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Competition

Introduction

Formula Student is a small racing car design and build project competition for engineering students as part of their academic studies. The aim of the competition is to produce, the best product possible, to meet a specification (not necessarily the fastest racing car) and estimate the cost of their creation assuming a production run of 1000 vehicles. The cars are assessed in two different areas, these areas are:

Static:

A team of industry judges assess each project and analyse the design and methods used, students must make a formal presentation to the judges of their design philosophy and cost predictions.

Dynamic:

Students demonstrate the cars meet several set performance and emission targets. A number of track tests are designed to test all dynamic aspects of the cars, these include: Brake test, Acceleration test, Skid pan (figure of eight), Sprint (single lap of a racing circuit) and the culmination of the evaluation is an endurance demonstration where students drive the cars for 20 laps of a demanding circuit against the clock; this can be particularly exciting especially during the driver change "pit stop".

The final aspect is a Design Debrief by the judges of each car where competitors and spectators attend this most enlightening finale.

Overall this means that in the final year of studies young graduates are exposed to marketing, time management, budgeting, presentation skills, and other management issues. No other type of competition does this and no other engineering project generates so many enthusiastic and well-trained individuals. The benefit to students is immense and is good experience for newly qualified engineers preparing to enter a career in either the Automotive Industry or Motor Sport.

Scoring

Points Allocated for Static Events

Presentation	75
Engineering Design	150
Cost Analysis	100

Points Allocated for Dynamic Events

Acceleration	75
Skid-pad event	50
Autocross event	150
Fuel economy event	50
Endurance track event	350
Total	1000