Formula Student
Formula Student – The annual showdown where Universities; from all over the world are competing along the famous racing track of Silverstone for honor and recognition in several stages. Formula Student however, has its roots across the Atlantic sea, in the United States of America.
1981 – A memorable year in the twentieth century for the establishment of Formula Student. During this year, Formula SAE, a project originally created by the Society of Automotive Engineers was started. Formula SAE is an offspring out of the previous competition SAE Mini-Indy. More importantly, back in 1984, three students from the University of Texas at Austin made a great contribution to Formula SAE. These students saw the potential in this project and in advocated for a continued arrangement of Formula SAE.
The concept of Formula Student is almost identical to Formula SAE. The difference between these projects is that Formula Student is more of a progressive learning process connected to a three or four year academic exercise. Another differing factor is that the rules have some minor changes.
1998 – A year that symbolizes the recognition of Formula Student. During a demonstration event in the United Kingdom, two American and two British cars competed against each other at the MIRA Proving Ground. This special event made both competitors realize that an initiative of this kind would provide students with excellent learning possibilities when implemented in a practical, academic context.
The race itself is divided into several sections; endurance driving, cone track driving, acceleration test, brake test and fuel consumption although in the overall contest other parts are of high importance, such as engineering construction and design next to implementation and presentation of the project. All these parts are evaluated together in judging the result.
Concerning the car there are certain rules and regulations that has to be followed and requirements that has to be met, partially to limit the speed and strength but also to make the car secure. For instance is the car’s engine limited by a intake nozzle of 20 mm and a maximum cylinder volume of 604 cm3. Some rules has also be followed to make the car and the race safe to its driver; the chassis has to be constructed with a disrupted arc that has to manage to protect the driver in the event that the car would start to twirl. There also has to be a deformation zone which limits the g-force in case of a head-on collision.
