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Students take on F1 challenge

An AMAP product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 3, 2007

Sunderland students are gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime - competing in a Formula 1 style race.

Sunderland students are gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime - competing in a Formula 1 style race.

But they won't just be driving a sports car, they're making it too.

Omar Shehata spends 25 hours a week building a dream in one of Sunderland University's workshops.

At the moment his dream is little more than a frame and an engine, but by July he hopes to have helped to create a car capable of racing at Silverstone.

"The most satisfying part is seeing the car on the track, completing the race without breaking down", explains the 27-year-old.

Omar, team leader of SU-Racing - Sunderland University's entry into this year's Formula Student event - added: "You learn about cars in the class room, but we actually get the chance to make one".

An automotive product design student, Omar heads up a fifteen-strong team which is taking part in Formula Student.

The competition sees university teams from across the globe battle against each other in a bid to design, build and compete in a Formula 1 style race car.

It's proved to be a breeding ground for automotive talent and former Sunderland students who have taken part over the years have gone on to work at Triumph, Caterham and NASCAR in Australia.

Last year Sunderland's team beat off strong competition from groups across Europe, Canada, America and Australia to scoop two awards; the FISITA Award for Best Endeavour; and the Altair Hyperworks Award for Most Effective Use of Computer Aided Engineering.

But it's hoped that this year will be their most successful yet.

The Project Co-ordinator explained: "We came 50th last year out of 114".

"But this year the car is even lighter so there's no reason why we couldn't finish in the top ten".

"There's nothing better than seeing the car going over the finish line and the students crying with pride".

This year, from 12th-15th July, that finish line will be at the legendary Silverstone race track, one of the world's most famous motor sport venues and the birth place of British motor sport.

But before the car can hit the tracks a driver has to be found.

During test runs over Easter, Omar will choose four drivers from the fifteen students who have helped to construct the car.

As the smallest and lightest member of the team, Julie Liddle is hopeful she will be chosen for the task.

Like the rest of her team mates she devotes most of her spare time to building the single-seater car since the project started in September.

But she wouldn't have it any other way.

The 19-year-old who is studying mechanical engineering with design, explained: "Every day we do something different on the car".

"It's not part of our university work, we just come down in our spare time or in between lectures".

"We don't mind doing it, it's a really interesting project and we're really excited because we're at the halfway stage now".

"We all get to test the car, but it would be great to be chosen as a driver".

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