What common issues did you see with teams at Silverstone this year?
Not being ready, a result usually of over ambition coupled to inexperience of project planning, timescales and unrealistic expectation (of others and of self!). Poor car preparation quality, again usually a result of rushing and inexperience. It takes a lot to assemble a complete running vehicle: seriously start early on by taking a bicycle apart and putting back together to get a “feel” for things. Offer to help out at a local kart track if you can, be prepared to prove yourself trustworthy before being set to work on the more life critical parts though.
What areas are still being overlooked?
Set aside more time for assembly and testing before the event. This means freezing the actual design and parts specification very early, say Christmas! No design will be perfect, better to be 90% perfect and on time, all tested and calm than 99% perfect but not finished. Everything is a compromise and better to accept that early on and embrace it: hard to do but vital.
What can teams expect at Learn to Win this year?
They won’t get answers to direct questions like “What height should my roll centres be?". Teams will get to discuss why they should not obsess over such answers and get practical advice that comes from experience. The more that FS participants prepare, the more they will gain.
How important is Learn to Win for a team’s strategy?
It sets a deadline early on and hopefully provides a strategy to remember. It should show what is possible rather than what is not possible: we know that Formula Student is difficult but we also know it is not impossible.
What are you excited about for Formula Student 2018?
Hopefully the 20th anniversary should mean added sparkle. Every year we get surprised (in a good way) by a clever take on something or an innovative approach to manufacture. I personally love to see the cars on track and to hear them: in that regard I am an old school engines aficionado!
What should teams be doing in the run up to Christmas?
In an ideal world most of the basics should be drawn to a level where they can be produced internally or nearly drawn/specified if being procured externally (some parts will have 8 week lead times). Confidence in your Finances and time planning should be high, but still ambitious, and the fundamentals of the Design Report and Specification Sheet information should all be there. Transport logistics should have been investigated: sometimes visas or travel documents etc. (even for car parts) can take a long time to organise.
Any other advice for teams this year?
For Class 1 just believe that a complete car is a lot of work but it is possible even in 9 months. If you have not done it before, keep things simple, concentrate on mass and location, stiffness and avoid basic errors that are well documented (e.g. lots of free play, poor tolerancing, sharp machined edges, obscure load paths, wings, composites etc.)
If you are considering Class 2 only, please treat it as the first step in a Class 1 entry taking a maximum of 2 years. Class 2 is good because you don’t have the whole expense of making a complete car.
Though it's less good because simply because you are taking twice as long and not making a complete car!
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!