competitive FS car in time for the first FS event in Europe in 2018 – sounds easy!
Any other advice for teams this year?
Make sure you enjoy the experience!
Learn to Win takes place on 13 October 2017 at the MTC in Coventry and is essential for all new and returning teams to get a clear understanding of what the judges are looking for and how to maximise their event scoring. Get your team booked!