- Aug 17

An Exciting Week at Formula Student Austria

From the 21-26 July 2024, our team participated in Formula Student Austria, experiencing a week filled with challenges and triumphs. Here’s a detailed account of how the event unfolded and what our first competition of the season looked like from our perspective.

Saturday: The Journey Begins

Packing for the competition commenced on Saturday morning and continued well into the afternoon. The journey to Austria turned out to be both adventurous and memorable. Despite the long and eventful journey, we finally arrived in Spielberg. That night, we set up a temporary pit and pitched our tents at the campsite.

Sunday: Mechanical Scrutineering

On Sunday morning at 9 AM, we began with the Mechanical Scrutineering, the crucial technical inspection of our car. This process is essential as it ensures that every component complies with the regulations and safety standards. Impressively, we completed this inspection in record time, just a few hours, laying the groundwork for a smooth and productive week ahead.

Monday: Settling into the Pit and Continuing Scrutineering

Monday morning saw the Formula Student teams moving into the pits at the Red Bull Ring, where everyone set up and organized their workstations. After settling in, we continued with the series of technical inspections, including the Brake Test, Tilt Test, and Noise Test. These are designed to ensure that our car meets all safety requirements, that the brakes function flawlessly, there are no fluid leaks, and that the noise level stays within the permissible limits. We also went through the weighing process, where we received the official driverless race weight of the FRC-11. Unfortunately, by the end of the day we’ve run out of time, and were unable to complete the Brake Test.

Tuesday: Static Events

Tuesday was one of the most intense days, with all the static events scheduled. The day began at 8 AM with the Engineering Design Event, where we presented the design process and intricate details of our car to the judges. Once this event concluded, the Cost and Manufacturing event started at 9 AM, where we had to report our team’s budget, and the costs associated with our car. After a short, well-deserved break and lunch, we successfully completed our brake test. Simultaneously, the Business Plan Presentation event (BPP) took place, where our BPP team impressed the judges with a well-conceived business plan. Our team performed admirably in all three events.

Wednesday: Skidpad, Acceleration, and Autocross

On Wednesday morning, we completed the Skidpad and Acceleration events within a mere three hours, and we are particularly proud of the results, especially considering that in the internal combustion engine category, we led the standings for a considerable time with our early set results. In the afternoon, the Autocross event followed, serving as the qualifying session for our longest event, the Endurance. This event determines the starting order for the Endurance race, held the following day. These events require a much higher level of technical precision, closely related to the fact, that they have a much more difficult layout.

Thursday: Endurance

Thursday, the final day of the competition, was dedicated to the Endurance event. During the morning warm-up, we encountered an issue with our oil system, which we managed to fix with minimal time loss. As a result, we were able to start the Endurance race only in the second half of the day. Our first driver completed the first 11 km, precisely half the race distance, smoothly. However, during the mandatory driver change, a marshal noticed that a bolt in the right front suspension had come loose. For safety reasons, we couldn't send our second driver back onto the track. Despite this setback, we are proud of our performance, especially considering that FSA hosts one of the most competitive internal combustion fields in Europe, where we secured 9th place in our category. We are particularly pleased with our performance in the Cost and Manufacturing event, where we achieved an impressive 4th place overall!

Farewell to the Red Bull Ring

Before returning to Budapest, we made a final stop at the iconic bull statue at the Red Bull Ring. This landmark is not just a symbol of the racetrack but a must-see for all visitors. We took our time exploring the area, capturing numerous photos and videos to commemorate this unforgettable week.

Looking Forward to the Next Challenge in the Czech Republic!

Our motivation remains high and has even increased throughout the week. We eagerly anticipate our next competition, where we will travel to the northernmost point of the Czech Republic. This event presented us with many challenges, but it also brought valuable lessons and a sense of accomplishment. We can’t wait to prove ourselves again at the next race!

Stay Connected with Us!