9. HISTORY
1981 – Formula SAE in the US was born
1998 – Formula Student came to the UK
2006 – Ross Brawn became the FS Patron
2007 – FS moves to Silverstone
2008 – Class 1A introduced
2012 – Class 1A and Class 1 merged
Formula Student (FS) is Europe's most established educational motorsport competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Backed by industry and high profile engineers such as our Patron Ross Brawn OBE, the competition aims to inspire and develop enterprising and innovative young engineers. Universities from across the globe are challenged to design and build a single-seat racing car in order to compete in static and dynamic events, which demonstrate their understanding and test the performance of the vehicle. Formula Student is:A high-performance engineering project that is extremely valued by universities and usually forms part of a degree-level projectViewed by the motorsport industry as the standard for engineering graduates to meet, transitioning them from university to the workplaceThe kite-mark for real-world engineering experienceFormula Student is the leading European competition for undergraduates who want hands on experience in an innovative racing team. The Mission:Our mission is to excite and encourage young people to take up a career in engineering. It seeks to challenge university students to conceive, design, build, cost, present and compete as a team with a small single-seat racing car in a series of static and dynamic competitions. The format of the event is such that it provides an ideal opportunity for the students to demonstrate and improve their capabilities to deliver a complex and integrated product in the demanding environment of a motorsport competition.Entry categoriesTo reflect and support the educational and progressive learning opportunities that Formula Student presents, there are 2 entry classes, designed to allow students to experience the total cycle of Research, Design, Manufacturing and Development of a complex engineering project. It should be noted, that teams new to the competition can enter in any class. Class 1: This is for a fully constructed and running vehicle (either a combustion engine or an alternative fuel) as defined by the FSAE rules and these additional regulations. Points are awarded for Design, Business Presentation, Cost and Sustainability, Acceleration, Skid Pad, Sprint ("Autocross" in FSAE rules), Endurance & Fuel Economy. Class 2: This class is for any team that wishes to enter a Class 1 vehicle design that is not yet a complete running car. If the team wishes, this may include as many manufactured parts and systems as have been produced. Points are awarded for Design, Business Presentation and Cost and Sustainability. Whilst Class 2 is targeted at new teams in their first year of competition, Formula Student will welcome entries from Universities that are participating in Class 1 if they are using Class 2 to give less experienced team members an opportunity to develop.
1981 - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the United States started running its Formula SAE programme.1998 - Two US cars and two UK cars competed in a demonstration UK Event, which was held at the MIRA Proving Ground. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (the Institution) accepted management of the European venture, in a partnership with SAE, and the competition has taken place at the end of each academic year since then.2002 - The first Driver Training Event took place at The Sisters near Wiggan, which was open to all teams who had finished building their FS cars and wanted to practise on the track before the main event in July.2005 - Approved by the Learning Grid, an initiative set up by the DTI and funded by the industry body, Motorsport Development UK, to promote engineering and encourage students to choose a career in the industry.The annual programme of FS events expanded. The first Learn to Win event was held at Silverstone in October '05, incorporating one day seminars for new teams to learn how to build their car and perform well at the end of the year, as well as driver training to give the teams a chance to get their previous year's cars on the circuit.Please note as well as these activities, organised by the FS team, the Institution Regions also organised FS-related events, such as university team presentations and lectures.Welcome speech to students given by Ross Brawn, former Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director.2006 - Ross Brawn, former Scuderia Ferrari Technical Director, became Patron of Formula Student.Pat Symonds, Executive Director of Engineering at Renault F1, gave the welcome speech to students at the main event.2007 - July '07 saw the event move to Silverstone. The students worked on their cars in the pit garages used by the Grand Prix teams just a week before! The competition's dynamic events were then held on the famous track.2008 - The Class 1A category was introduced. This exciting new category, sponsored by Flybrid Systems and supported by EEMS, favoured the low CO2 nature of the fuels and the smaller engine capacity.2009 - Damon Hill OBE, previous Williams Team racing driver, was impressed by the cars he saw at the event. 2010 - Bob Bell, Managing Director of Renault F1 Team, became an FS Ambassador.An FS standard electrics box was developed for all the Class 1A teams, which measures the current and voltage passing between the electrical storage (battery) and the drive motor(s) on the electrically powered cars, essentially an electric meter, to accurately determine the electrical consumption of the vehicles during the Endurance event. The device also acts as a data-logger to capture information.2011 - James Allison, Technical Director of Lotus Renault GP, became an FS Ambassador.2012 - Class 1A and Class 1 are merged, conventional combustion engines now compete head-to-head with alternative fuelled vehicles
Points mean prizesThe following points are possible:Static Events:Business Presentation 75Design 150Cost & Sustainability Analysis 100Dynamic EventsAcceleration 75Skid - Pad 50Sprint 150Efficiency 100Endurance 300Total Points1,000
The Design Judging session concentrates on assessing the design engineering of the car from concept through to manufacture, assembly and testing, and the student’s knowledge of that process.
All teams must justify the cost of their car through their cost report – a detailed document detailing all the items used in building the car. In addition the sustainable aspects of the car are also judged.
In the FS Business Presentation Event the student teams try to convince a panel of judges to invest in their race car business proposal. In this role play, the judges typically act as representatives of an imaginary manufacturing company, although other role plays are possible
Scrutineering is the safety barrier that all students must get through before they are allowed to compete in the Dynamic events. Scrutineers inspect the car and ensure that it complies with the rules and is safe to drive.
Dynamic Events:Skid Pad (Figure of 8)SprintAccelerationEndurance Fuel Economy