Articles
Students from schools and universities across England gathered together for the finale of the Formula Student schools event, a competition to build and compete with a single-seat racing car.
Some of the country’s most talented mechanical engineering students from the University of Bath, the University of Hertfordshire and Oxford Brookes University pitched to a panel of Formula One judges about the design, building, testing and race experience of their cars.
IMechE associate John Turton was one of the volunteers from the institution’s Automobile Division Luton branch who organised the event. He said: “The purpose is to bring universities, schools and industry together and promote careers in engineering – the audience is primarily school students who are at the stage in their education of making decisions about their career.”
One of the judges, Brian O’Rourke of AT&T Williams F1, said: “Formula Student really encourages young people to get into something they have been dreaming of. Engineering is all about solving problems and I hope what you have seen today will encourage you.” The other judges were Darren Freeman of Red Bull Racing, Daren Stanley of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, Nick Brown of Mercedes GP Petronas, and John Joe Finn of Team Lotus.
The winning team of students was from the University of Bath and their key to success was “design it simple, design it light, build it early”.
Dr Kevin Robinson, lecturer in the university’s department of mechanical engineering, said: “Getting involved in the Formula Student competition is no easy option as it demands a huge commitment, but it motivates the students like nothing else I have seen.
“It’s extremely satisfying to see them mature into highly capable, confident engineers. It gives them vital industry experience and puts them ahead of the crowd as graduate engineers.”
The judges commented that there had been three very good presentations.
The event was held in November at Bedford Modern School and was attended by pupils from local schools, together with others from Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and Northampton. They participated in a quiz related to the presentations. Prizes included a visit to the University of Hertfordshire F1 simulator, and a visit to Nissan Technical Centre at Cranfield.
The children also had the opportunity to win a guided tour of the pits at Silverstone during the Formula Student final there next July.
The Formula Student cars designed and built by the university teams were on display, as were historic race cars including a 1960 Lotus and a 1970 BMW. Turton said: “This event was a great success and it improves year-on-year, so it will continue with further enhancements in 2012.”
