135 teams prep for Formula Student

12th February 2015

Nat Bowers

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135 teams comprised of thousands of the world’s best young engineers from 28 different countries are preparing for the world’s largest student motorsport event. Run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Formula Student challenges student engineers to design, build and race a single seat racing car in one year.

Formula Student is the key breeding ground for the F1 pit lane, with competition alumni now working at every F1 team. Hundreds more have progressed to the world’s largest automotive firms where they’re helping to design and engineer the cars of tomorrow.

49 teams from UK universities will line up at Silverstone, including the top UK car in Formula Student 2014 - from Oxford Brookes University. Last year's winners, Delft University of Technology, from The Netherlands, will also return to compete.

Formula Student will take place in Silverstone in July. The cars are judged on their speed, acceleration, handling and endurance in a series of time-trial races, while the teams are tested on their design, costing and business presentation skills. The main Class 1 competition will see 30 EVs and 80 cars with combustion engines.

Jon Hilton, Chairman, Formula Student, commented: “Formula Student is the world’s most respected student motorsport event and the sheer number of applications we have received for this year’s event prove it’s going from strength to strength. It’s not an exaggeration to say that those students taking part are among the best young engineers in the world, and Formula Student provides them with a vital stepping stone in their careers. Whether they go on to work in Formula 1, or help design the aeroplanes of the future, these students will go on to make a very real impact on our society. As always, I’m extremely excited to see what engineering innovations will be on show this year and I wish all teams taking part the best of luck.”

Ross Brawn, former Team Principal of the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, returns as competition patron and will meet students at the opening ceremony. Ambassadors this year include Paddy Lowe, Executive Director, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1; Willem Toet, Head of Aerodynamics, Sauber F1; former Formula 1 driver and Project Brabham Team Principal David Brabham; and BBC science presenter Dallas Campbell.

Formula Student Partners for 2015 include Robert Bosch UK, Mercedes Benz HPP, GKN and MathWorks.