Engineering Matters

Engineering Matters


#290 Racing for Innovation: Inside Formula Student

August 29, 2024

Formula Student is Europe’s top educational motorsport competition, with students and teams from all over the world coming to compete. The competition is integrated into engineering degree courses, allowing students to take what they are learning in the classroom and lab, into the real world. It tests both engineering skills, and the project management that is vital to a professional career.  In this episode, we take you behind the scenes at Silverstone, as this year’s finals took place, with over 50 teams competing across a variety of disciplines. 



Chief judge Dan Jones went from competing in Formula Student, to a career in motorsports. He explains the process each team goes through on the day. But the work, he says, goes on throughout the year as they design and build their car. Jones also explains how Formula Student has played an integral role in helping him get into a career in motorsport. 



We also hear from the teams themselves and explore how these engineering students tackle everything from design and manufacturing to testing and racing. From internal combustion engines, to the EV cars that now dominate the competition and even new AI cars, we hear from teams competing in all the different classes.



Guests



Naomi Rolf, project lead Formula Student, IMECHE



Dan Jones, chief judge, Formula Student



John Dangerfield, head cost and manufacturing judge, Formula Student



Cara Fox, team principal, Queen Mary Formula Student



Prescott Campbell, team leader, Oxford Brookes Racing



Dash Gilbert, technical partnerships lead, Oxford Brookes Racing



Links



Formula Student

The post #290 Racing for Innovation: Inside Formula Student first appeared on Engineering Matters.