Driving ambition

An ambitious project, led by students within Mechanical Engineering, to design, build and race a Formula-style racing car at Silverstone this summer, is gearing up for the final stages of preparation.

Dundee University Race Innovation and Vehicle Engineering or DRIVE, as it is known, is entered in this year's Formula Student competition run by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Contestants are asked to design, build, test and race a fully functioning racing car complete with business plan and design and cost reports. Judging for the competition which attracts university teams from all over the world, will take place at Silverstone in July.

"This will be the first time we'll have taken a car to the event," said DRIVE team spokesperson Leanne Ritchie.

"We entered the competition last year but there were only eight of us on the team and it was too much for a team of that size so unfortunately we had to pull out. We were all really deflated but this year there are 22 of us from different parts of the university. Most of the members are from Mechanical Engineering but there are a few of us from other departments and colleges."

Leanne, a student midwife with a life-long passion for motor-racing, added that the mood this year is far more positive and up-beat.

"It has really taken off and we can see it all coming together now so it is getting quite exciting."

The team were given a welcome boost late last year when they won sponsorship deals with the John Clark Motor Group and Michelin tyres. As a result the DRIVE car will be kitted out with top quality tyres and a BMW engine. Both companies have pledged their support for the next three years highlighting the long-term nature of the project.

"Although we want to do the best we can this summer we're hoping that this year is just the start," she said. "We want this to become a really big thing for the University. The most important thing for us is to get to the competition, find out what it is like and get a feel for it.

"We'll be up against universities who have been competing for more than ten years so we are really looking to build up experience for the future. It is definitely a long-term project. The only other university in Scotland doing this is Strathclyde. It's such a great opportunity for engineers. It gives them great practical experience and it has real benefits for their studies and their future careers."

Team Leader Gareth Davies, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student certainly agrees. "This is a great project to be involved with," he said. "It is not only fun to take part in but also looks good on your CV and will help your career prospects."

It's a view shared by the School of Engineering, Physics & Mathematics which has invested in software to enable the students to design and test the chassis and other parts of the car. Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics is also providing further financial and logistical support.

"This is an excellent opportunity for students to engage in the design, construction and testing of a racing car and further develop the skills taught to them in the Mechanical Engineering degree programme," said Head of Division, Dr Robert Keatch.

"The team was only formed last year but the project is proving extremely popular with more and more students joining in, and not just from within the Division. The competition also provides industry with the opportunity to foster close links with academia and helps students develop the attributes they need for future success."

Professor Anne Anderson, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Art, Science & Engineering is another keen supporter of DRIVE.

"It allows students to take the initiative and to apply what they have learned in the lecture theatre and the laboratory and apply this to a real world problem," she said.

"The engineering and problem-solving skills the team need to complete their challenge will be of great value to them in their future careers. I am really proud of what the team has achieved to date and I wish them every success in the competition."