Formula Student is a sell out in one day

Engines are about to start roaring at universities from around the world as registration opened on 20 January for Formula Student (FS), Europe’s biggest student motorsport event.

Organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), students will receive a first-class experience as the competition will once again be held at the famous Silverstone Racing Circuit from 16-19 July 2009.

The race to register was on as places were filled in just over two hours, with 88 teams signed up for the event. The teams registered include students from universities around the world, such as India, Romania, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Finland and Spain. Over 20 teams from the UK universities have entered, including Cambridge, Glasgow and Cardiff.

Last year – for the first time in the competition’s 12 year history – FS launched Class 1A, challenging students to design and build alternative fuelled cars, using power sources such as hydrogen and hybrid. Three teams entered the category, which was won by Hertfordshire University and five teams have registered this year.

FS is run by the IMechE to challenge the next generation of engineers to design, build and drive a single-seater racing car from scratch. The aim of the competition is to help students develop academic, vocational and practical engineering skills and the training it provides is considered essential by industry experts for students hoping to pursue a career in F1 or motorsport.

Pat Symonds, Team Principal at Renault Formula One said: “Today, more than ever before, we look at Formula Student as being a deciding factor in employing engineering graduates. It encompasses everything they need to know in order to demonstrate engineering expertise. Last year we welcomed the Class 1A category are hoping that entries to it will continue to grow. The competition combines motorsport with business and the moving times, and I for one am very excited about its future.

John Wood, Chairman of FS and Deputy President of IMechE: “Everybody is aware that these are difficult times in the economic cycle and the need to develop excellent engineers has never been more important. Formula Student is unique in that it offers students the chance to hone their skills in an exciting and stimulating environment.

FS cars undergo a series of dynamic tests at Silverstone such as acceleration, sprint, skid-pad and endurance. Students are also tested on design, presentation and cost assessment elements. There are five categories that teams can enter: Class 1, for cars designed and built from scratch; Class 1 (200) for previous FS with modifications; Low Carbon Class, alternative fueled cars designed and built from scratch; Class 2 & 3, design entries only.