Formula Student

GKN Automotive hits the road for Formula Student 2015

Formula Student Team

Formula Student's sponsors, GKN, will be bringing a selection of cutting-edge vehicles to this year's competition.

Four engineers will depart from GKN’s Technology Development Centre in Lohmar on 7 July for the trip across the continent to the home of British motorsport, Silverstone, where Formula Student 2015 kicks off on 8 July. They will drive a host of vehicles featuring GKN’s latest technology, which will then be on display at GKN’s stand throughout the event.

The vehicles include:

  • BMW i8 featuring GKN’s PACE Award winning two-speed eAxle, which enables electric power throughout the vehicle‘s entire speed range
  • Jeep Renegade featuring the world’s smallest all-wheel drive disconnect system. GKN designed, manufactured and integrated the entire AWD system into the vehicle
  • BMW M3 featuring GKN’s electric torque management technology that distributes between the rear wheels to maximise dynamics and performance
  • Mitsubishi Outlander featuring GKN’s multi-mode, single-speed eTransmission, which offers three different driving modes, including pure electric and two versions of hybrid power, with two different power sources

The engineers - Juan Manuel Micó Soler, Thomas Jojko, Rudolf Fitz and Sven Herber – all played a role in developing GKN’s technology featured on the vehicles, giving them the opportunity to experience the performance of the cars on the open road. 

They will be using GKN‘s social media channels, including Twitter and LinkedIn, to document their road trip, adopting the hashtag #GKNJourneyto. You can also follow their journey on a special microsite, launched early next week, which will include video feeds, Q&As and pictures from their journey. 

GKN will demonstrate technology from across its four divisions at the event, including Driveline, Aerospace, Powder Metallurgy and Land Systems. 

Rob Rickell, GKN PLC Technology President, said: “Formula Student is all about inspiring the next generation of engineers and what better way to do that than by speaking to the engineers who have designed and developed technology on the vehicles they have driven to the event. We will be showcasing some of our innovative and market defining technology at Formula Student, hoping to excite and engage the engineers of the future.”

Run by the Institution, Formula Student UK is part of an international network of competitions designed to nurture young engineering talent, with a focus on preparing future automotive engineers for prospective careers.

Nearly 130 teams from 25 different countries will compete at Silverstone between  8 and 12 July 8. Now in its 18th year, Formula Student alumni have progressed to careers in Formula One and within the world’s largest automotive manufacturers and suppliers, including many at GKN.

As well as partnering with Formula Student, GKN works with many of the individual teams around the globe. Enthusiastic engineers from GKN sites across Brazil, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US, among others, currently provide support for student teams. Colleagues give their time to act as mentors to the students, offer practical experience, provide essential components for the vehicles and even act as judges in the competition.

ABOUT GKN

GKN plc is a global engineering group. It has four divisions; GKN Aerospace, GKN Driveline, GKN Powder Metallurgy and GKN Land Systems, which operate in the aerospace, automotive and land systems markets. Nearly 50,000 people work in GKN companies and joint ventures in more than 30 countries. GKN is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN) and recorded sales of GBP7.5 billion in the year to 31 December 2014.

ABOUT GKN AUTOMOTIVE

GKN Automotive is the world’s leading driveline technology engineer, an expert in conventional, hybrid and electrified power delivery. Encompassing GKN Driveline and GKN Powder Metallurgy divisions, GKN Automotive is a true integration partner to the world motor industry, delivering brand aligned driving experiences from city to sports cars and advanced all-wheel drive to intelligent hybrids. With 46 manufacturing sites across 22 countries, GKN Driveline employs over 26,500 people globally. GKN Powder Metallurgy, the world’s largest producer of precision powder metal components, boasts an experienced team of 6,500 people and supplies customers from over 30 locations across five continents.

For further information, please contact:

Michael Clarke, Media Relations Manager

Tel: +44 1527 53 3660

Email: michael.clarke@gkndriveline.com

 
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