20 January 2012
Michelin to help students 'Drive' to formula student
Photo opportunity - 3.30 pm, Friday January 20th
Fulton Building
University of Dundee
One of the world's biggest tyre manufacturers has lent its expertise to a group of Dundee University students building a racing car for the IMechE Formula Student competition.
Michelin, who have a major factory in Dundee, have entered into a tyre sponsorship deal with the University of Dundee Racing Team - DRIVE.
The DRIVE team, based around students in the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, will be entering the Formula Student competition this year for the fifth time.
The car will run on tyres manufactured by Michelin, who have extensive experience of providing tyres used at the very top levels of motor sport.
The sponsorship deal will be celebrated at DRIVE team open event on Friday January 20th when the team will also unveil their new corporate identity.
"The fact that Michelin is now supporting us is absolutely fantastic news for the team," said the DRIVE team leader, Graeme Allison. "As anyone who watches motorsport knows, tyres play an extremely important role in the performance of the car, so to have a company like Michelin, with all its experience and expertise behind us, it is a huge boost for the team."
"Michelin Dundee is delighted to be supporting Dundee University's Formula Student competition entry. A project like this offers students from different disciplines the chance to get together and work as a team, putting their problem-solving skills to the test in a real environment. We wish the DRIVE team every success with this exciting project." said Ian Peart, Head of Personnel at Michelin Dundee.
The DRIVE team is hoping to have another successful event at this year's Formula Student competition organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. "Currently we are Number 1 in Scotland and 20th in the UK," said Graeme Allison. "Our goal is to get into the top 10 in the UK and this is a realistic target with companies such as Michelin supporting us."
The competition encourages students to develop and demonstrate their skills, enthusiasm, ingenuity and commitment to engineering excellence by designing, building and running a Formula-style racing car. The competition culminates at Silverstone in July, when teams must put their self-built, fully functional cars through a demanding series of performance and reliability tests.
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.
The DRIVE team's plans for 2012 and beyond include developing a new bio-diesel engine design for the Alternative Energy class of the Formula Student competition.
They are also putting together an entry in the IMechE Corporate Challenge for electric racing cars. This is being undertaken by the First Year Mechanical Engineering students as part of their undergraduate coursework.
The team has also recently been approached by one of the top Formula Student teams in Germany with a proposal to collaborate in the manufacture of a car for the Shell Eco Marathon.
The University's School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics is supporting the team and Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics is providing some financial and logistical support for the project.
"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 Dr Robert Keatch, Head of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics at the University.
In the grand tradition of all racing teams, the students are in need of further sponsorship to enable them to finish building the car and to travel to Silverstone. All sponsorship that the team receives will be acknowledged by logos on the car press releases and space on the team website at www.DRIVE.dundee.ac.uk.
Further information can be obtained by emailing DRIVE@dundee.ac.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902 |
