UK university teams test Formula Student racing cars

As the world’s largest student motorsport event, the Formula Student competition challenges universities from across the globe to design and build racing cars in order to compete in static and dynamic events, which demonstrate their understanding and test the performance of the vehicle. This year, 117 teams from 33 different countries will compete at Silverstone.

The teams that took part in the Learn to Win Live event were: University of Bath, University of Hertfordshire, Cardiff University, University of Bath (EV), University of Brighton, University of Sussex, University of Surrey, Manchester Metropolitan University, City University, Swansea University, University of Liverpool, Kingston University, Liverpool John Moores University, University of Leicester, Leeds University, Imperial College London, Oxford Brookes University, Birmingham City University and University of Derby.

HORIBA MIRA’s proving ground is one of the largest and most comprehensively specified automotive proving grounds in the world, offering every kind of global driving challenge. In addition to use of the proving ground, Formula Student teams also had access to a number of MIRA’s expert engineers, who were also on hand to advise students on the business presentation aspects of their projects.

Andrew Deakin, Chairman of Formula Student, said: “This event continues to rise in popularity as it allows students to get important feedback ahead of the main event. MIRA’s top class facilities allows the students to test the level their vehicles are at so they can go back and make the necessary changes to thrive in two weeks’ time. It was a fantastic opportunity for teams to put their car through the kind of rigorous test that could make a difference at the main Formula Student event.” 

Terry Spall, Commercial Director at MIRA Technology Park and Chief Judge for Formula Student, said: “HORIBA MIRA has been involved in Formula Student since its inception almost 20 years ago. Each year we look forward to seeing the high calibre of young engineers that come through the competition – many of which we have recruited into MIRA over the years. We were very impressed with the teams at this year’s Learn to Win Live event, and I’m confident that their performance at Silverstone in two weeks’ time will be enhanced as a consequence.”