Students from the Faculty of Engineering are launching the Formula Student car they have spent two years developing during an event on campus on Wednesday 30 May.
The team of 26 students has been working around the clock to finalise the build of the vehicle which they hope will take them through to a winning position at this year’s international IMechE Formula Student race at Silverstone in July.
The team consists of mechanical, automotive and electrical engineering students studying masters degrees at the University.
The aim of the Formula Student competition is to design and build a single seat Formula style race and to compete in static and dynamic events against other universities from around the world.
Students are given the opportunity to put the engineering skills they have developed through their studies into practice, with many Formula racing teams using the competition to headhunt future talent for the industry.
Team manager, Will Snyder, said: “The past few weeks have seen many of the final vehicle parts arrive and take shape. Having a working car for the launch on Wednesday was an ambitious target and the team has been working very hard to achieve it.”
The competition takes place over two-years, with the students designing their car in the first year, and building it in the second. Bath students have a strong track record at Formula Student, consistently placing in the top positions.
Following the launch event Team Bath Racing plan to carry out five weeks of testing at RAF Colerne, just outside Bath, to fine-tune the vehicle.
Team business manager Charlie Duncan has experienced the power of Formula Student recently – on the back of his involvement in the competition he has secured a job with Aston Martin. He said: “I was told by the company that my role in Formula Student was a deciding factor in my getting the job. It was my main reason for choosing to study at Bath so I am really pleased to have achieved this – it is my dream career and Aston Martin is a fantastic company to start it with.”
Driving the car this year is Bath student 23 year old Fred Martin-Dye. Fred, from Blackheath in Surrey, is far from new to the sport having been selected earlier in the year to race for Enigma in the main class of the British Formula Ford in a brand new EcoBoost car. Fred was also a prolific race winner in karting from 2000 – 2006 before putting his racing career on hold to study.
Team Bath Racing is inviting those wishing to see the new car in action on Wednesday to the University’s amphitheatre by the campus lake for a 3pm launch event. More information about the team is available from their website.
- Team Bath Racing have opened an invitation to the launch of their 2012 car on campus on Wednesday 30 May at 3pm.
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