What is Formula Student?
An international student-based competition, where teams from all around the world design, fund and build their own formula style race car.
Formula Student gives students the opportunity to manage a real-life organization.
It provides a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a real-life professional situation as students go beyond what they learn in university to work in a team, manage deadlines, make business and managerial decisions.
Formula Student is a prestigious competition that is attended by universities from all over the world. Competition judges usually work with renowned car manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW and even Ferrari.
Formula Student is considered to be the steppingstone to a future motorsports career as it is considered to be just below Formula 4.
As a result, Formula Student teams must reach a fine line to balance their costs and quality of their race cars.
Stages of a Formula Student Competition.
Formula Student competitions are split in 2: Static Events and Dynamic Events.
Static Events
A series of events where participating teams need to present their ideas in front of judges.
Business presentation: Teams must show they are able to develop a comprehensive business model to meet the demands of judges and that is capable to profitability market and manufacture their car.
Cost Report: Teams must create a detailed bill of materials for their race car which is derived from data of costs incurred during the production of their race car.
Design Report: A description of the team’s design where judges discuss with team members on the design approach taken, why such an approach was taken and why certain other approaches were not used.
Dynamic Events
The dynamic events is where the race car is started up and can go out on the track. However, before being allowed to take part, teams must pass through scrutineering to make sure that the cars comply with all the rules and are safe to drive.
Acceleration Event: Tests the car’s acceleration from standstill, in a straight line of 75m.
Skid Pad Tests: The car’s stability while going as fast as possible in a constant radius turn, which is usually in a figure of eight.
Sprint Event: Tests the car on all aspects such as handling and maneuverability, acceleration, braking and cornering, as the car goes round a tight track as fast as possible.
Endurance Event: This event showcases how well the car has been tuned for the competition where teams must attempt to complete the distance in the shortest time possible.