Negotiating the skidpan at Hockenheim. The team secured its “best results to date” in 2011/12
The University of Liverpool’s Formula Student team is already in the process of developing next season’s car following a “fantastic year”.
The 2011-12 season began with a bang as the team, made up of third and fourth year engineering students, secured a first in the business element of the competition at Silverstone, the home of British motor-racing.
Team leader, Sam Dauncey said: “We’ve secured our best results to date this year. At Silverstone, our home tournament, we came in fourth overall out of 37 UK teams, which is a fantastic result for us, and 18th overall including international teams. We also competed at Hockenheim in Germany and came sixth out of the UK teams present and a respectable 49th overall, despite dropping a drive shaft. It’s been a fantastic year for the team.”
The team came in first at Silverstone for the business presentation element of the competition
Europe’s most established educational motorsport competition, Formula Student sees universities from across the globe challenged to design and build a single-seat racing car in order to compete, demonstrate their understanding and test the performance of the vehicle.
Sam, now studying for an MEng in Mechanical Engineering, said: “Coming first out of 98 teams in the business presentation was the highlight for me. I was part of that team, and gave the presentation alongside Paul Taylor and Nadine Young. It’s the first trophy the team has ever brought home.”
Tackling the endurance element of the competition at Silverstone
Performance also improved significantly on the track, thanks to an entirely redesigned car complete with the lightest chassis to date, innovative stub hubs, enhanced braking and a digital dashboard.
Sam said: “The car was the best performing car we’ve ever produced, and handled really well. It was also a great asset to have two very strong drivers.”
The team has always been strong in the design side of the competition and Sam says efforts are now focused on making gains in the competitive racing environment.
Competing in the sprint at Hockenheim. The team benefits from two very accomplished drivers
Lecturer, Dan Hibbert oversees the team, he said: “Following this success the 2013 team really does have a lot to live up to. They have started off on the right foot, though. The design of next year’s car is well underway and new developments have already been tested on the two successful test days the team has undertaken since September.”
And 22-year-old Sam, who is currently rebuilding a Lotus Elan with his father, is in little doubt of the value of his involvement in Formula Student.
Sam said: “It’s considered by industry to be what sets you apart as an engineer. By the time you graduate you are seen more as engineers, than graduates. We cover every aspect of engineering so we hit the ground running. And at the end of the day, we build a racing car – how much more exciting can you get?”
The team has just received an anonymous donation of £15,000 which will go towards parts and equipment, and is continuing to actively seek sponsors for the 2013 season.
Contact from interested parties would be warmly welcomed, please visit www.formulastudent.liv.ac.uk.
The 2011/12 University of Liverpool Formula Student, with their successful car, outside the School of Engineering
Congratulations, all those late nights and weekends working hard. Well deserved.