Events
These sponsorship partnerships align well with MAHLE Powertrain’s dual strategy: growing electrification capabilities whilst continuing advanced internal combustion engine work. The teams are targeting top results at this year’s competition and MAHLE Powertrain is supporting them in achieving their goals by providing access to extensive technical capabilities, experience and world-class facilities.
Team Bath Racing Electric
The team is in middle of the most interesting phase of the car development. Each sub team has started the manufacturing process, led by their chassis team with the carbon fibre monocoque. With the rear space frame manufacture, spot welding of accumulator cells and powertrain characterisation in full swing, the team is eager to finally start seeing the assemblies coming together and the slow and steady formation of their 2019 entry.
It has been confirmed that TBRe will be attending FS UK this summer along with their first ever European venture, FS Spain. TBRe is looking forward to the learning opportunity these events will bring and the opportunities to show case some of their innovations such as the accumulator.
Leading up to the competition the comradery between teams has been great. TBRe is thrilled to see the increased amount of interest from teams in electrical EV’s. Many teams that are considering entering for the first time as an electrical team has contacted TBRe, inquiring as to how they approached some of the problems facing EV vehicles. TBRe members are happy to engage in discussions and help other teams achieve a successful product.
Cardiff Racing
For the 2018/19 season Cardiff Racing embarked on overhauling every aspect of the design compared to the previous year. Ambitious goals were set early on to be improved sub-system integration, reduced mass (208kg target), and earlier build completion (late May projected). It is hoped through holistic global design and early completion, CR15 will once again prove reliable and allow an extended testing programme to be completed before competing at FS Netherlands and FSUK.
CR15 features a totally different chassis concept aimed at mass reduction and greater maintainability of the newly modified engine. The chassis change required everything behind the driver to be redesigned and reanalysed for safety.
With the new body shape the suspension system not only had to be redesigned for updated damping units, but also undergo geometry changes to allow fitment to the chassis. One deficit of CR14 was the skidpad times, to combat this passive rear steer has been implemented to allow tighter cornering at increased speeds, and therefore more points at competition.
The Aerodynamics team quickly identified that simulations should be run at the average cornering speeds to take reflect the conditions where downforce is most desirable. With this new methodology the CR15 package does away with much of the previous design, instead featuring fewer elements, DRS implementation, and a full under-body diffuser. The net result is an increase in downforce at lower speeds, with final verification planned through use of a wind tunnel in collaboration with the University of West England.
It was decided for CR15 to push their Triumph engines further than before, through both inlet and exhaust optimization, and physical modification. The engine has been lightened by 4 kg through aluminium cover bolts, knife edges on the crank, and removal of the balancer shaft. With much of the reduction coming from rotating mass CR15 will be able to rev much more freely than before. The free revving engine required a new plenum, sponsored by MAHLE Powertrain, and exhaust to allow the gas flows required. The final engine change was to skim the head slightly to take advantage of E85’s higher knock tolerance.
UBRacing
The UBRacing Formula Student team are close to hitting big milestones for the racing season. Their carbon fibre monocoque is nearing completion, the new exhaust design will soon be evaluated on the dyno and the aerodynamic team are working towards a top-secret manufacturing technique.
It’s not all work though, as STEM ambassadors, in their free time they like to promote Engineering. The team’s recent trip to Dunstall Hill primary school in Wolverhampton was a great opportunity to show pupils in all year groups UBRacing’s most recent race car UBR21 as well as the importance of Engineering in society.
The second semester of the academic year is coming to an end and in the UBRacing lab. The team are working hard to meet the fast approaching coursework deadlines. Balancing the course and the work for the race team will only get more difficult as they begin to move into exam season. However, it has been done before (for 21 years in fact) and they are convinced this year they will do it again-but better!
For more information on the collaborative development activities and the teams’ progress towards the summer competitions and updates on MAHLE Powertrain follow us on social media and the next newsletters.
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TBRe:
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