Basque Formula Student Teams rev up for Silverstone

Teams fine-tune single-seaters at Olaberria track | 17/06/2011

Bilbao, 17.6.2011--- Basque Formula Student Teams Formula Student Bizkaia and Tecnun Motorsport de Gipuzkoa today tested their own-design single-seater racers at the Olaberria test circuit in readiness for their appearances at Silverstone from 13 to 17 July.

Helping out on test runs at the track was racing driver Ander Vilariño, whose advice and observations ensured the cars were properly fine-tuned for competition at Silverstone.

More than 100 teams from universities from all over the world will be competing at Silverstone. Both Basque Formula Student teams will be running in Class 1 for vehicles with internal combustion engines. Over the five days of competition, the teams have to overcome a series of tests giving them the scores to decide the final positions in the table.

The scheduled program of events is:

· Wednesday 13: event opens and team inscription.

· Thursday 14 scrutineerings begin. Scrutineering ensures every vehicle fulfils standard specifications. If a car doesnt pass the test, it cant compete in the actual race.

· Friday 15 Static events: Presentation, Design and Cost Judgings.

· Saturday 16 sees the dynamic part of team testing begin: Acceleration, Autocross and Skid-pad.

· The big one comes on Sunday 17 with Endurance, a 22-kilometer race on the Silverstone circuit. Every cars fuel consumption will be checked post-race and will affect the final classification.

Last year, as part of its ongoing drive to support and promote future automotive industry professionals, AIC-Automotive Intelligence Center signed a cooperation agreement with the two Basque-based Formula Student teams to stimulate knowledge, training and research in the automotive industry. The agreement places particular emphasis on the new generations of engineers just coming onto the labor market after graduating from their respective universities.

AIC encourages the Formula Student teams to cooperate to be more competitive, reduce costs and learn to work in teams, thereby giving students a foretaste of a real working environment.

Formula Student is a learning program organized by IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) in the UK to develop engineerings talents of the future. 100-plus universities from Europe, the US and Australia take part in FS.

AIC is a foundation promoted and backed by Biscay Provincial Council, Amorebieta-Etxano and Ermua city halls, a group of leading edge firms from the automotive industry and is run by Basque automotive cluster ACICAE. AIC integrates knowledge, technology and industrial development under one umbrella in a bid to improve competitiveness in the industry.

TECHNICAL DATA

Each team has a number of groups workiing in different area: chassis, suspension/steering, motor, transmission, body work, corners and organization.

Formula Student Bizkaia

· Motor: Suzuki 4-cylinder 599 CC GSXR 600 (2004-2005)

· Single-seater weight: 270kg

· Tubular chassis

· Bodywork: basalt fiber

· Tank: 7.5 liters

· Max. power: 46 kw at 14000 rpm (105 CV)

· Top speed: 175 km/h

· Differential: Quaife Torsen

· Tires: Hoosier 20.5 x 7.0-13 R25B

· Wheels: 13" x 7" aluminum Braid Formrace

Tecnun Motorsport de Gipuzkoa

· Motor: Suzuki GSXR 600 k5 (modified)

· Estimated single-seater weight: 210 kg

· Chassis: Tubular in steel + carbon floor

· Bodywork: Composite sheet

· Est. power: 76 CV

· Top speed: 130 km/h (limited by development)

· Transmission: self-blocking Drexler 2010 differential

· Suspension: Double carbon trapezoid with pullrod

· Brakes: AP Racing (4 pistons)