Students utilise Danish know-how for racing car design

23rd January 2015

Barney Scott

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Budding engineers from Birmingham City University’s School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems are working on a project to transform a small domestic car into a racing car. Working with Scandinavia’s largest race car manufacturer, Aquila Racing Cars, the students will learn first-hand the skills required to put them in pole position upon graduation into the professional motorsport industry.

The training programme, dubbed ‘The Synergy’, will help students to develop a range of practical engineering skills involved in designing and building a lightweight, fuel efficient, single-seat race car. Made up of aluminum monocoque and sectional body work to keep repair costs to a minimum, the ‘Aquila Synergy’ uses a 1.0l, 3 cylinder engine and drivetrain to deliver a light, efficient racing car.

“This real-world project is teaching our students many aspects associated with motorsports and STEM in just one vehicle! It provides a unique real hands-on experience for all our motorsport students as they tackle the project to build a race car from scratch, commented Parmjit Chima, Head, School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems, Birmingham City University. “The Aquila Synergy car kit is now being offered out to other schools, colleges and universities across the UK to assist in the teaching of STEM subjects. This is an inspirational project for budding future engineers of all levels, whether they are at school or university, who will ensure the continued growth and success of the industry in the UK.”

According to a recent report published by Engineering UK, 1.82m engineers will be required between 2012 and 2022. If not enough young people train to be engineers, the UK economy will potentially miss out on £27bn per year from 2022.